The Baby who Survived
“The baby who survived” was 7-month-old Charles Franklin Lewis. Charles (1921-2008) and my grandfather, Donald Watkins (1905-1981), were cousins. Their mothers, Emma Clark Lewis (1888-1922) and Florence ‘Lavina’ Clark Watkins (1876-1952) were sisters.
In a truly tragic accident, three members of the same family were killed when an Interurban rail car collided with an Oakland automobile with side curtains.
Mary Lewis was driving the car with her mother Mary McAleer Lewis, her sister-in-law Emma Lewis, and her nephews, 2-year-old Paul Lewis and 7-month-old Charles Lewis, as passengers. She entered what was well-known as a very dangerous railroad crossing with limited visibility enhanced by having the side curtains down, when her car was hit by the Interurban train. According to the Wichita Beacon, “witnesses saw the interurban car approaching and all insisted that it failed to signal in any way for the crossing.” They also said that it was traveling at a high rate of speed. Conversely, when the motorman of the Interurban gave his account, he said that he had given “ample warning by whistling for the crossing.” He also said that the car was speeding. Someone on the train agreed.
The horrific crash killed 3 generations of the Lewis family: Mary McAleer Lewis who was 68, Emma Lewis who was 30, and 26-month-old Paul Lewis. The driver, Mary Lewis, 27, who was pinned under one wheel was severely injured. Shortly after the crash, the car was destroyed by fire when the gas tank exploded.
Miraculously, Charles Lewis was not injured. “The seven-months-old baby was tossed into the air by the impact of the collision and, falling on the ground, rolled to safety. Miss Marie Weber, who picked the child up almost immediately following the crash said that he didn’t hit the earth directly, but rolled along the sloping ground. Although crying, he was apparently unhurt. She said he looked like a big ball of clothing rolling on the ground (Wichita Beacon).”
Charles not only survived but thrived. His father Paul remarried and he and his wife, Margaret Eva Armstrong, raised Charles along with six brothers and two sisters. During World War II, Charles was in the Army Air Corps and was based at Pearl Harbor. When he returned from his military service, he worked at the family business, Lewis Brothers Hardware. He married Seraphine Herman and they had five children.
His daughter, Katy, contacted me after viewing my tree in Ancestry. Her father Charles is my 1st cousin 2x removed. Katy is my 2nd cousin, 1x removed. She told me the story of her father, and we discussed relatives that we both had met. She had a few questions for me about the Watkins side of the family that I was able to answer. She then had a question about one of our common ancestors, Washington Clark, who was a confederate soldier who became a prisoner-of-war. That question remains unanswered, but we both continue to search – cousins with a common goal.
Sources
“Jan 08, 1922, Page 1 – the Wichita Beacon at Newspapers.com – Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, 2025, www.newspapers.com/image/76264917/?match=1&terms=Mary%20Lewis. Accessed 13 June 2025.
“Jan 08, 1922, Page 1 – the Wichita Eagle at Newspapers.com – Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, 2025, www.newspapers.com/image/64032080/?match=1&terms=Mary%20Lewis. Accessed 13 June 2025.
“Jan 09, 1922, Page 5 – the Wichita Eagle at Newspapers.com – Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, 2025, www.newspapers.com/image/64032214/. Accessed 13 June 2025.