Shields - Bert - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 5 September 1916 -- Cincinnati Oh

Sept 5 2:35 p.m  Shields condition was unchanged this afternoon.  Condition still critical and death probable..  Telegram received by Isaac Shields at noon - Bert's back broken. Has fighting chance to live. Vern.  Bert Shields, about 29 years old son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Shields, 513 W Market Street was probably fatally hurt in the 300 mile auto race at Cincinnati, Ohio, Monday afternoon when the Stuz car driven by Gil Anderson of Indianapolis in some unknown manner turned completely over four times after crashing into the inner wall directly in front of the grand stand in front of the home stretch. Shields was acting as mechanician for Anderson. The loc al young man's back was broken near the neck.  It was stated Monday night he had little chance for recovery.  Word of the injury to Shields reached Crawfordsville Monday evening.  His brother, Vernon Shields, a member of the local police department left for Cincinnati at 9 Monday evening, hoping to reach his side before death claimed the young man. Shields was thrown completely over the rail at the side of the track, lighting among the parked autos.  He was taken at once to a hospital. Anderson was picked up front under his car, terribly cut, bleeding and unconscious. He sustained a broken leg and arm and severe cuts about the head and shoulders but will probably recover.  The word of the accident came as a shock to Shields' host of friends here. Bert has spent practically all of his life in Crawfordsvillle until the ....

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Monday 2 October 1916

After a brave struggle of 27 days' duration following an accident on the C incinnati motor speedway on Sept 4, when as mechanician for Gil Anders on in the 300 mile race, he suffered a broken back, Bert Shields, 27 years old, son of Mr and Mrs. Isaac Shields of this city, died at Culver Union Hospital Saturday evvening at 7:20.  The end came peacefully, the young man sleeping quietly away.  Tho the extent of his injuries had been realized and relatives had been given to understand that there was no hope for his recovery, the death came as a sad blow to the members of the family and to the many friends of the young man thruout the community.  For several days following the accident on the speedway, Bert remained in the Bethesda hospital at Cincinnati and it was believed for a time that the re was a chance for his recover. Then it was deemed advisable to bring him to Indianapolis for care by specialists there who had treated men hurt in a similar manner.  He was taken to Methodist in Indianapolis, standing the trip well and holding his strength remarkably  After a few days, however, the injured young man finally began to weaken and, as it was seen he had no chance for his life, physicians advised that he be brought to his home town, there to spend the remaining hours.  He was brought here Tuesday morning where he continued the brave fight against death.  Throughout the period of his suffering, Bert remained cheerful and optimistic  nd he died as he had raced, game to the last.  Bert was born at New Ross, on August 20, 1889, and came to this city with his parents when only six months old.  He had resided here all of his life until a few years ago when he left to take up work as an automobile mechanic.  He had been employed at garages here and had made a careful study of the mechanism of autos.. To become the mechanician for some great race driver and to take part in the thrilling speedway events became his greatest ambition and together with its realization came the accident that cost him his life.  Bert determined that he would go higher in the ranks than the position of "pit man" for the racers and he worked steadfastly with this object in view.  When his ability and reliability gained recognition and he was selected by Anderson one of the world's greatest race drivers as his mechanician, Bert was happy.  He had gained the pinnacle to which he had aspired and it h ad taken hard work and the indomitable courage that marked his brave fig ht for life after his injury.  He had been with Anderson in previous rac es and had proved his worth, so that Anderson would have no one with h im in the big track evvents but Bert Shields, his friend and his nervy hel per.  At the Labor Day race in Cincinnati, Anderson's Stutz car was travel ling at a rate of 100 miles an hour when suddenly something went wrong.  The car came to an abrupt stop and then overturned, throwing the driver and mechanician to the side.  Bert received the injury to his spine and a broken rib, while Anderson escaped with a broken leg and minor injuries from which he has nearly recovered now.  All Crawforsville has watched with sincere interest and the course of the young man's condition and all have joined with the family in the vain hope that the injury might not be as serious as physicians believed and that Bert would be able to overcome the affliction.  It has been decided to hold the funeral services Tuesday afternoon from the Elks' home, South Water Street and the selection of his place for the last rites is appropriate.  Bert was a member of the local lodge of Elks and during the last few years when here he was at the lodge home much of his time.  Here where he spent so many pleasant hours and where he created pleasant hours for his companions, the body will lie in state for two hours Tuesday afternoon.  The services will be conducted at two o'clock in charge of Dr. R.E. Moss, pastor of the FIrst Christi an Church. Burial will bbe in Oak Hill cemetery.  Bert is survived by his parents and two brothers, Vernon of this city and Emmert, who is now in Texas, an officer in the US Army on border patrol.  It will probably be impossible for the older brother to reach the city in time for the funeral services.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 30 October 1916

Tribute to the sterling qualities of the young man whose life was claimed by the sport that he had learned to love was paid in fitting style by Rev. RE Moss, when funeral services were held this afternoon from the Elks Home, South Water street for Bert Shields.  The body was brought to  he lodge home at noon today and during the two hours before the funeral service many persons passed thru the home, viewing the remains of the well known and well liked young man who died Saturday evening from injuries rec ived in an auto race at Cincinnati, Ohio on Labor Day. The services were impressive and during the discourse of Rev. Mr. Moss tears were brought to the eyes of all in attendance.  The pastor told of the brave fight for life made by Bert during the periof of nearly 4 weeks after he had suff ered injuries that would have claimed the life of a less courageous man within a few hours.  The holding of the services at the Elks Home was particularly appropriate for it was in this building that Bert had spent many pleasnat hours here. He had been active in the work of the lodge and only last Christmas, when the Elks distributed good cheer to nearly two hundred  oor failies in the city, it was Bert who performed a large part of the work of taking the baskets of food and provisions about the city.  Around the casket as it lay at the Elks' Home this afternoon was placed an array of beautiful floral offerings the tributed of friends. Prominent in the beautiful display was a large piece formed of roses in the shape of a broken auto wheel.  This was the offering of Howard Wilcox and Johnie Aitken, prominent race drivers and George Barry, a friend of the deceased.  Wilcox, Aitken and other race drivers of prominent were endeavoring to make arrangements to come to Crawfordsville for the funeral but feared they could not arrive in time from the trip to the east where a big race was won by Aitken Saturday.  A large basket of roses, beautifully arranged was placed at the head of the casket, the offering of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbe rt Anderson.  "Gil" as Mr. Anderson is familiarly known in motor race circ les, was at the wheel of the car that overturned on the Cincinnati speedwa y, resulting in the death of the young mechanician.  During the servic es at the lodge home a solo was rendered by Roscoe Patterson and hymns we re sung by a quartet composed of Mr. Patterson, Robert A. Stump, Frank Den nis and Modis George.  Six members of th elodge served as pallbearers bear ing the casket to the waiting hearse and lowering it into the grave in O ak Hill cemetery.  The pallbearers were Otto Fitzpatrick; Lee Harper; Ea rl Laurimore; Fred Hendrix; Roscoe Patterson and Modis George.

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Crawfordsville was devastated twice in the year 1916, first when word was received that Bert Shields was seriously injured as Gil Anderson's Stutz car rolled three times into the pit area, sending  Shields high into the air, over a fence and into some parked cars.  Upon hearing the news, Bert's brother, policeman Vern Shields, went directly to Cincinnati, Ohio.  His telegram back home said, "Bert's back broken. Has fighting chance to live!"  He failed to tell his parents, Isaac and Izailla Todd Shields about Bert's broken leg, arm and cuts throughout his  body.  Yet, at first, things seemed hopeful.  Bert, who had just turned 27 years old, was bo rn in New Ross (August 10, 1889) but moved with his family to Crawfordsville at age six months.  Attending schools in the city, his love was always cars.  His goal and desire was to become a mechanic to a great race driver and to experience the thrill of the speedway.  Bert became quite famous in our area as the best mechanic around, and soon word of his abilities spread on to the speedway folks.    It wasn't just a pit man Bert wanted to be, though, but the lead mechanic. When Bert went to work for Gil Anderson, one of the world's greatest racers, Bert was happy - "He had gained the pinnacle to which he had aspired and it had taken hard work and  in domitable courage."

Almost immediately upon alighting into the world of racing, Anderson would have no one but Crawfordsville's Bert Shields around his car.  Bert became not only his "nervy helper," but his friend, as well.  This was all because Bert was reliable and owned great ability where the auto was concerned.  Then suddenly, Labor Day, 1916, at the Cincinnati 300, the Stutz went out of control at the rate of 100 miles an hour.  Although Anderson was hurt in the crash, as well, his injuries were not fatal and he was back running in just a few weeks.  Not so for our young C'ville friend!

After the accident, Bert was immediately taken to Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati and a chance of hope prevailed for several days.  Then it was decided that it was wise to bring Bert to Methodist Hospital in  Indianapolis where there were specialists in back injuries.  Bert withstood the trip and it was again hoped that he might live, but  so on he began to weaken and physicians realized that he may as well go home to be with his friends and family, thus he arrived at Culver Hospital.  His parents and brother were told there was no hope, but Bert remained hopeful and cheerful.

Local papers stated that "he died as he had raced, game to the last!"  A very large funeral was held at the  Elks home on South Water Street.  Bert was a member there and spent many pleas nt evenings at the Elks with friends when he was home from racing.

In fact, Bert had been the head of a committee the previous Christmas that distributed large baskets of food and provisions to over 200 poor families in the community.  Thus it was there that a  "Tribute to the sterling qualities of the young man whose life was claimed by the sport that he had learned to love was paid in fitting style by Rev. R.E. Moss."

Who is to say what quality of life Bert would have had if he'd have lived but more than likely, he'd never have been able to return to his job as lead mechanic and that would have devastated the young man.  Twenty-seven days after  the what would become fatal accident for Bert Shields, his body lay under a winning spray of roses in the shape of a broken auto wheel that was tagged from his pal, "Gil!"  This was added to many floral arrangements from friends, as well as two other famous race drivers, Johnnie Aitken and Howie Wilcox.

It was predicted that Shields would have continued on as an outstanding mechanic in the field of racing, yet fate cut h im short.  It was again devastating to put the young man to rest, especially since his other brother, Emmert, on boarder patrol in Texas, was not able to attend his brother's last race.  -- by Karen Bazzani Zach