Star News-Register, Bonne Terre, MO. Published October 5, 1923. PASSENGERS ON BUS INJURED; BRAKES FAIL. Six passengers on a Flat River-Farmington bus narrowly escaped death Sunday when the brakes on the car broke as it started to descend the steep Federal Hill [in Flat River]. The driver tried to avoid the approaching accident but could not and the car went down the hill at a high speed, striking a telephone post near the foot of the hill and breaking it in three pieces and later striking another post breaking it in two. Ed Rohan, the most seriously injured of the occupants, leaped from the machine and in doing so received a deep scalp wound. Clay Thompson also received a serious wound on the head. The other four passengers escaped without injury but were all greatly shocked. Their escape from more serious injury, if not death, appears to have been almost miraculous. The car was badly wrecked. Mr. Rohan was rushed to a nearby physician where he received treatment and was immediately taken to the Bonne Terre hospital where it was announced that there was but little hope for his recovery. Mr. Thomason was taken to his home and at present is getting along as well as could be expected. Mr. Rohan is employed as a brakeman for the Federal Lead Company. He has a wife and two children. [Note: I typed the above article exactly as is was published - with two different spellings for Clay's last name.]