The Jersey City news., 1906-10-08
AUTO RACE TRAGEDIES
Man Killed on Course and Ameri.
cans Defeat Causes a
Suicide.
VICTORY FOR FREhcHMAN

Wagner, In 1f0 Horsepower Racer,
Takes Third Vanderbilt Cup Contest.
This Years Speed Trial May BE Last
One Held In This Country = Tracy
Goes Fastest Lap.
New York, Oct. S.-ENiott r. Shepard
will not be arrested for killing Curt l..
Gruner of Passaic, N. T., with his
Hotchkiss racing machine at the w.
Is. Vanderbilt, Jr., cup race. Coroner
Joseph Renson of the town of North
Hampstead investigated the death and
said Mr.. Shepard was Ia no way re-
sponsible, as Gruner brought about his
own destruction by standing in the
middle Of the road, which had been
aaiYen oYer to the Asnericaa Automo-
bile association Tor the day.
All The witnesses 81 tie accident tes-
tilted that Gruaer got In the patA Of
tile racing machine, which was going
over the course at seveaty miles an
hour.
Aid Fer Victims FAMILY.
Although there has been no eficiai
announcement of the fact, 1t is gen
orally believed that the American Au-
tomobiie association will give Gruners
widow and children a sum of money
to keep them from want
w. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., denor Of the
cup that was raced for, was asked re-
garding race in Nassau county next
year. He said he could not tell wheth-
er the Vanderbilt race would ever be
run again in this country. TIE action
Of the French Automobile club will de-
termine this, as this years race was
won by Frenchman In French car.
This makes the third time France has
won the cup, and it is probable that
the next race for the Vanderbilt trophy
will be run in France
Complaint Made Against Race.
From many sections OF Long Island
there is complaint against the race
The special deputy sheriffs and flag
men employed to keep the course clear
We're unable to do so, and as it is
known that il another such race is
held on Long Island a greater crowd
than ever will attend it the sentiment
is strong against a fourth Vanderbilt
race.
They are called foolhardy for risking
their lives, but the mob Of ungoverna-
bic, speed crazy men and women who
imperiled their lives and the lives of
the contestants by swarming upon the
course while the machines were travel
ing sixty and seventy miles an hour
are blamed for the deaths and acci-
dents that marred the race.
The estimates which placed the
crowd at 100000 are now believed to
be below the real number. There
were nearer half a million spectators
along the thirty mile track.
Dies From disappointment.
William Steasney Sierck, twenty
three years old, drove his mother, two
brothers and sister to their country
home in Cedarhurst, N. Y, In an auto
mobile from the race.
The mother noticed the young man
was depressed by the defeat of the
American team, and she told him not
to take it SO much to heart. He said
he could not understand why this
country could be so far ahead in other
things and make such poor showing
with homemade automobiles. At lit
tie later he shot himself, dying in
stantly.
70 Es3r
disappointed by the failure Of any of
the American automobiles to figure
prominently in the Vanderbilt cup
race.
Victory For Frenchman.
The victory went to 110 horsepower
Darracq racer, guided by the master
hand of Louis Wagner Of the French
team.
After the closest and most thrilling
contest ever recorded in the annals of
automobile road racing In this country
or perhaps in any other Wagner snatch
ed the palm of victory from Lancia of
the Italian team, who piloted 100
horsepower Fiat, by the small margin
of 8 minutes is 2-5 seconds. Lancia in
turn was only 16 seconds ahead Of Du-
ray of the French team, who drove
100 horsepower Lorraine-D Dietrich car
Fourth to finish was Clement of the
French team, who piloted 100 horse
power Bayard Clement, while fifth
came Jenatzy Of the German team.
More Than Sixty Miles an Hour.
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