THEIS, Sarah Cristine

Arizona Journal – Miner, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, August 24, 1922 Happy Home Struck Deep by Death of Mrs. Cristina Theis The home of Carl Theis, back of 401 N. Mt. Vernon street, was yesterday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock turned from one of the jollity and merriment to one of grief and sadness. Mr. and Mrs. Theis have been working at the post laundry for some time, and arrived home as usual in the omnibus. The Theis’s alighted from the car as usual and Mrs. Theis was making merry with her co-workers, many of whom were in the car and lived farther down-town, and as she left the omnibus she turned to make a gesture to one of the ladies and just at that time the oncoming car of the Arizona Bus company was seen. She was evidently slightly bewildered and did not know which way to jump and started one way and then turned back but was caught by the wheels of the car which was moving down the hill, and the driver, Bert Myberg, could not stop in time to avoid crushing the woman. The front and hind wheels both passed over her body and caressed her left chest very badly, she was rushed to Mercy hospital at once and Dr. Yount was called on the case and did all he could to save her, but her injuries were internal and so severe that he could not save her life. Mr. Theis had just crossed the street and front of his wife and saw her crushed to the earth by a car. Every effort was made to remedy the accident, but it was of no avail. Mrs. Theis leaves besides her husband, a son named Frank, aged 13 years, and also two daughters, probably married from what meager details could be gathered last night. Mr. and Mrs. Theis were industrious, frugal people and well-liked among their neighbors and coworkers and a host of friends sympathize with the bereaved loved ones and their sudden loss of one so dear. Deputy District Attorney Westervelt investigated the circumstances connected with her death and reports that unless something new uncovered is learned, but no prosecution will be instituted, as it appears to be purely an accident. From the facts as stated by Mrs. E. L McIlvain, a near neighbor to Mr. Theis, and from what other eyewitnesses state, the purely accident theory is the only one that can be found. R. W. Byrnes of the Bus company expressed keen regret that such an accident should have taken place. The driver, Mr. Myberg, feels keenly the sadness caused at that which he was powerless to avoid. ---------------------- Prescott Evening Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, August 24, 1922, page 1, column 6 Woman Killed Under Wheels Of Automobile Mrs. Theis Dies Shortly After Accident Yesterday on North Mt. Vernon; Disaster Told Of An accident declared to have been unavoidable by the driver of the car, cost the life of Mrs. Christine Theis, aged 49, who died last night at 7 o'clock at the Mercy Hospital, after having been run over by a light motor truck at the northern end of Mt. Vernon avenue last night. Statements from eye-witnesses of the fatal accident exoronate Bert Myberg, 25, driver of the car which caused the death, saying that Mrs. Theis' indecision cost her her life and threw her family into mourning. The accident occurred when a Whipple motor bus bringing in workers from the hospital stopped to let Mr. and Mrs. Theis out at their home. Mr. Theis walked across the street, and Mrs. Theis sat a moment longer in the car, the got out, walked around the back of it, made a face at some of the occupants and laughing, walked across the street, looking over her shoulder at the passengers in the bus, who were laughing too. Then she noticed the light truck, a converted automobile, now used as a truck by the Arizona Bus company, which was coming down the street. The driver had turned the wheel to pass between her and the bus, but she evidently became frightened and started to run towards the bus, and then whirled and ran towards the curbing. The driver of the truck had already turned his wheel, and he headed that way, when Mrs. Theis once more whirled, and ran towards the bus, just as the truck driver turned his wheel again in an effort to avoid her. The car was going very slowly according to eye-witnesses, and didn't throw Mrs. Theis at all, simply pushed her over, the fender hitting her first, and then both wheels passing over her body, the machine halting not more than a foot from her. If it had not been for the mud, Mr. Myberg says he could have stopped easily before the second wheel went over Mrs. Theis. He had slowed his machine down preparatory to making a sharp bend and turning into the Arizona Bus company's garage at the end of north Mt. Vernon. Mrs. E. H. McIlvaln, who was sitting on her porch watching the bus and Mrs. Theis, said that had the woman been watching the street instead of the bus, the accident need never have happened, while Miss Josephine Lacy, one of the occupants of the bus, in statement said that the light truck was going very slowly, and the accident was no fault of Mybergs. Robert Byron, manager of the Bus company, said today that he didn't feet (sic) the bus company or driver were to blame, yet, wished to do all he could to help the bereaved family. A message has been sent to a daughter, Ella F. Their, of Portland, Oregon, notifying her of the accident. Carl R. Theis, husband of the dead woman, is said to have issued a statement exoronating the bus company of all blame in this tragedy. Myberg, driver of the truck, is said by all who know him, to be a very careful driver. He is married and has lived here for some time. After the accident Myberg rushed to a ranch in the Thumb Butte district to bring Frank Theis, 13 year old son of the Theis family, who was rushed to the bedside of the injured woman. Mrs. Theis suffered severe internal injured, which are what caused her death. She was very popular among her neighbors and co-workers, and a host of friends are extending sympathies today to the unfortunate family, so suddenly befret of mother and wife. ---------------------------------------- Prescott Evening Courier, Prescott, Arizona Friday, August 25, 1922, page 6, column 4 Funeral Notice - Funeral services for Mrs. Carl R. Theis will be held at the Lester Ruffner chapel Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Friends and acquaintances are invited. Interment at the Citizens cemetery. --------------------------------------