The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-27
KILLING AUTOMOBILE RACE.
The Dspsrats Dash From Paris to
Madrid Results in Tragedy.

covered sixty-two miles an hour on
the road outside the cities. These
victories, however, were clouded by a
series of accidents, having in one case
at least, fatal result. At least two
cars were wrecked, and Marcel Re-
nault, the winner of the Paris-Vienna
race last year; Lorraine Barrows,
very we'll known atuomobilist, and
Renault's chauffeur, were seriously, 1T
is believed fatally, injured, while
Barrow's chauffeur was killed. More
over, an uncontimed report says a
serious accident occnrred near Angou-
leme, in which the two occupants of
an automobile, the owner of which is
not yet known, were seriously injured
and two spectators were killed. This
number Of accidents in view Of the
number of contestants in the race, the
great speed and power OF their ma
chimes has not caused any great sur
prise.
". K. VANDERBILT, JR., WITH
DRAWS.
The name of ". K. Vanderbilt, Jr.,
disappeared from the reports along the
route after Rambouillett, where he
passed twenty EIGHT in order, at a
quarter of 5 this 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 a
number of inquiries. It was learned
later that he, Henri Fournier and
Baron de Forest withdrew from the
race together before reaching Char
tres. All of them suffered break
downs, and, having lost three hours,
they decided it was useless to con-
tinue. Vanderbilt and Baron de For
est laughed and made light Of their
| withdrawal. Foxhall Keene, Tod
Sloan and W. j. Dannat, the Amer
ican artist, did not start. Q. Gray
Dinsmore is thus the only American
left in.
| EXCITEMENT OF THE START. !.
Versailles passed a night of wild
excitement. It is estimated that a
hundred thousand persons crowded
| into the little town to witness the
start OF the race. Soldiers with fixed
bayonets lined the track for some dis
tance from Versailles. A bomb was
exploded at 8. .35 q. N. as signal to
get ready, and Immediately Charles
Jarrott's car drew into place. Another
bomb was fired at quarter to 4 for
| the start, and then the enormous n1a-
chine shot forward, amid the shouts
of the thousands of spectators. The
| other cars followed in quick success
sion. Nine de Gas, the sole female
competitor in last years Paris-Berlin
race, was again the only woman to
participate insthe 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 Chartres. The crowd
around Mr.. Vanderbilt's mcahine pre-
vented him from reaching the starting
line in time, and he was further delay
ed by a controversy with the judges,
finally starting two minutes late. The
last departure was at quarter to I
this morning.
| LOUIS RENAULT'S GREAT RUN.
The reports along the route soon
showed that Louis Renault was making
q great race, and before Chartres was
reached he had overtaken and passed
Charles Jarrett, M. Rene de Knyff,
and gained lead which he never after
lost. Dispatches from Vendome, Tours
and Poictiers told Of his passing
through ahead, and Bordeaux sent the
announcement of his arrival first, at
| 12 hours, Il minutes and As seconds.
He had beaten Henri Fournier's re-
| cord of s hours, A minutes. Charles
Jarrott finished second at II. 80 having
covered the course in s hours, A
minutes. M. Gabriel arrived third,
at Los, his time being s hours, Z
minutes. The other contestants o
made fast time we're j. Salleron, s
hours, 40 minutes; Baron de Crawhor.
s hours, So minutes: j. B. Warden, :
hours, so minutes, and M. Volgt, 3
hours, 55 minutes.
During the afternoon word OF accl,
dents began to arrive and cast cloud
over the event. A dispatch from Bor-
deaux announced that Lorraine Bar
rows, had met shocking accident
| near Libourne, seventeen miles from
Bordeaux, at quarter to 2 this after
| noon.
LIFE LOST TO SAVE A DOG.
| It appears that Mr.. Barrows had
tried to avoid dog which was cross
ing the track, and his monster car,
No. ) in the race. struck a tree with
! terrific force. His chafeur was killed
outright. Barrows himself was picked
up unconscious, but still breathing,
and taken to hospital, where his con-
dition was declared to be critical. His
car was dashed to pieces. Shortly
afterward news came that Marcel Re
nault had been overturned in deep
ditch besides the road near Couche,
81 miles from Poictiers, and that he
was dangerously injured.
The Automobile Club of Bordeaux
received dispatch at o'clock saying
Renault was unconscious and, it was
feared, dying. Many lesser break
downs and casualties are reported.
OTHER FATAL ACCIDENTS.
Dispatches arriving from points
along the course add to the list Of
fatalities and accidents. The most