The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-25
STOPPED THE RACE.
French Authorities Interfere in
Automobile Speed Trial.

Paris. May 25.-In view of the NUM-
Der of accidents, some fatal, in the first
stage of the @2aris-Madrid automobile
race. from Versailles to Bordeaux. Pre-
mier Combes has forbidden the con-
tinuance of the contest on French terri-
tory The second stage of the race,
which was to have been continued on
Tuesday, included a run over French
territory from Bordeaux to the Spanish
frontier. Premier Combes' action Will
probably lead to the races being aban-
doned.
1t is reDorted that the Spanish gov
eminent has also forbidden the con-
tinuance Of the races on Spanish terri-
tory
The first stage in the Paris-Madrid
automobile race from Versailles to BOr-
deaux, 343 miles, was finished at noon,
when Louis Renault dashed at a furious
pace into Bordeaux. having made rec.
ord Of eight hours and q minutes. Ar
hour later NJ Gabriel arrived. with
still better record of eight hours and
seven minutes. It is estimated from
the time made that these automobiles
covered siXty-one miles an hour on the
road outside the cities
These victories, however, were cloud
ed by a series of accidents having in
one case at least a fatal result At
least two cars were wrecked and Mar
Gel Renault the winner of the Paris
Vienna race, last year. Lorraine Bar
rows, very we'll known automobiles,
and Renault's Chauffeur. were seriously
AN rs DtlltNE4 fatally. injured. w nils
BarroWs' Chauffeur was killed. More
over. an unconhrmed report says a Sc
riOus accident occurred near AngOu-
ieme I'm which the two occupants of an
automobile the owner of which is not
yet known, were seriously injured and
two SPECTATORS We're killed. This num-
Der OF accidents has not caused any
great surprise here in view of the num-
Der of contestants I'm the race and the
great speed and power of their ma
chimes.
Mime. De Cast the sole female COM
pettor in last years Paris Berlin race,
was the only woman to participate in
the present contest Her machine was
decked with flowers and her departure
was the signal for a great ovation She
made splendid run. passing five of
her competitors before reaching Char
tres The crowd around Mr.. Wander
bits machine prevented him from
reaching the starting line in time and
he was further delayed by a contro-
versy with the judges. finally starting
two minutes late
The reports along the route soon
showed that Louis Renault was maxi
ing a great race and before Charities
he had Overtaken and passed Charles
Parrot and M. Bense De knyff ana
gained a lead which ne never lost after.
Dispatches from Vendome. Tours and
Poicticrs told Of his passing through
ahead and Bordeaux sent the announce
ment of his arrival first, at - hours.
IL AilMultHs 80 rttDIAlr. ne iAdA BEdLEA-
Henri Fournier's record of 8 hours, "A
minutes. Charles Jarrett finished sec
ond at 1890. having covered the course
I'm 8 hours, "A minutes. NJ Gabriel ar
rived third at 1:0S. his time being s
The name of w K Vanderbilt Jr..
disappeared from the reports along the
route after Ramboullet, where he pass
ed twenty eighth in order, going IN
fine form Tt was learned later that he,
urrrTr4afrV and RaT0n lFEOTHST
withdrew from the race altogether be
fore reaching Charities. All of them
suffered breakdOWns and having lost
three hours they decided that it was
useless to- continue FoXhall kene- roo
Sloan and w. J. Dannat, the American
artist did not take part in the race
c.. Gray Dinsmore is thus the only
American left.
Versailles passed night of wild ex-
element 1t is estimated that 100000
persons crowded into the little town to
witness the start of the race SotdlelS
with fixed bayonets lined the track for
some distance from Versailles. bomb
was exploded at 3.35 a. m. as signal
to get ready. and Immediately Charles
Jarrotts car drew into place. Another
bomb was fired at 3.45 O'Clock for the
start and then the enormous machine
shot forward amide the shouts of the
thousands Of spectators. The other cars
followed i'm quick succession
The result of the first stage OF the
merits of the light and heavy vehicles
Louis Renault drove a light machine
Weighing $50 pounds and of thirty horse
power while Gabriel drove heavy ma
chine Of seventy horse power weighing
d, 600 pounds.
The time and position of the winners
of the first stage. deducing the time all
lowance for slowing down inside the
cities are as follows.
Gabriel 5 hours. 13 minutes. Louis
Renault. 8 hours, % mintes, Calleron.
hours As minutes: Jarrett, hours, 81
minutes: Wrden. 5 hours. minutes
Baron De Crawner. 6 hours I minute;
Voight hours. 2 minutes, Banras,
hours. u minutes; ROugier hours, 16
minutes, and Mouter, s hours, II min
utes.
Dispatches from points along the
course add TO the list Of fatalities and
accidents The most terrible occurred
near Bonneval, ten miles from Charters,
where machine 243. driven by NJ. Porter,
was overturned at a railroad crossing
and took FIRE. The chauffeur was
caught underneath the automobile and
burned to death. while two soldiers and
s. child were killed.
A chauffeur was badly injured by an
accident to his motor car near Angoul-
eme A woman crossing the road in the
neighbOrhood of Ablis was run over by
one of the competing cars and killed
Mr. stead and his chauffeur. who were
first reported to have been killed are
still alive. II seems that their automo-
bile collided with another car with
which Mr. Stead had been racing for
several lxilometers, wheel to wheel and