The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-08-11
DEATH AND DIVORCE
IN CLOSE CONTEST
BARNEY oLDFiELD SERIOUSLY
HURT IN COLLISION.
While Wife is Pushing Divorce Case
the Automobilist Is Dangerous
Iy Near Death.

Detroit Mich, Aug. 8.-Death came
near supplanting the divorce suit which
Mrs. Beatrice Oldield is pushing in
the local courts against her husband,
Barney Oldfield, the daring automobile
driver. Oldfeld's car collided with
that of Dan Wurgis at the Detroit au-
tomobile races today while going fast
er than mile a minute and rolled
| down the bank into the infield of the
track, seriously but not fatally injuring
0ldfeld, who is now ar Harper hospi-
tai recuperating from the terrible
shock.
The accident occurred in a five-mile
race. There we're four starters, Webb
Jay, Oldfield, BurnIan and Wurgis. At
the start Jay jumped Immediately into
the lead, heading the procession down
the back stretch, wurgis being last.
At the half Wurgis got his REQ car
into motion, however, and was rapidly
catching up with the leaders. He
| passed inside of Burman and was tear
ing along at terrific clip immedi-
ately behind Oldfeld, when the latter's
engine went wrong. His car dropped
! back and Wurgis was unable to check
his speed, crashing into the rear of
| Odfield's car and turning it into the
| fence, Oldfeld did his best to keep
his car on the track and moved down
fully so yards of fence, but finally lost
control of the green dragon. which
rushed down the bank on the pole,
rolling over and over.
A groan went up from the crowd
which rushed out on the track and
could not be controlled by the police,
in spite of the fact that Jay was speed
ing around. his engine shrieking, the
driver all unconscious of what had oc-
Cured behind him.
Oldfeld was picked up in pool OF
! blood, fully 20 feet from the wreck of
his car. He was conscious, but sim
ply covered with blood, which was
squirting from deep cuts in his head
and arms, sustained from the broken
! fence and posts. Medical attendance
was secured Immediately, however, and
| Oldfield was carried to a waiting am
bulance. At first it was feared that
his skull was fractured, but an eXaui-
ination at the hospital showed that no
bones were broken and probably no In
ternal injuries sustained. He lapsed
into Inconsistencies on the way to
the hospital. but this was on account
of the loss of blood, and he is resting
quietly tonight.
The race was stopped in order to
clear the track of the crowd, which was
intent on securing souvenirs of the
occasion. Many people dipped hand
kerchiefs in the pool of blood where
Oldfield was picked up. Others carried
away pieces of the fence and wood
work of the car.
The race was finally run over again,
Wurgis, who was in the collision re-
fusing to come out, although his car
was not damaged and had continued
on its career after the collision.
Jay won the race, which was for a
$3.50 trophy, in close finish with Bur-
man. Jay also won the heat for the
diamond cup, on which Oldfeld had
two heats at previous meets. needing
but one more for permanent posses
sion. In this event Oldfeld pushed
him hard, invariably gaining on the
turns, only to have Jay run away in
the straights on each lap.
The events were otherwise features
less.