Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1903-05-27
AUTOMOBILE RACE N PARIS
WENT 343 MILES FASTER THAN
60 MILES AN HOUR.
A Number Of Serious Accidents Occur,
One FataI-TWo Cars Were Smash
ed-Chauffeur Burned to Death
Only One American in the Race
Vanderbilt Withdraws.

Vanderbilt Withdraws.
Paris, May 26.-The first stage in
the Paris Madrid automobile race from
Versailles to Bordeaux, 343 miles, was
finished today, when Louis Renault
dashed at furious pace into Bor-
deaux, having made a record run of
eight hours and ~ minutes. An hour
later M. Gabriel arrived with a still
better record Of eight hours and seven
minutes. 1t is estimated from the
time made that these automobiles COW
cred 62 miles an hour on the road out
side the cities.
These victories. however, were
clouded by series Of accidents, hav-
ing in one case, at least, a fatal re-
suit. At least two cars were wrecked
and Marcel Renault, the winner of the
Paris-Vienna race last year; Lorraine
Barrows well known automobolist,
and Renault's chauffeur, were, it is
believed, fatally injured, while Bar.
rows chauffeur was killed.
The most terrible accident occurred
Lear Bonneval, where machine No.
243, driven by M. Porter, was over.
turned at railroad crossing and took
fire. The chauffeur was caught under
the machine and burned to death,
While two soldiers and child were
killed.
A chauffeur was badly injured by
an accident to his motor car near
Angouline. A woman crossing the
road in the neighborhood of Ablis was
run over by one of the motor cars and
killed.
Mr.. Stead and his chauffeur, who
were first reported to have been kill
ed, are still alive. 1t seems that their
automobile collided with another car
with which Mr.. Stead had been racing
for several kilometres, wheel to wheel
and was completely overturned in q
ditch near Montguyon. Mr.. Stead was
caught under the car, while his chauf
feur was hurled a distance of 30 feet
and had his head and body badly cut
Mr., Stead was conscious when picked
up, but complained of suffering great
pain. lie was conveyed to the nearest
farm.
It is stated that Louis Renault's
automobile attained at Beudinier, be
tween Chartres and Bonneval, a maxi
mum speed of So 3-4 miles per hour.
It is reported that the Spanish gov.
eminent has also forbidden the con
tinuance of the race on Spanish soil
tne name of w. X. vanderbilt, Jr.
disappeared from the reports along
the route after Rambouillet, where he
passed 2Sth in order at a quarter of
S in the morning, going in fine form
The omission of his name from the
dispatches from Chartres, the next
town on the road, caused some anxiety
and brought forth number of inquir
les. 1t was learned later that Henry
Fouri and Baron de Forest withdrew
from the race together before reach.
ing Chartres. All of them suffered
preakdowns, and, having lost three
hours, they decided that it was useless
to continue. Mr.. Vanderbilt and Baron
de Forest returned to the Hotel Ritz
they laughed and made light of their
withdrawal.
FoXhall Keene and w. ]. Donant
the American artists, did not appear
at the starting line when their turn
was reached, and consequently did
not take part in the race. G. Gray
Dinsmore is thus the only American
left in the race.
The time and position of the win
ners of the first stage, deducting the
time allowance for slowing down in
side the cities, are as follows:
Gabriel, hours 10 minutes; Louis
Renault, hours 80 minutes; Salleron
5 hours 46 minutes; Jarrot, hours
81 minutes; Warden, hours IS min.
utes; Baron de Crawher, 6 hours l
minute; Voigt, 6 hours 2 minutes;
Barras, 6 hours IL minutes; Rougier
hours 16 minutes, and Mouter,
hours II minutes.
In view of the number of accidents
some fatal, in the first stage of the
Paris-Madrid automobile race, from
Versailles to Bordeaux, Premier
Combes has forbidden the continuance
Of the contest on French territory
The second stage of the race, which
was to have been continued on Tues
day included run over French terri.
tory from Bordeaux to the Spanish
frontier. Premier Combes' action
probably will lead to the race being
abandoned.