New-York tribune., 1903-07-26
0LDFIELDL LOWERSRECORD
TWO OTHER MARKS CUT.
Nile Made in Fifty-fUe and -Four.
fifth Seconds.

All records. both as to crowds and speed. wezs
broken yesterday at the automobile meet at the
Empire City track Barney OIdheld did the
greatest record smashing. At o'clock he shot
around the mile track in 30 40 seconds. eIectri-
flying the crowd and breaking the worlds mills
record for automobiles.
At the close Of the exhibition. which ended al.
most before the spectators could realize that 10
had begun, it was announced that OidfeId,
having made the fastest mile ever ridden on
circular track, was ready to meet any man IN
the world on the road or track. and that he
would compete in the international races to be
held in Germany next year for the James Cor.
don Bennett cup.
Oldfelds best previous performance was az
Columbus Ohio ON July T. when he went a mile
at the Fair Grounds in 0:56 %. His best previ.
Gus record at the Empire City track was
1.O1 %, made on May so of this year. As Old.
field stepped from his machine, grtny with oil
and dust he was greeted with applause from
the crowd in the grandstand while people in
automobiles footed horns and Whistles at him
All automobile roads led to the. Empire CitJ
track yesterday and the long stretch Of road
from Central Bridge to the park entrance dis
played one endless procession of chugging,
whizzing, whirring. rattling motor vehicles %
all sorts, from the pretentious touring Of
many tons 10 the light runaboUt- Never wa
there such an Internal din and dust and clatteF
| and as though there had been a battle royal
| the wayside was dotted with broken down We,
hcles. whose owners in disgust had taken "a
the more prosaic but surer trolley ear.
As showing the popularity and wide extent OF
automobiIing the trip to the track was a reye-
Iation: and II one had luck. and was not blind.
ed choked and half suffocated by the clouds Of
dust which trailed in the wake OF the pom
derous vehicles and puffed into the open cars
like discharges from a masked Gatlius battery
he saw a sight we'll worth seeing
In spots where the road was particularly dusty
the scene partooIl of that which might surround
a conflict of weird. uncouth monsters OF another
world. From amid the svirls of a twisting
fuunel-like dust cloud would come the groaninG1
sputterfng, creaking. clanking and throboins 81
machinery There would be explosions, reports
as though giant hands were uncOrking gtani
bottles of champagne; hissiugs and thumpinss'
Suddenly as if shot out of an engine OF war
would leap forth car OF red or black, blue OF
white its brass lamps shining like eyes Sur
mounting it would be hideous faces, not Oi
earthly mould. with big, goggly staring eye'
and black masks The thing would leap forward
sidewise, backward. to ali points Of the compass
curvet and prance and dance Il would stoE
and become silent; squirt forward with a roar
T7sre would be a sight OF wind tossed draper1es
as though the colors were carried aloft Ihs
dust would settle for a moment. and the thing
would resolve itself into its normal proportions.
II would become an automobile. the strangeiJ
distorted faces masks and dust glasses TO pro-
tect the faces of the drivers and the draperiei
women's wells
Forward the vehicle would speed. leaving
smoking path Another cloud OF dust wouh
rise: the banging and noise as of boiler shoI
working on rush orders would begin again, and
an odor as il the stinkpor warfare OF the Middle
Ages had been revived would apprise onlOokert
that another automobile was AT hand
stops for repairs were frequent. and dusty
griny faces diyed deep into the intricacies oi
machinery and gasoIene tanks. while more fortu
nate drivers sped on with commiserating laugh
For three hours the automobiles darted along
the road. oriss-crossing in and out and racing
with each other. Then the pilgrimage ceased
for all had gathered at the racetrack.
busters. just plain unornamental linen dust
ers echo Of oIden times. are one or the proper
things in automobile togsery now, and had il
not been for the caps that surmounted them
and gave the cIeys to the tastes of the wearers
a look at the lawn in front OF the gran1stand a;
the track would have convinced one thar he
was attending convention OF grocery clerks
for everywhere his eye rested on linen busters
A greater gathering of the automobile clans hat
seldom been seen hereab0uts. Automobiles oi
an shapes aad sizes stood on the lawn in front
and fin the incIosure underneath the Frandsrand
And the noise Never was there such cons
centrated snoring. snorting and chugging-
Prupp-mp-mp-mp. Kchug-chug-ch -chug-cnug
PIunkity-pIunk- -plunk pIunk. Brip brip briP
brip-brip. Cggug- -usgug-ug -uggug-uggug. Thus
went without end.
To the automobile driver there was doubtless
harmony in the sounds. but 70 the laynan u vas
the most ear-racdng, nerve-jangiiEg. head-buz-
zjna debauch OF noises. The announcer had hss
t~oTbles He would raise his megaphone to his
Inns summon all his powers. initiate his lungs
and puff out his cheeks Winner OF first race
would come from the megaphone. and then al
he automobiles, as II BY common consent
would break forth in their delirious drumming
And the horses qUartered at The track. whai
.,,-..-s.-... r.-..,.- ~.