The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-20

cit Is too dangerous" he con
enusd. ''I don't think that L shall be
IA It longer than this year. Had
man told me in 1904 that would still
be behind goggles at this time this
year, I should have pronounced him
crazy
'Tn speaking of the sport being
dangerous. what do you mean ?" was
asked Of him.
I'VE have to take chances" was the
reply ut always seems that an acct
dent is impending. We never know
what will happen If a man is just
right, the element of danger is to
big extent eliminated. But with nerves
q little off. with weather conditions so
that the dust absolutely precludes
vision, you can never tell when the
call will come"
Driving must be hard on a man,
then?''
mo, it isn't exactly was the reply.
Gas I said, if you feel all right and
make your turns. everything is love-
" But men get off sometimes, you
know"
Does the tremendous speed
through the air check your breath
mo. that is all newspaper talk
was the answer. at does not affect
mans breathing in the least.
don't know how the talk got started
that fast riding shuts off your breath
ing apparatus. That IS not the case at
all never had any trouble in get
ing all the air I wanted. That was
the least of my difficulties"
But them he continued driving
hard day after day, without any rest
will do a man up. Proper rest must
be taken between fast drives That
is what caused my accident at st.
Louis last summer at the Worlds fair
in August had been either driving,
or on the train for two weeks before
that time, going as hard as 1 could to
meet engagements. When I ran for
the Louisiana Purchase trophy at the
worlds fair city I got away nicely
but in attempting to turn Webb, an
other driver. the dust lifted. my nerves
left me, and I went through the fence
on the side of the track. Two spec
tators were killed outright, and I went
TO the hospital with a crushed chest
ana lay Tor two days between life and
dealn- While the dust was in a. great
measure responsible for the nishap.
attribute most of it to my nervous
ness from meeting to many race en-
gagements in the weeks just pre-
Yious."
Does driving break man down ?''
Yes I imagine it would in time"
he replied. 1T gets on a mans nerves.
That is about all that I can saw on
tnaS score" While at the first glance
II would appear that Mr.. Oldhald is
not suffering much physically, Vet
closer scrutiny reveals a quick nerv-
GUS action on the part of the man.
both in his bearing and his talk His
1ace has deep lines, which become so
marked while driving, that Barney
Oldheld's automobile face at two miles
q. minute" has become famous Rob
ert Edgren's cartoon on the subject in
the New York American, is used by
Oldheld as a window advertisement in
his present tour.
so you propose to quit the sport2''
was asked.
Yes, he answered, 81 do not think
that 1 shall be in it longer than this
year. want to save up my money
and get a little ahead and go into some
business for myself. can do that by
the end of the year if everything goes
all right 1t is too dangerous
Oldheld is a good dresser. He likes
diamonds evidently. His Elks' button
in the laDel of his coat is framed with
the precious stones. A large triangu-
lar sparkler flashes from his neclxtie.
His fingers have the same kind of
orname nfatiOn.
Oldneld carries three men with him
to look after the business end of his
trip. and a machinist to care for his
cars. Probably a better bunch OF
story tellers never Travelled together in
one squad. ''Their jokes are the bane
Of my life, says Barney. Kid Mccoy.
the famous prize fighter, is q great