The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-09
PROTEST BY CLEMENT
In That Terrific, Nerve-Racking, Death
Defying Flight of Three Hundred
Miles For the Vanderbilt Cup, There
Are Scenes That Eclipse The Crash
in the Chariot Race in Beur Hurr
and Make the Olympic Games of
Classic Greece Seem But the Sports
of Children.
(By the Associated Press

New York, Oct. S.-Four whee
vehicles o. all sorts OF incongrudS
shapes, rushing along the road at a
speed of from sixty to ninety miles an
hour, the air resounding with the
"honk honk'' of horns. the changing
of bells and the shouts of guards; sig
nal flags waving and f1uttering, and
an occasional cheer from thousands
of Threats was the atmosphere in
Mineola, Hampstead, Garden City and
other Long Island surburbs of Greater
New York today, during the three
hundred automobile race for the Will
liam K. Vanderbilt. Jr. cup.
One death, one man in the hospital
seriously injured, many lives placed in
jeopardy during seven or eight hours
of the day, and many thousands of
dollars expended, is the result.
George Heath Wins
The story of the race itself is one
of intense excitement and nerve ten
sion. After running for seven hours,
some times at a speed OF sixty to nine
ty miles an hour and faster than many
express trains, George Heath, an
American driving a so horse power
vehicle of foreign make. and repre-
senting the Automobile Club of
France. finished first in the run of
800 miles with Albert Clement. rep
resenting the same club and driving
an SO-horse power machine, also of
foreign make, one minute and twenty
eight seconds behind him.
When the two men flashed by the
judges the crowds in the adjoining
grand stand rose in 2 body and cheer
after 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 a
protest with the racing board of the
Automobile Association Of America,
under whose control the race was
held, and the decision given, but few
minutes before was withdrawn until
the board had made an investigation
into the claims set forth by Clement.
Those were of a technical nature.
Clement, in his protest, declared that
he had been held uD in Hampstead
over minute and half. and that
If this time had been allowed him he
would nave won the race. He said
that his gasolene tank broke in
Hampstead, and that time was taken
on him while he was repairing it,
contrary TO the conditions of the race.
He also asserted that his time in con-
trolls had been charged etainst him.
Chapter of Accidents.
Like all previous races of the kind
there was chapter of accidents and
fatality. The victims were among the
participants in the contest. Fortu-
nately none of the spectators along
the course was hurt.
The man killed was Carl Meusel.
chauffeur. who was driving the car
of George Arents, of New York. The
accident was caused by the tires Slip
ping and it occurred about o'clock
two hours after the start. The car
was travelling at tremendous rate
and was approaching a curve. when it
suddenly swerved and turned COM
pletely over. Meusel was caught be-
meath the machine while Arents was
thrown to one side. Both men were
taken to hospital where it was found
that Meusel had one arm broken and
that his skull was fractured and that
he had numerous cuts and bruises.
One ear was torn off, one ankle
sprained and he was internally in
jured He died half an hour later at
hospital. Arents escaped with few
cuts and bruises. Arents' car was
demolished.
The Mad Race STARTS.
The race was started at O'Clock.
The course was over a thirty mile
triangle with turns that We're sharp
and dangerous At two places the
railroad crossed the highway at
grade, and these places were guarded
ny SlSIldl Illell
Twice at these crossing Gabriel. a
French motorist narrowly missed be-
ing struck by a train: in one instance.
running but two feet ahead of
locomotive.
The starters in the race were:
A. L. Campbell Gabriel, Joseph Ira
cey, A. C. Webb. George Arents. Jr..
II. II. Lyttle. Heith. Ed. E. Hawlev.
Werner, Paul Sartori Maurice Bernin.
Albert Clement Tarte, Teste. Charles
Schmidt. Frank Croker Luttgen and
William Wallace.
After the first car was off promptly
at a. m. the others followed at two
minute intervals. The Vanderbilt car
was out Of order when 1t came to the
start, and it was more than two hours
later that it was ready.
A fying start in violation of the
rules was made but the car kept on.
1t was officially barred, however.
The first accident Of the day oc
Cured when car No. 10. driven by
Wallace stopped for repairs at HEMP
Continued on Page Thirteen)