The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-25
Gabriel Cuts These Figures Twenty
Minutes, Indicating Speed of Sixty
Two Miles Hourly I'm the Country.
BUT ONE AMERICAN FINISHES
VANDERBILT DROPPED OUT AND
SEVERAL DID NOT START.
One Woman I'm the Line-Ovntion mt
the start from versailIes-Other
Features OF the Day.

PARIS, May 24.-The first stage in the
Paris Madrid automobile race from Ver-
sailles to Bordeaux, 343 miles, finished at
noon to-day, when Louis Renault dashed
at a furious pace into Bordeaux, having
made a record run OF eight hours and
twenty-seven minutes. An hour later NJ.
Gabriel arrived with still better record OF
eight hours seven minutes. 1t is estimated
from the times made that these automo-
biles covered sixty-two miles an hour on
the road outside the cities.
These victories. however. were ciouded
by series of accidents. having in one case.
at least, a fatal result. At least two cars
were wrecked and Marcel Renault, the
winner of the Paris-vienna race last year;
Lorraine Barrows, a very well-known au-
tomobilist. and RenauIt's chauffeur, were
seriously. and il Is believed fatally, in
jured. while Barrows's chauffeur was killed.
Moreover. an unconfirmed report says that
a serious accident occurred near Angou-
Jeme. 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 has not caused any great sur
prise here In view of the number of con-
testantS In the race and the great speed
and power OF their machines.
The name of W. K. Vanderbilt, jr., dis
appeared from the reports along the route
after Rambouillet, where he passed twen-
ty-eighth IN order. at quarter of this
morning. going in fine form. The omis-
sion of his name from the dispatches from
Chartres. the next town on the road, caused
some anxiety and brought forth a num-
Der of Inquiries. IL was learned later that
ne, Henri Fournier and Baron De Forest
withdrew from the race together before
reaching Chartres. All of them suffered
breakdowns. and. having lost three hours.
they decided that IL was useless to continue.
Mr.. Vanderbilt and Baron De Forest re-
turned to the Hotel Ritz at IL o'clock this
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
this 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.
Versailles passed a night Of wild excite
ment. IL is estimated that hundred
town to witness the start Of the race. Sol
diers 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 quarter to O'Clock for the start,
and then the enormous machine shot for
ward amid the shouts of the thousands o.
spectators. The other cars followed in
quick succession. Nine. De CAST, the sole
female competitor in last years Paris-Be
lin race, was again the only woman TO
participate in the present contest. Her
machine was decked with flowers and her
departure was the signal for a great ova-
tion. She made splendid run. passing five
of her competitors before reaching Char
tres. The crowd around Mr.. Vanderbilt
machine prevented him reaching the start
ing line In time and he was further de-
layed by controversy with the judges
finally starting two minutes late. The last
departure was at quarter to this morn
ing
The reports along the route soon showed
that Louis Renault was making a great
race and before Chartres was reached he
had overtaken and passed Charles Jarrott
and NJ. Rene De Knyff and gained a lead
which he never after lost. Dispatches from
Vendome, Tours and Poitoirs told of his
passing through ahead and Bordeaux sent
the announcement of his arrival first al
12:14:45 O'Clock. He had beaten Henri Four
nier's record of hours "A minutes Charles
Jarrett finished second at 1890. having
covered the course in hours "A minutes
NJ. Gabriel arrived third at 1OS his time be-
ing hours minutes. The other contest.
ants who made fast time were J. Salleron
hours 40 miutes; Baron De Crawper
hours So minutes: j. b. Warden hours z
minutes. and NJ. Voigt. hours 55 minutes
During the afternoon word of the acci-
the contest. A dispatch from Bordeaux an.
nounced that Lorraine Barrows had met
with a shocking accident near Libourne
seventeen miles from Bordeaux, at las this
afternoon II appears that Mr.. Barrow.
had tried to avoid a dog which was CROSSING
the track, and his monstrous car No ir
the race, struck tree with terrific force
His chauffeur WIS killed outright Barrow.
himself was picked up unconscious, but still
breathing. and was taken to a hospital
where his condition was declared to be crit
zeal. His car was dashed TO pieces Shortl,
afterward news came that Marcel Renaui
had been overturned in a deep ditch besid,
the road near Coupe. twenty-one miles from
Poictiers. and that he was dangerously in
Jured. The Auto obile Club OF Bordeau,
received dispatcl { o'clock saying Rem
ault was unconsei and. 1t was feared
dying.
Louis Renault, Marcers brother. wa,
deeply affected by the news. and at ono,
started back to his brothers assistance
Orders were given TO withdraw all the Rem
ault cars from the race. Many lesser break
downs and casualties are reported AT
early report that one OF the two brother,
Far.nan had been injured is unconfirmed
Late in the afternoon an unconfirmed re
port came from Bordeaux that a serious
accident had occurred near Angouleme. tw,
occupants of an automobile being thrown
out and injured. and two spectators killed
No names details were given
The result of the first stage of the rae
appears 10 be draw between the rnerit
of the light and heavy vehicles Louis
Renault drove light machine weighin,
$50 pounds and OF thirty-horse power. Will
Gabriel drove heavy machine OF seventy
horse power weighing LOCO pounds
The time and position OF the winners q
the first stage, deducting the time allowanc
Tor slowing down inside the cities , a
follows: Gabriel. hours 13 minute Loui
Renault. hours % minutes; Sa'. IRON
hours 46 minutes; Jarrott. houry 81 min
utes: Worden, hours 56 minutes, Barol
De Crawper, hours ! minute: Voigt
hours minutes; Barras, hours II min
utes; Rougier. hours Is minutes; Mouter
hours II minutes.
Dispatches arriving from points along tn
course add TO the list OF fatalities and acct