Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-25
DEATH N AUTO RAC[
France Decides to Stop the
Sport Because of It's Dan
gerous Character
EIGHT KILLED IN LONG RACE
Only First Stage Of the Contest Had
Been Reached and the Accidents
Were Becoming More Numerous
Marcel Renault One of the Victims
May Die.

Paris, May 25.-In view of the num-
Der of accidents, some fatal. in the first
stage of the Paris Madrid automobile
race, from Versailles to Bordeaux,
Premier Cambes has forbidden the con-
tinuance of the contest on French ter
ritory. The second stage of the race,
Tuesday, included a run over French
territory from Bordeaux to the Span
ish frontier. Premier Combes' action
will probably lead to the race being
abandoned
Paris. May 25.-The first stage in the
Paris Madrid automobile race from
Versailles to Bordeaux, S4S miles, fin
ished at noon Sunday, when Louis Rem
ault dashed at u furious pace into Bor-
deaux, having made a record run of
eight hours and twenty-seven minutes.
An hour later NJ. Gabriel arrived with
a still better record of eight hours and
seven minutes. 1t is estimated from
the time made that these automobiles
covered sixty-two miles an hour on
the road outside the cities. These VIC
tories, however, We're clouded by SER
les of accidents having in one case
at least, a fatal result. AT least two
cars We're wrecked and Marcel Rem
ault, the winner of the Paris Vienna
race last year, Lorraine Marrows, n
very well known automobilist, and Rem
ault's chauffeur, were seriously, it is
believed fatally, injured while Barrows'
Chauffeur was killed. Moreover, an un-
confirmed report says that a serious
accident occurred near Angouleme. in
which the two occupants of an auto
mobile, the owne., of which is not yet
known, were seriously injured and two
spectators were killed. This number
of accidents has not caused any great
surprise here in view of the num-
Der of contestants in the race and the
great speed and power of their ma
chimes.
The name of w. *. Vanderbilt Jr.,
disappeared from the reports along the
route after Rambouillet. where he
passed twenty eighth in order, at
quarter of 8 Sunday morning, going
in fine form. The omission of his name
from the dispatches from Charities, the
next town on the road, caused some
anxiety and brought forth a number
of inquiries. 1t was learned later that
he, Henri Fournier and Baron De For
est withdrew from the race together
before reaching Charities. All of them
suffered 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 IL o'clock Sunday morning.
They laughed and made light of their
Withdrawal. Foxhall keene, Tod Sloan
and w. j. Dannat, the American artist,
did not appear at the starting line sun
day morning when their turn was
reached and consequently did not take
part in the race. c. Gray Dinsmore
is thus the only American left in.
Night of Wild Excitement.
Versailles passed a night of wild ex-
element. 1t is estimated that 100000
persons crowded the little town to
witness the start of the race. Soldiers
with fixed bayonets lined the track for
Some distance from Versailles. A bomb
was exploded at 1885 a. m. as a signal
to get ready, and Immediately Charles
Jarrot's car drew into place. Another
bomb was fired at a quarter to for the
start, and then the enormous machine
shot forward amid the shouts Of the
thousands of spectators. The other
cars followed in quick succession. Ma
dame De Cast, the sole female Compel
itor in last years baris-Berlin race,
was again the only woman to partici-
pate in the present contest. Her ma
chine was decked with flowers and her
departure was the signal for great
ovation. She made splendid run,
passing five of her competitors before
reaching Charities. The crowd around
Mr.. Vanderbilt's machine prevented him
from reaching the starting line in time
and he was further delayed by a con-
troversy with the judges, finally start
ing two minutes late. The last de-
parture was a quarter Of Z in the
morning.
Renault's Great Race.
The reports along the route soon
showed that Louis Renault was making
Il great race and before Ch;lrtres he had
overtaken and passed Charles Jarrot
and gained a lead which lie never lost
after. He beat Henri Tournier's record
of eight hours and forty-four minutes.
Charles Jarrot finished second at 1890,
having covered the course in eight
hours fcrtyfour minutes, MIR. Gabriel
arrived third at LOS, MS time being
eight hours and seven minutes. The
other contestants who r,ade fast time
were j. Salleren, eight hours and forty
minutes; Baron De Crawher, eight
hours and fifty-three minutes; j. Il.
Warden, eight hours ard fifty minutes,
and NJ. Voigt, eight hours and fifty
five minutes.
During the afternoon word of the ac-
cidents began to arrive and cast cloud
over the event. A dispatch from Bor-
deaux announced that Lorraine Bar
rows had met with a shocking accident
near Libourne, seventeen miles from
Bordeaux, at quarter 10 in the after
noon. 1t appears that Mr.. Barrows had
tried to avoid a dog which was crossing
the track and his monster ear, No. in
the race, struck q tree with terrific
force. His chauffeur was killed outright.
Barrows himself was picked up uncon-
scious but still breathing and was taken
declared to be critical. His car was
dashed to pieces. Shortly afterwards
news came that Marcel Renault had
been overturned in a deep ditch beside
the road near Coupe, twenty-one miles
from Poictjers, and that he was danger
ously Injured.