The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-24
AUTOMOBILE RACE
 BEGINS IN FRANCE
W. K Vanderbilt Expects to
 Make 85 Miles an Hour
MANY ACCIDENTS FEARED
owinq to the Ponderous Machines Be- ina Used and the Large Number ot Contestants Spectators Look
 for a Smashup.

Paris. May 23.-Great crowds began to assemble early this evening at Versailles, where before daylight tomorrow morning. the start of the Parts-Madrid automobile race will be made. In many respects the race will be one of the most remarkable events run. both for the number aud char pcter of contsas, the prodigtots power and spasd of thu macbines and the prob ability of notwithstanding runs. Leading sportsmen from all over Europe and many from the other side of the Atlantic have gathered here 10 see the performance, as it Is fully expected that the records of the Parls-Berln race in 1901 and the Paris-yienna race fin 1902 will be far ex- ceeded by this, the leading long dis tance contest of 1903.
 Owing to the participation of number of Americans. including w. K. Vanderbilt, Jr, and Foxhall ISeene great interest has been aroused among Americans. especially the members of the Newport set, who have arrived in large numbers. Many fashionable parties of Americans went out to Versailles In automobiles and some chartered special trains.
 Weather Conditions Perfect.
 Perfect weather conditio.s are certain for the race. The starting point is half a mile outside the town, and the start will be made at 3:30 o'clock, the autonlo- piles leaving with one minute interval between them. The first stage of the con test is from Versailles to Bordeaux, SiS miles; the second Bordeaux to Victoria, POS miles, and the third, Victoria to Mad rid, 26l miles. It is expected that Bor- deaux will be reached at noon tomorrow and the contestants will rest there until Monday The stretch from Bordeaux to Victoria will be run on Tuesday and that from Victoria to Madrid on Wednesday. The first arrival probably will reach Mad rid about noon Wednesday,
 Many persons fear that serious acei- dents may happen owing to the terrific speed. the ponderous weight of the lat est types of motors and the great num- Der of contestants. It is expected that Fournier and W. K. Vanderbilt will make S5 miles an hour on the roads out side the cities.
 The competitors include all the holders of long-distance records, including Rene D'Knvff the winner of the first Paris Bordeaux race; Henri Fournier, the win ner of the second Paris-Bordeaux race, and the Paris Berlin race.
 The American entries are W. K Van derD;lt Jr., driving l 9.-horse power ma chine; c. Gray Dinsmore. 9o-horse power machine; w. T. .0annatt, the American artist, GO-horse power n.achinei fu&hall Keene, 6O-horse power machine anu Tod Sloan 40-horse power machine.
 The Start Made.
 The start in the Paris Madrid automo- bile race was made at quarter to this morning. Charles Jarro.t, the Enshsh a,,tomobilist was the first to receive the signal to go.
 W. K. Vanderb.,t. IT., hpi { bad start at AIS a. n He preseatcd himself at the starting post a minute late and there had 4 slight discussion which caused him to lose another minute. He was reported 10 have passed Rambouillet twenty-elshth in order at 4:45 a. m., going in fine form. He was scheduled sixti sth in order of starting.