The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-18
FRENCH AUTO WINS
INTERNATIONAL RACE
Kaiser Sees German Machine
Finish Second In Bennett
Cup Contest

course. Decaters, of Germany, was
third, forty-f five minutes and ten sec
onds behind Jenatzy. Edge abandon
ed the race owing to tire trouble.
Thery's total time was 5:50:03, and
Jenatzys was 6:01:21. Jenatzy ar
rived at the winning post first, but his
actual running time was eleven min
utes and eighteen seconds longer than
that of the Frenchman.
The weather conditions could not
have been improved upon. Through
out the long day enthusiasm ran to the
highest pitch. Fortunately the race
was not marred by any serious acci-
dent which, owing to the difficult ma
ture of the course, had been gloomily
predicted.
1t was a vast and brilliant cosmo-
politan assemblage which greeted the
winner of the trophy and apparently
his nationality and the fact that the
German champion had been beaten on
German course in no way leSSened
the generosity of the ovation accorded
the Frenchman.
Emperor William himself, who with
the empress, was an interested spec
tator, was the first to extend con-
gratulations to France. The emperor
immediately sent for Baron de- Suylen,
president, and others members of the
French Auto club, who were presented
TO their majesties in the royal box.
Royalty Attends Race
Among the royal and other distin-
guished spectators, in addition to En-
peror William and Empress Augusta
Victoria, were Prince and Princess
Henry of Prussia, Prince Frederick,
Prince and Princess Frederick Charles
of Hesse, Prince Leopold, the heredi-
tary Princess of Sake Meiningen; Am
bassador Tower, who during the day
conversed with the emperor and en-
press in the royal box; Allison Armour,
]. L. Hartman and a number of other
Americans and representatives of the
British nobility and the British Auto
club.
The cosmopolitan gathering staying
at HOmburg for the great international
event in the motoring world was early
astir today and was joined by thou
sands of sightseers from all places
within reach. They thronged Saal-
burg and all the points of vantage
along the course long before the time
of starting the race. The weather
was splendid.
The course was 871k miles, necessf-
tating four circuits to complete the
total distance of $50 miles. 1t was in
excellent condition, though numerous
sharp curves, sudden falls and rises
and steep embankments at the side
presented enough dangers to try the
skill and nerve of the most expert
enced drivers. The course was excel
lently kept by a large force of police
and soldiers.
The start was made punctually at
o'clock, flourish of trumpetS signal
ing the. departure. Jenatzy. the holder
of the James Gordon Bennett cup, on
shooting PAST the royal stand saluted
the emperor and empress. The other
cars, eighteen in all, were started at
regular intervals of seven minutes with
the exception of the car driven by
Baron de Caters, which was delayed by
slight breakdown. The only Ameri-
an American car.
Mile Minute Clip
The motors went off at very fast
pace, the leaders, doing a mile min
| ute. They all completed the first cir
cult safely, with the exception of Opel,
Swiss, who was obliged to retire ow-
| ing to broken shaft.
Jenatzy, however, narrowly escaped
a catastrophe early in the race At
| the bottom of long straight incline
approaching the village of Wehrheim,
| is level crossing. Jenatzy was near
ing the bottom of this incline which
| is the fastest bit of the whole course,
when the frantic shouts of the spec
| tatorS induced him to slacken his
speed. A few seconds later Jenatzy
came in sight Of the crossing and
saw thereon locomotive in the middle
of his course.
But for the fact that he had preyi-
ouSly slackened his speed JenatZy must
have met with disaster. The incident
however, only cost him a minutes de-
iay Half an hour later Opel broke q
shaft while speeding through the main
street of Wehrheim. Opel was not in
| jured, but he was obliged to retire.
The interest of the public tagged
considerably during the second and
| third circuits. The sun was intensely
hot. Every now and then a bugle
| sounded, a rushing noise was heard
| and motor car dashed by at the rate
| of sixty miles an hour. But otherwise
little could be seen.
| The empress returned to Homburg
| before noon and many occupants of the
| stands followed suit Excursionists,
however, were scattered thickly along
| the route and on the grand stands
| While health resorts like OberurZel and
kronenberg were crowded most of the
| day. Every here and there along the
course municipal officials were sta
toned. They shouted warnings to the
| spectators when a racing car an
preached.
AS the time arrived for the fourth
circuit, the interest and excitement
| quickened. The empress returned TO
the royal stand at SaaIburg in an open
four horse carriage with outriders at
4:30, while the emperor who was in a.
motor car, Joined her shortly after.
By the end of the third round it was
quite apparent that the race was he
| tween Jenatzy and Thery, with the
latter holding considerable advantages
! to the evident delight of his compatri
OTIS, who were numerous among the
| spectators.
When the fourth round commenced
the race was almost foregone con-
clusion, though there was still q chance
| for JenatZy, and this latter fact kenr
| UP the interest to the finish when the
| scene was a most animated one the
excitement reaching fever heat
| Jenatzys car was the first to pass
| the post and he was given a tremen-
dOus reception. Then when Therv
came in sight and dashed down the
stretch the French contingent went
wild. and, warmed by the close and
| brilliant finish, Representatives of all
nationaIities joined in the generous
Il 49, Ar-w