Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-05-29
FATAL AUTO RACES
Death Strewed Path of the Great
French Contest.
VICTIMS OF THE RED DEVILS
Killed and Injured by Breaking ans
Loss Of Control Of Their Machines -
Terrific Speed Maintained.

Paris. May 25.-The first stage In
the Paris-Madrid automobile race from
Versailles to Bordeaux, 343 miles,
finished at noon Sunday when Louis
Renault dashed at a furious pace into
Bordeaux, having made a record run
of s hours and p minutes. An hour
later NJ Gabriel arrived with a still
better record OF hours 7 minutes II
is estimated from the time made that
these automobiles covered sixty-two
miles an hour on the road outside the
cities These victories, however,
were clouded by series OF accidents
Night OF Wild Excitement
Versailles passed night OF wild ex-
element 1t is estimated that a hun.
dred thousand persons crowded into
the little town to witness the start OF
the race. Soldiers with fixed bayonets
lined the track for some distance from
Versailles bomb was exploded at
35 a. m. as a signal TO get ready
and Immediately Charles JarrOts car
drew into place. Another bomb was
fired at quarter to for the start,
and then the enormous machine shot
forward amid the shouts Of the thou.
sands of spectators. The other cars
followed in quick succession.
During afternoon word OF accidents
began TO arrive and cast a cloud over
the event dispatch from Bordeaux
announced that Lorraine Barrows had
met with shocking accident near
Libourne seventeen miles from Dor.
deauX. II appears that Mr. Barrows
had tried to avoid a dog which was
crossing the track and his monster car.
No. > in the race struck a tree with
terrific force His chauffeur was killed
outright Barrows himself was picked
up unconscious but still breathing and
Was taken 20 a hospital. where his con
d.tion was declared TO be critical His
car was dashed 10 pieces Shortly af-
forwards news came that Marcel
Renault had been overturned in deep
ditch beside the road near Coube. and
that he was dangerously injured The
Automobile club of Bordeaux received
a dispatch at ( o'clock saying Renault
was unconscious. and II was feared dy.
ing
Other dispatches arriving from
points along the course add TO the list
OF fatalities and accidents The most
terrible occurred near Bonneval. nine
teen miles from Chartres. where ma
chine No. 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 a child were killed
A chauffeur was badly injured by an
accident 10 his motor car near Augou.
leme. \ woman crossing the road in
the neighborhood Of Ablis was run
over by one OF the competine cars and
killed
Mr. Steads automobile collIded with
another car and was completely over
turned in a ditch Mr. Stead was
caught under the machine. while his
chauffeur was hurled to a distance OF
thirty feet and had his head and body
badly cat.
II is stated that Louis Renault's au-
tomObile attained at Beourdniere. be-
tween Charities and Bonneval. a maxi
mum speed of SS24 miles per hour
Bordeaux May 25.-The illumina-
tions which were fixed for last night
in honor of the automobile race were
countormanded as sign OF mourning
for the persons killed during the con.
test.
Paris. May 25-In view Of the num-
her Of accidents. some fatal. in the first
stage of the Paris-Madrid auto race
Sunday from Versailles to Bordeaux
Premier CONDOS has forbidden tho
continuance OF the contest on French
territory The second stage of tho
race which was TO have been con
tnued Tuesday included a run over
French territory from Bordeaux 90 the
Spanish frontier Premier Combes' ac-
tion viii probably lead to the race be-
ing abandoned
II is reported that the Spanish gov
eminent has also forbidden the con.
tinuance of The race on Spanish terri
tory