For Two Americans, A Fatal Automobile Accident in France-- 1902

Another contribution from Ed:

You are living in the rural town of Xenia, Ohio, in 1902 and this appears on the front page of the Xenia Daily Gazette.  

Yes, the story is about several wealthy Americans killed in a motorcar accident in Paris but the grizzly details are what the story shares with the reader.  The couple's bodies fell "with a heavy thud to the ground."

"Mr. Fair's head had been crushed in while his wife's head was split."  Note that the article tells us that the chauffeur in the car apparently survived, but "became insane."

Is the reader in rural Xenia caused to say to himself: "Darn, these horse-less carriages can be downright dangerous................maybe I'll stick with a horse and buggy for a while."  

Or, conversely, even learning of the incredible dangers of early automobiles, why did people flock to them nonetheless?

p.s. -- for those who have done research in turn of the century newspapers, you know that "grizzly details" were expected to accompany articles about car wreaks, murders, suicides, etc.  The stuff that sells newspapers as they said.