Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25
AUTO HURTS EIGHT
MACHINE SWERVED WHILE
MAKING A SHARP TURN.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA. November 24-Eight
spectators were injured. several seriously,
and Phil Kirk. an automobile racer, was
slightly and Ed Barrett his machinist bad
ly, hurt when they lost control of the sixty
horsepower Apperson machine. Kirk was
driving in the fifty-mile race at Point
Breeze race track late this afternoon.
The injured:
F. E. Hugo, fracture of both bones Of
leg and compound fracture of femur; condi-
ton serious; Methodist Hospital.
James Smith. Philadelphia Driving Park,
boiler maker: confused shoulder; discharged
from Methodist Hospital.
David Bulge, confusion of leg; discharged
from Methodist Hospital.
Edward Barrett machinist on Apperson
car. decorations of head and internal in
juries; taken to Philadelphia Hospital.
j. S. Holdman, sprained foot; taken to
st. Agnes Hospital in an automobile.
Machine Swerved
The machine swerved while making the
sharp turn to come down the homestretch at
the Point Breeze track. The automobile
was being sent along at fearful speed.
1t swung about at right angle to its for
mer course. and ran directly for the fence,
behind which was banked hundreds of
spectators, who, three deep, were watching
the progress of the race. The auto tore
through the fence as thought it was poper.
A ditch separated it from the crowd, but 1t
plunged across the declivity without any
appreciate slackening of speed.
rhn hierr dir o.
pie who were in It's path and continued It's
course for several yards before finally being
brought to a standstill. An ambulance
of the Philadelphia Hospital, which was
detailed to stay at the race track by the
department of public safety, was loaded
with the injured. A record run was made
to the hospital. Meanwhile general call
had been sent to the city hall for ambu-
lances and patrol wagons. A half dozen
were soon on the scene, and the rest OF
the injured were taken to St. Agnes Hos
pital. The police, in making an investiga-
ton after the accident, declared that the
ravine between the fence and the lines of
spectators undoubtedly saved the lives of
many of the injured
Ravine Checked Speed.
The ravine, it was said, checked the mad
speed of the automobile and caused 1t to
strike the crowd on the opposite bank with
greatly diminished force. The accident oc-
Cured near the finish of the fifty-mile
race. Kirk, known as a fearless driver,
and Barrett, his assistant, had been ex-
citing the big crowd throughout the day
by the many desperate and dangerous
chances they took When rounding the
sharp curve which leads into the home
stretch Kirk miscaleulated his distance and
made too short a turn. The car skidded
and finally turned at right angles with its
former course and plunged through the
fence,>pv the ravine and into the crowd
of spectators. Peea1e standing at q short
distance away from the point of the acci-
dent did no. know what had happened SO
quickly was 1t over. They heard the
screams and cries of the injured, and then
for the first time knew that a serious acct
dent had happened. Kirk was not badly
injured. He had cut on his forehead
and was nervous from shock, but sustained
no other hurt Barrett, on the other hand,
was badly injured. He was one of those
to be taken to the Philadelphia Hospital.