Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-05-27
PUTS A STOP TO
AUTO CONTEST,
Premier Combes Says 1t Can't Con-
tinue on French Territory.
ACCIDENTS CAUSE OF ACTION.
Several Big Cars Are Wrecked and
Prominent Owners Injured-Eight
Lives Reported to Have
Been Lost.

Paris, May 25.-In view of the num-
Der of accidents, some fatal, in the
first stage of the Madrid auto
mobile race, from Versailles to Bor-
deauX, Premier Combes has forbid
den the continuance of the contest on
French territory. 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 race being abandoned
1t is reported that the Spanish gov
eminent has also forbidden the con-
tinuance of the race on Spanish terri
tory.
Made Good Time.
The first stage in the Paris Madrid
automobile race, from Versailles to
Bordeaux, 343 miles, finished at noon
Sunday, when Louis Renault dashed
at furious pace into Bordeaux, hav-
ing made a record run of eight hours
and p 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 automobiles covered 60
miles an hour on the road outside the
cities.
Fatal Accidents.
These victories, however, were
clouded by a series of accidents,
having in one case at least, a fatal re-
suit. At least two cars were wrecked
and Marcel Renault, the winner of
the Paris-Vienna race last year, Lor
rain Barrows, 4 very well known au-
tomobilist, and Renault's chauffeur
were seriously, it is believed fatally,
injured. while Barrows' chauffeur
was killed.
Night of Excitement
Versailles passed a night of wild
excitement. 1t is estimated that 100,-
900 persons crowded into the little
town to witness the start of the race
Soldiers with fixed bayonets lined
the track for some distance from Yer
sailles. A bomb was exploded at 1885
a. IN. as a signal to get ready and
Immediately Charles Jarrot's car
drew into place. Another bomb was
fired at a quarter to four o'clock for
the start and then the enormous ma
chine shot forward amid the shouts
of the thousands of spectators. The
other cars followed in quick success
sion.
News of the Accidents
~
accidents began to arrive and cast a
cloud over the event. A dispatch from
Bordeaux announced that Lorraine
Barrows had met with shocking ac-
cident near Libourne, II miles from
Bordeaux, at Las in the afternoon
1t appears that Barrow had tried to
avoid dog which was crossing the
track and his monster car, No. in
the race, struck a tree with terrific
force. His chauffer was killed out
right. Barrows himself was picked
up unconscious but still breathing
and taken to a hospital, where his
condition was declared to be critical.
His car was dashed to pieces. Short
ly afterwards news came that Macel
Renault had been overturned in deep
ditch beside the road near Coupe, 81
miles from Poictiers, and that he was
dangerously injured.
The Automobile club of Bordeaux
received dispatch at four o'clock
saying Renault was unconscious and, it
was feared, dying. Louis Renault, Mar
cells brother, was deeply affected by
the news and at once started back to
his brothers assistance. Orders were
given to withdrawal the Renault cars
from the race. Many lesser break
downs and casualties are reported.
Late in the afternoon an uncon-
frmed report came from Bordeaux
that a serious accident had occurred
near Angouleme, two occupants of an
automobile being thrown out and in
iured and two spectators killed. No
names or details were given
More Fatalities.
Dispatches arriving from points
along the course add to the list of IA
talities and accidents. The most terri
bic occurred near Bonneval, 10 miles
from Charities, where machine No. 243,
VI ~ Ell ny NI O1lSI, was Wv d
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 to his motor car near Angou-
leme. 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
We're first reported to have been killed,
are still alive. It seems that their auto
mobile collided with another car with
which Mr.. Stead had been racing for
several kilometers, wheel to wheel, and
was completely overturned in ditch
near Montguyon. Mr.. Stead was caught
under themachine, while his chauffeur
was hurled to distance of 80 feet and
had his head and body badly. cut. Mr..
Stead was coDS ciOuS when h q xyac