Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-13
BOARD TRACK sPLiNTERED
Worst Accident Since Beginning Of
the Big Contest.
vAN0NI'S NOSE WAS FRACTURED
Race Suspended for Over an Hour
Terrible Strain on Riders is Be-
ginning to Tell-The Scores.

NEW YORK, December 13.-The worst
accident since the beginning of the present
six-day bicycle race at Madison Square
Garden occurred early today, when ten OF
the thirteen riders on the track went down
In bunch at what is known as Dead
Mans Curve, on the 26th street side OF
the saucer. HOLSTER of the Samuelson-
HOLSTER combination of Salt Lake CITY,
and Vanoni, one of the foreign riders, were
severely injured, and several other riders
were badly shaken.
The board track was torn up for a dis
lance of nearly twenty-five yards, and 1t
was found necessary to suspend the race
for an hour and half before the racing
surface could be put in condition to re-
sumo the grind. 1t was thought at the
time of the accident that HOLSTER might
have been fatally injured or at least so
badly hurt that he would be obliged to
Withdraw from the races. After an ex-
animation by physicians. however 1t was
found that his injuries were confined to
and the loss of several teeth. 1t was an
nounced that he probably would be able
TO relieve his partner, Samuelson, after
a Few hours rest.
Vanoni's Nose Broken.
Venom has fractured nose and several
minor hurts, but he, too is expected to con-
tinue later in the day. All the other riders
who went down at the time of the accident
were able to take their places on the track
when the race was resumed at O'Clock.
In order to maintain the position with the
leaders which their teams hold the mart
ners of HOLSTER and Venom must remain
on the track constantly until the injured
men recover sufficiently to relieve them.
An evidence of the effect upon the riders
of the frightful strain put upon them by
the constant vigilance of a six-day contest
was shown at the time of the crash While
the men were still lying in a heap on the
track Pye of the Clark-Pye team, who had
escaped with slight injuries, leaped out of
the bunch. and, running wildly along the
track, began TO shout:
win the race: win the race, They're
He was Quoted and taken to his quar-
ters.. When the race was resumed Pye
again was in the saddle reeling of the
miles with the others.
The accident came when Fosler of the
Root-Fogler team darted out from among
the leaders in an attempt to steal a lap
Matt DoWney was the first man to accept
the challenge, and after few circuits of
the track he caught the leader just as they
were sweeping around Dead Mans Curve.
There the two men brushed each other and
Tea. In an instant the other eleven riders
were upon them and eight of them went
d II.
French team rode clear over the PROSTATE
riders and crashed head foremost into a
box.
A Marrow Escape.
It was remarkable that his skull was not
crushed by the frightful impact, but 1t was
not, and moment later he was telling his
trainer that he was not at all hurt Hollis
ter was rendered unconscious when he
crashed into the railing around the track
with such force that several of his teeth
were knocked out. He was revived a few
moments later and declared that he would
be all right in a short time. Vanoni also
received his injury by colliding with the
raiHng.
The most fortunate man n the accident
was Walthour, who metswith hard luck in
the early hours of the race and lost a lap
which he has not yet regained Walthour
was riding well back when the crash came
and fell upon several men who had gone
down before he reached the curve. He
escaped with scarcely a scratch.
The score at 10 O'Clock was 1,441 miles
and laps for all but the Walthour team,
which was one lap behind. The record il
1861 miles and laps.
1-ore Hard Luck.
Within an hour after the race was re-
sumed, John Bedell, Walthour's partner,
shot out of the bunch and had gained al
most a lap before the other riders really
got started after him. Waltilour, who had
been resting for some time and who was
comparatively fresh. rushed to Bedell's re-
lief and was within a few inches Of COM
pleting the full lap when down he went off
the track with q punctured tire and the red
flag was sent up. Under the rules a lap
gained while the flag Is exposed does not
count, and the effort of the two men who
have fought for nearly four days to gain
the less than two hundred yards which sep
arates them from the leaders went for
nothing.
The crowd Of 5000 around the track
howled protest and Bedell lodged a formal
complaint with the Judges, but was over
ruled. Bedell than relieved Walthour and
continued the race.
Before IL o'clock Samuelson stopped rid
ing and awaited himself Of the rule giving
four hours to find a partner without losing
his place with the leaders.