New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24
RACE TO MADRID BEGINS
NEW-YORKERS At START.
Automobilists at Paris Expected to
Break Al Records.

Pars May 27.-Csreat crowds began 20 assenbls
early this evening Versailles where. before day
light Tomorrow morning. the start OF the Paris
Madrid automobile race viii be made In many
respects the race viii be one Of the most remark
able ever run. beth for the number and character
OF the contestants the prodisioUs power and speed
Of the latest machines. and the prooaoiiSy
O. record breaking runs The leading sportsrnera
from all over Europe, and many from the otasr
side Of the Atlantic have gathered here TO see the
performance. as il IS fully expected that ths
records Of the Paris-BerIin race In 1901 and ths
Faris-Vienna race in 1902 VIII De broken In this
the leading long distance contest Of 1903. owing 70
the practical doubling Of the power Of automobiles
in the last year
Owing to the entries IN the contest OF a rurn5s-
OF Americans including ". K Vanderbilt r.. and
Foxhan Keene. great interest has been aroused
among Americans, especially the members OF ns
Newport set. who have arrived In large numbers
Many fashionable parties OF Americans went CUT
to Versailles in automobiles. and some chartered
special trains Among the parties were those u
Colonel and Mrs. John Jacob Aston. Mr. and Ms
Hermann Oelrichs. Elisha Dyer, IT,. Mr. and Mrs.
Clarence Moore. Mr.. and Mrs Truxton Beaie. OK
Washington: Mr.. and Mrs Perry Belmont Captain
Philip Lydig and Mr. and Mrs E C. Benedict. VINO
have Just returned from automobile tour through
the chateau district OF the valley OF the Loire;
John Biddle. Of Washington: Mrs. A G. Sprsckels.
s G. Murphy and Mr. and Mrs Fremont oder %
San Francisco; Joseph D. Reddins and Frank
Mansey- Some parties OF Americans staying ar
Versailles. where the hotels and cafes present g
brilliant and animated scene tonight Other Amer
lean parties have gained points OF vantage along
the route between Versailles. RamboulIlet and
CEartres. Nr. and Mrs Moore's party having 3
pavilion commanding the level stretch bsfors
Chartres-
But Americans form only a small part q ths
vast concourse gathered near the start II Is =.
warm and starlight night. promising per1scs
weather conditions for the race The starting point
is half mile outside the town. within wide In
closure, In the nsishborhoOd OF which many tenn
porary cafes have grown Up Powerful electric
lights illuminate the scene. the surroundings OF
which are decorated with flags The start viii Do
made at $50 O'Clock. the automobiles leaving with
minute interval between them The first stage
OF the contest is from Versailles 20 Bordeaux S3
miles; the second Bordeaux vitoria. EOS miles.
and the third. yitoria 10 Madrid. 2S miles II IS
expected that Bordeaux VIII be reached al noon
Tomorrow and the contestants viii rest theTs
until Monday. The stretch from Bordeaux 70 VI
toria will be run Tuesday. and that from Vitofls
to Madrid on Wednesday. The first arrival VIII
probably reach MaGrid about noon on Wednesday,
Many persons fear that serious accidents may hap
pen owing to the terrific speed and the pend=rouS
weight Of the latest types Of motor cars and the
great number Of the contestants II is expected
that Fourier and " K Vanderbilt. IT.. viii make
elshty-dve miles an hour the roads outside the
cities.
The councillors include al the holders Of long
distance records including Rene dc Knyn. the
Fourier the winner Of the second Psrfs-Bordeaux
race and the Parfs-BerIin Marcel RenaUiI the
winner OF the Paris-visuna contest: the two ororn-
ers Farma1. C Jarrett and the other foremost
French German. English and American automo-
biIists The American entries are: W K Wander
bilt r. driving S2-norsepower machine { Gray
Din ere. SO-hOrsepOweT machine; W !. Da1Iat.
the american artist 60-norsspOwer machine FOX
hall Keene, 60-horsepower machine. and Tod S1oans
20 horsepower voiturette-
The gendarmes took possession OF the beginning
Of the course from Versailles az o'clock this even
ing prohibiting all traf7c and keeping back Jns
crowds to prevent accidents Toward nidnls NJ
Versailles presented scene OF extreme acuVlt5 3.
the gayiv Illuminated cafes being packed with
people waiting for the start II estimated that
| Ave thousand automobiles were n the thorough
fares mary Of them decorated with Chinese
lanterns. Many OF the contestants arrived n me
everi-g their huge machines trembling ana groan-
ing The cars are denUded Of all orna-nenSatiion
most or them rsekfng with oil and giving on -oul
A vapors The drivers wore rubber coats, draWn nlsn
and tight around the throat, and mad their faces
sTd hsads completely enveloped II masks Ihey
ga not wear goggles. but heavy plate glass was
H~Ad in the mask, forming miniature WinooW
Eac6 competing machine Is allowed 70 carry onS
mechanic - - -
Soon after midnight troous arriye1 on the scene
and cleared the track total OF 900 50 dlsrs and
4 90 policemen being stationed on the road