Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16
The Vanderbilt CupCouree.
the history Of their lives had suddenly


The novelty Of a motor car race, the fact
that some men of great prominence were
| to drive cars in the contest and the further
fact that foreign countries had sent across
the ocean their best automobiles and their
most famous drivers to compete aroused
such interest on the part of thousands VINO
never had ridden in an automobile, ana
probably never would be able to own one.
that thew iourneyed twenty-five miles Into
the interior of the island hours before day.
break to be present at the start
At the First Race.
Perhaps 100 600 persons saw the first race
run. They were scattered from one end OF
the course to the other, and in the larger
villages crowded about 1t to such an ex-
tent that the officials had some difficulty
| in keeping them off the road. They did not
| seem to be aware of the fact that they
| were getting in the way Of machines which
| would run at times from sixty to seventy
| five miles an hour.
| When the second race took place, In the
! fall of 1905 the people Of Long Island were
| wiser. Prices had doubled over those of the
former year, and the prices Of 1904 had
! been Quadrupled over what usually was
asked for accommodations.
The railroad which had monopoly OF
taking people to the start, advertised two
excursion trains for o'clock In the morn
ing. They expected that they might carry
about 1900 spectators. At o'clock in the
morning the station of the railroad was a
sight. 1t was SO jammed with excursionlsts
that it was imperative upon the company
to make up train as quickly as possible
to get them out Of the way and permit
others to take their places.
One train followed another until day.
light. and there were passengers packed
in every square foot of the cars. They
filled the platforms, choked the aisles, chung
to the backs of seats and even rode on the
tenders and the coWcatchers OF the locomo-
tives. The railroad people were astounded
OF which taken
in the race, and the conductors gave up the
task of collecting tickets and trusted to
getting them the return home.
Quarter of Million Sightseers.
1t is estimated that 100000 persons saw
the contest of 1905. Some of them were at
Mneoa, place of some consequence in the
Hampstead district of the island; some were
far out In the country, where they had
journeyed the night before. selecting some
particular spot where there was more or
less danger in making turn and where
they expected to see something thrilling be-
fore rhe day was over. while thousands of
others distributed themselves along the
north side of the route. where the road is
winding and the country more or less I'M
dulating.
How many will see the cup race this year
is question. Owing to the general interest
which is taken in the event there are many
people who predict that half million spec
tators will be scattered over the thirty miles
Of road That is doubtless exaggerated, but
1t would not be surprising If 100000 persons
witness some part Of the race If the day is
pleasant.
Society goes to the race in automobiles.
The exodus begins from New York about
3 o'clock Of the afternoon before the race
takes place Those who have friends
Long Island residing in the magnificent
country places which abound everywhere
Journey early to spend the week end, motor
ing in comfort and leisure. Those who are
fortunate enough to have applied in time
for rooms at the Garden City Hotel-the
tavern for the smart set of the island
start away with the comfortable assurance
that they will have somewhere to spend
the night and hob-nob with the fashion
ables Others may have found accommo-
dations forty miles from the race at one OF
the rnany summer hotels, which are thick
trouble in making quick time to the start
on the following morning in their own cars
| Until midnight the magnificent highways
and bouleVardS when run to the center or
| the island are filled with hundreds OF motor
cars, "honking more or less rapidly
| through the darkness. their great lights
| glowing over the plains like the eyes OF
| enormous beetles prowling in the gloom
for prey.
In the Early Morning Hours.
| This is the first egress of visitors by auto
| mobile The second begins to leave the city
| about 2 o'clock in the morning. The cars
| are driven to the East Saith stfeet ferry.
| where they are conveyed to the Long Island
| side.
| Last year the ferryboats made trips across
the river from am. until daylight, operat-