New-York tribune., 1896-05-31
THE HORSELESS CARRIAGE RACE
DURYEA WAGON, NO. l, RUNS TO lH' iN'io-'
AND BACK IN 7I3-THE FIVE OTHEn
CONTESTANTS DROP OUT.

Thousands along Broadway. and on the hihes-
bridge road watched the race OF horseiess earla'eS
which began at noon yesterday at CITY Ha" r@Ih'
WIKI six throbbng machines IN lne, continued ioi
about thirty miles to Irvngton- -on-the-Hudsoh' theh
back to City Hail. ard ended seven hours and thir-
teen minutes after the start with one wagon alohe
in the race finishing in a walk. and the others not
heard from. Diligent inquiry failed to unearth the
whereabouts OF the missing five. Up TO late hour
last night policeman and small boy peereo eN-
pectantly up Broadway. but their anxious vigil was
unrewarded.
The start was witnessed by hundreds OF men and
women, who crowded the sidewalk in Mail-st. as
early 10 o'clock the time when 1t was hrst an
nounced that the race would begin. There was
delay OF two hours. Twenty-elght entries had been
made, and by de srees seven arrived. One was the
Duryea wagon, which the at Chicago
There was something out Of gear and 1t was with
drawn. That left six. OF these one, operated by
Carlos c. Booth. had been exercised around the
town all the morning for thrty-fve miles OF warm
Ing up and when 1t pulled up before T. s. Hand. the
starter It's two gallons OF gasoline had run out ana
1t baked Various suggestions were offered by the
bystanders Aus.ons made to Populist Sena-
tors as possible for supplying the needed
gas Suddenly and mysteriously a quantity OF
gasoline appeared despite the fact that stores were
Closed for Decorate Day, and the balky wagon De-
throbbing trembling thing ike the nVe
others The tremor In the wagons was pronounced
nounced. High-headed horses passing by snired
their contempt
Finally four Duryea motor wagons. one Arm
strong machine and the Booth carriage were ranged
In Indian file; and the hands on the CITY Han
clock pointed to Y o'clock the six horseless car
rlages moved up Broadway. and the eontes, had be.
gun. The race was for prize OF 500, onered oy
THE Cosmopolitan Magazine; II was advertlsed
that the judges be hrdRa RsroaS chneey
NJ Depew president of the New-York central
General Nelson A. Miles. General William p Craig
In making the award. speed to be considered
81 points; simplicity of construction 3o ease ana
safety -. and cost. 10.
Through the city the carriages proceeded at Ave
miles an hour, when not lodging cable-cars ana
Decoration Day professions Nearing the cable
deathtrap at the Fourteenth-st turn the SIX wagons
turned into University Place and continued up
Broadway and the Boulevard. followed all along the
The first serious accident occurred on the run up
the Boulevard; The wagon operated by Henry
going in zig gag fashion, until 1t seemed that the
driver had lost control OF IT, Eyylyn Thomas OF
bicycle. when suddenly the wheel and horseles,
carriage met. and there was crash crowd
sccus her leg fractured An ambulance took her
TO the Manhattan Hospital where last night II was
taken to the West one hundred and twenty fifth
station. and neld pending the result OF me IN
charge OF another operator. At Kingsbridge 1t was
announced that the carriages would De stopped ana
inspected by the Judges NO. !, which iis9
from city Hall arrived and timed at Los.
No. was only few feet behind. The four others
were not in sight; and 1t was some time a'terward
when they arrived. o,. I-,, =.
From Kingsbridge 10 the Ardsley Country Club, at
Irvington. the contest for speed was to De mace;
on the descent OF down grade into Yonkers, the
off front wheel Of the third carriage rolled away
from the vicinity OF Its mates and the wagon dropped
in the road. The others passed II. and no further
reports have been received as TO Its fate. .
on the other side of Yonkers arose an oDstacIe tat
filled the with gloom. Peabody Hill. rearing
it's heads above them resisted every ef1ort OF the
motors There was only one thing TO do IL they were
10 have n run for their money, and the drivers dld
IT, They climbed out and pushed the wagons up that
hill ,
The road was hly all the rest OF the way. ana
the spirits and collars OF the riders were aIike
droopng Wagon No. | steadily held the lead, ana
the second Duryea dropped little behind. 1t was
25? when No. ! passed through Hastings; ana
three min ties later the other Duryea followed
The Armstrong wagon arrived at 305 o'clock Then
on through Dobbs Ferry and finally to 1rvington
Duryea No | completed half the course at 3l5 NO
at 3ls and the others struggling IN later.
The run back to the city was largely a repetition
Of the Incidents in the trip north. Before long
only the first arriages we're reported as racing.
the others having despa.red AMI stopped only
No was In the finish. arriving at city Hall Park
at 7i3 o'clock