New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-25
LEADERS IN THE RACE.
Gabriel and Louis RenauIt First to
Reach Bordeaux

Paris Nav 24-The first stage in the Paris
Madrid automobile from Versailles to Bor-
deaux 343 miles finished at noon to-day. when
Louis Renault dashed at a furious pace into
Bordeaux, having made a record run Of eight
hours and twenty-seven minutes. An hour
later N. Gabriel arrived with still better rec
ord of eight hours, seven minutes. It is esti-
mated from the times made that these autonno-
biIes covered sixty-two miles hour the
road outside the cities.
The name Of ". K Vanderbilt, jr., disappeared
from the reports along the route after Ram
bouilet. where he passed, twenty-eighth In
order. at 4:45 o'clock this morning. going in
fine form The omission of his name from the
dispatches from Chartres, the next town the
road caused some anxiety and brought forth a
number of inquiries. 1t was learned later that
he Henri Fournier and Baron de Forest with
drew from the race together before reaching
Chartres All of them had breakdowns, and
having lost three hours they decided that it was
useless to continue. Mr.. Vanderbilt and Baron
de Forest returned to the Hotel Ritz at II
O'Clock this morning They laughed and made
light Of their withdrawal. Foxhau P. Keene,
Tod" Sloan and W J. Dannat, the American
artist did not appear at the starting line this
morning when their turn was reached and con-
seouently did not take part in the race. c..
Gray-Dinsnore is the only American left in
the contest.
Versailles had a night of wild excitement It
is estimated that hundred thousand per-
sons crowded into the little town to witness the
start of the race Soldiers with fixed bayonets
lined the track for some distance from Yer
sailes
The reports along the route showed that Louis
Renault was making a great race. and before
Chartres he had overtaken and passed Charles
Jarrett and Rene de Knyff. and gained lead
which he never after lost Dispatches from
yendome, Tours and Poictiers told Of his pass
ing through ahead. and Bordeaux sent the an
pouncement Of his arrival first. at 12:14:45 He
had beaten Henri Fournier's record of hours
and A minutes. Charles Jarrott finished sec
ond. at 1890 having covered the course in
hours. A minutes. NJ. Gabriel arrived third, at
1908. his time being s hours Z minutes The
other contestants who made fast time J..
Sallerou hours 40 minutes; Baron de Craw-
her hours % minutes; ]. B. Warden. 8 hours,
80 minutes, and NJ. Voigt, hours. % minutes.
It is stated that Louis RenauIt's automobile
attained at Beourdiniere. between Chartres and
BounevaI a maximum speed OF eighty -eight and
three-quarter miles an hour.
The result of the first stage of the ap-
nears 70 he a draw between the merits of the
light and heavy vehicles. Louis Renault drove
a light machine, weighing $50 pounds and OF
30 horsepower while Gabriel drove heavy ma
chine Of 70 horsepower. weighing 1000 pounds.
The times OF the winners OF the first stage. de-
ductinp the time allowance for slowing down In
side the cities are as follows: Gabriel. hours
13 minutes; Louis Renault, hours 81 minutes:
saleron, 5 hours 46 minutes. JaTrott. hours
81 minutes: Warden, hours 90 minutes; Baron
de Crawher 6 hours l minute; Voigt, hours Z
minutes: Barras. hours II minutes: hong1er o
hours 10 minutes anu Aioueef' U houi'' L. ~