The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-09
Average Speed for the 800
Miles Was 63 Miles
an Hour
EXCITING FINISH FOR
THE VANDERBILT CUP
Nineteen Starters, Representing Many
Nations, Take Part In First Event
of the Kind Ever Held
In America.

New York OCTOBER 3.-Four wheeled
vehicles of all sorts of incongruous shapes
rushing along the road at a speed of
from 50 to 80 miles an hour. the air re-
sounding with the "honk. honk" of horns
the changing of bells and the shouts of
guards, the signal flags waving and flut-
tering and an occasional cheer from
thousands of throats, was the scene in
Mneola, Hampstead, Garden City and
other Long Island suburbs of greater
New York today during three hundred
mile automobile race for the w K. Van
derblt cup.
One death, one man in the hospital Sc
riously injured, many lives placed in jeo-
pardy during the seven or eight hours
of the day and many thousand dollars
pended is the result.
The committee deciding the contest filed
by Clements in today's automobile race
for the Vanderbilt cup, disallowed the
protest at an early hour this morning.
Heath who finished first was declared
the winner.
The official time as given out follows:
Elapsed Corrected
Time Time
Health. ...... 6;o6:4o o'zo no
Clement -. -. -. 6:5S:13 5:2S:l4
No time was taken for the other con-
tostants
The story of the race itself is one of
intense excitement and nerve tension. At
ter running for seven hours, sometimes at
speed of so to so miles hour, faster
than any express train, George Heath,
an American driving 90-horse power
vehicle of foreign make, and represent-
ing the automobile clubs of France fin
ished first in the run of 300 miles, with
Albert Clement representing the same
club, and driving an 8O-horse power ma
chine, also of foreign make, one minute
and twenty -eight second behind him.
Grandstand Rises in Body.
When the two men flashed by the
judges stand the crowd in the adjoining
grandstand rose in a body, and cheer al
ter cheer relieved the tension OF nerves
that had held the crowd for so many
hours But the award was not yet certain,
for Clement lodged protest with the
racing board of the Automobile Rssocia-
tion of America, under whose control the
race was held, and the decision given but
few minutes after was Withdrawn un-
til the board had made an investigator
into the claims set forth by Clement
These were of a technical nature. Glenn
ent in his protest declared that he mad
been held up in Hampstead over min
ute and a half, and that IL this time nad
been allowed him he would have won the
race He said that his gasoline tank
broke in Hampstead, and that time was
taken on him while he was repairing 1t,
contrary to the conditions of the race.
He also asserted that his time in con-
trolls had been charged against him.
Like all previous races of the kind,
there was a chapter of accidents ana
fatality The victims were among the
participants in the contest. Fortunately
none of the spectators along the course
was hurt.
Carl Muesel Is Killed.
The man killed was Carl Muesei a
chauffeur, who was driving the car OF
George Arents of New York. The acel-
dent was caused by the tires slipping ana
1t occurred about o'clock, two hours al
ter the start. The car was travelling at
a tremendous rate and was approaching
a curve when it suddenly sweryed ana
turned completely over. Muesel was
caught beneath the machine while Arents
was thrown to one side. Both men were
taken to a hospital, where it was found
that Muesel had one arm broken and his
skull was fractured and that he had
numerous cuts and bruises. One ear was
torn off, and one ankle sprained and he
was internally injured. He died half
an hour later at a hospital. Arents es-
capped with a few cuts and bruises.
Arents car was demolished.
The race was started at o'clock. The
course was over thirty mile triangle,
with turns that were sharp and danger
A h. 4
the highway at a grade, these were
guarded by signalmen. Twice at these
crossings Gabriel, French motorist, mar
rowly missed being struck by a train, In
one instance running but two feet ahead
of a locomotive. The starters In the race
were:
The Starters.
No. /, 6O-horse power. A. l.. Campbell
driver, representing Automobile Club OF
Germany
No. q SO-horse power, Gabriel driver
representing Automobile Club of France
No g. 40-horse power, Joseph Tracy
driver, representing Automobile Club OF
America.
No L. c0-horse power, A. c. Webb
driver, representing Automobile Club OF
America.
No. 5. 60-horse power, George Arents
Jr.. driver. representing Automobile Clut
of Germany.
No. 6. 24-horse power, H. H. Little dri.
yer. representing Automobile Club of
America.
No. 7, 9O-horse power, Heath, driver
representing Automobile Club of France
No. s, 30 horse power. Healy, driver
representing Automobile Club of France
No. 9, so-horse power. Werner, driver
representing Automobile Club OF Ger
many.
No 10, 9c-horse power, Paul Sartori
driver, representing Automobile Club OF
Italy.
No. II, e0-horse power. Maurice Ber-
min, driver representing Automop1le Clut
Of France.
No. Il, SO-horse power. Albert Clement
driver. representing Automobile Club
of France.
No. a. 80 horse power Tarte. driver
representing Automobile Club of France
No. Is. S0-horse power. Teste, driver
representing Automobile Club of France
No. 16 3o-horse power. Charles Schmidt