The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-26
roM COOPER, OLDFIELD's MANA
GER, THROWN FROM MACHINE.
BACK WAS WRENCHED
FROM RACING AUTO.
COOPER ESCAPED WITH ONLY A
FEW SLIGHT BRUISES.

Was Unconscious for Ten Minutes.
but Beyond Losing n Little Skin
and Having His Clothing Badly
Torn He Suffered no IncOnven-
ience-Barney OIdheld Was Driv-
ing the Racer when Accident De-
curred-TOuring Car Had Broken
Down and Bullet Was Being Taken.
to Track.
Tom Cooper, the manager of Barney
Oldfeld, and ex-champion cyclist of
America, was slightly injured yester-
day afternoon by being thrown from the
Winton Bullet which was being driven
by Oldfield. Cooper had a narrow es-
cape from death.
1t is the custom of the motorists to
tow their racing machines to and from
Brysons to the Fair Grounds for prac-
tice spins. Owing to an accident to the
big touring car, which is used for this
purpose, it became necessary to drive
the Bullet by it's own engine when Old
field headed for the track. The racing
machines are built with but one speed
and can be run through the streets
only by using the throttle fifth of a
second at "a time, and the exhaust re-
port is very loud.
Cooper was seated beside the driver
and as the pair swung into the macada-
mixed road, after leaving the brick
pavement, Oldfield let his engine out a
bit, and the car was soon going forty
miles an hour. The road seemed clear,
- l. IL
warning a buggy containing two boys
came in from a cross lane and ran in
the path of the big auto. Oldfeld saw
that an accident was, to be averted only
by a desperate chance. He gave his
steering wheel a terrific turn and the
machine jumped from the road into a
gully and back again to the road.
The force of the impact was So great
that the seat and body of the Bullet
were torn away and Cooper was pre-
cipitated to the ground, where he lay
until Oldfeld stopped the machine a
quarter of mile further down the road,
and returned to aid his manager Coop
er was unconscious for ten minutes, and
after being revived found that his in
juries consisted of only sprained
shoulder and bruised knee. His cloth
ing was badly torn and his hat was
found fifty yards away.
All eAdHllHdllOn proved Inat the Bull
let had suffered but little except in the
woodwork. None of the cylinders were
injured and the radiator was practi-
cally unhurt, being slightly mashed at
one end. Machinist Graham, who ac-
companied Oldfied, worked till late
last night in order to get the machine
in perfect condition for the races this
afternoon. 1t will be necessary to use
an improvised seat until a new seat
and body can be shipped from the fac
tory. Cooper will probably be able
to attend the races this afternoon, al
though he is sore from his fall KS
The races will begin promptly at 4
O'Clock this afternoon, and will con-
sist of the match race between Hause-
man on the "999'' and Oldfield on the
Bullet the best two in three heats of
five miles each, and the handicap event
of five miles, in which the Rainey
machine will be pitted against the two
track machines.
The band concert will begin at $3.50
O'Clock at the track, and the street
parade will take place at II o'clock in
the morning. The racing party will
leave at 8 o'clock tonight, via the
Central. for Macon. where they race
next Tuesday.