The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-30
FOURNIER A WINNER
THE AUTOMOBILE RACE A GREAT
SPORTING EVENT.
GERMANS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC
THE FRENCH sPORTsMEN GIVEN &
WARM WELCOME.

Thousands Lined the High Road and
Watched for the Winner-The
First Five to Come in Were
Frenchmen and Were Given a
Royal Reception - Great Honors
shown the AutOmobiIists-It Was
Almost an international Affair.
Berlin, June 29.-The arrival here of
the Paris-Berlin racing automobiles
with Fournier the winner was generally
recognized as the great sporting event
of the season. AS evidence of this, from
o'clock in the morning, the high road
from Spandau to the west end was thick
ly lined with people. From Berlin thous-
ands of bicycists and automobilists, and
very many of the most fashionable turn
outs toiled up the hill leading from Char
lottenburg to the west end suburb, about
six miles from Berlin proper. There, in
Germanyis largest trotting park, the
victorious participants in the race arrived,
one by one before fashionable, sport
loving audience of about 10000 persons.
Stands decorated with flags and bunt-
ing, French, German and Belgian colors
intertwined, were erected at the goal,
where the judges. officers of the automo-
bile clubs of France, Germany, Austria
and Belgium, and the most distinguished
guests were waiting. Two fine military
bands played inspiring music.
Fournier was first seen at a great dis
tance in a thick cloud of dust, approach
ing the goal like a whirlwind. The
enormous crowd outside and inside the
park began cheering wildly and. at the
same time, the bands struk up the MAR
seillaise." while all the French
people present waved small tr1-
color flags, and, as Fournier
halted before the goal, an immense
wreath of laurel decorated with ribbons
of the German and French colors and in
scribed in German with the word, "Vic-
tory" was handed to him. Then Fournier
completed the circuit of the track and
left his auto-car the bands playing
Sousa marches. The victor was then TAX
en- hold of by a score of lusty young
French and German athletes who lifted
him upon their shoulders and carried him
across the field to the main stand.
The winner Talks of the Race.
In an interview Fournier said:
''The weather for the last three days
has been splendid Not a drop of rain
since we left Paris. The plans adopted for
finding the roads were faultless
and our reception everywhere
was enthusiastic, more so in Germany
than in France. But, the roads in Ger
many are decidedly worse than In France.
With the air thick with SCOT and smoke
we looked like chimney sweeps. 1t is
owing to these conditions that the trip
has not beaten the Bordeaux-Paris race -
From that time on the racers began
coming in fast. The first five were
Frenchmen, but, every time, the same
carried in triumph upon the shoulders of
enthusiastic German and French sports
men.
A Great Procession.
After the lapse Of several hours, dur
ing which about a score of motor cars
arrived, the motors were formed into a
long line and with the club members and
a cortege of carriages, the whole process
sion wended its way to the city, through
streets packed with sightseers passing the
length of the Thiergarten, through the
Brandenburg gate and then across Inter
Der Linden to the automobile exposition
and the Gardes du Corps barracks Tho
motorists were heartily cheered along The
route.
TIE distribution of prizes will take place
Tomorrow. There was a banquet to-
tight at the Kaiserhof.