Gilpin observer., 1907-09-05
WHILE GOING At RATE OF MILE A
MINUTE AUTOS BECOME
UNMANAGEABLE.
BOTH DENVER DRIVERS
$4,000 PEOPLE WITNESS cATAs-
TROPHIES THAT SEND FRIENDS
TO DEATH.

OVeIidAu park race track at speed
better than a mile minute, on Labor
day. in the presence of a madly ex-
cited throng of $4,000 spectators, Will
liam B. Felker and G. v. Dasey were in
stantly killed and the lives of Harold
Brinker. a driver, and other contest
ants and spectators were endangered.
The fatalities were caused by two dis
tinct and unavoidable accidents, both
OF which were due to tires bursting. In
both instances the powerful machines
became unmanageable monsters and
hurled their drivers into eternity.
The greatest excitement prevailed,
both in the crowded grandstands and
On the verandas Of the Overland Coun-
try Club. which were thronged with
fashionably attired women and their
escorts. Women tainted and men
wept as they saw their friends in dan
ger OF destruction. Only the foresight
Of the track management in having
scores of policemen and deputies on
hand to preserve order prevented
panic and still further accidents by
preventing the mob from surging on
the track until the other machines in
the race had been tagged by Starter
G. A. Blanchard.
When Dasey Was Killed.
1t was in the fifth mile that the Ap-
person Jack Rabbit, fifty-horse power
cor, received puncture in it's
tire at about the three-quarter
pole. The car was about an
eighth Of mile from any of these
Immediately behind it, and when the
tire burst the machine whirled COM
pletely around three times with terrific
force. hurting Dasey, who was at the
wheel, out on the track. His death was
caused by broken neck, but whether
by the force of the fall or by being run
over by oncoming machines will prob
ably never be known. The Apperson
was withdrawn and owing to the fatal
ty the Apperson reserve machine,
which was ready to start, was with
he'd.
After about the twenty-fifth mile,
slose observers noticed that the right
forward tire on the Felker machine
was wearing badly, this condition be-
ng evident especially around the turns.
When this condition was observed,
Manager G. A. Wahlgreen and Referee
n. H. Van Sicklen Immediately had a
conference with the judges in charge
Of the meeting concerning the advis-
ability Of tagging Felker, or. IL advis-
able, stopping the race entirely. Those
Informed OF the practice in similar
cases on tracks throughout the coun
try declared that the drivers in all
cases were held strictly responsible
Tor any chances they might taken with
faulty tires. 1t was pOin'-d out that
all the contestants had tire stations
established and it was expected that
the drivers, all Of whom were expert
enced. would shortly stop for the pur-
pose Of making tire changes. The fact
that 1t would be unjust to the other
drivers, as well as to the public, to
stop the whole race was also brought
out in this conference. 1t was agreed
20 flag any contestant whose tires ap-
peared to endanger his life or that OF
others. At just about this time, while
he was racing past the officials stand,
Felker's bad tire partly gave way, and
foot of the outside covering flew a
score of feet in the air. Despite this he
took the curve at the clubhouse with
out slowing down. The officials then
decided to flag him at all hazards on
the next time around.
Story Of FeIker,s Death.
The rest Of the story is best told by
Harold Brinker, who miraculously es-
capped without a scratch.
Il was laying very close to the Ste
ens," says Brinker. II heard the tire
pop and strained every nerve to avoid
4 collision in case my opponent slowed
down. Felker did shut off his engine
about midway in the clubhouse curve.
but, then. strangely enough, he threw
on full speed ahead and shot forward
with terrific force. I had just time to
steel myself for the worst / saw him
swerve and all ! could do was to take
the fence. I went through first and
was fortunate enough to hit it between
two posts. He followed me and must
have struck the jagged fence near one
Of the posts. I didn't have any time
to think. l saw Felker hurled high in
the air. My car raced over the grass,
jumped the ditch and ran like fright
ened thing up forty-five per cent
grade. The grade slowed me up and /
Jumped to safety unscratched.
II saw Felker was done for and
rushed to his machine 1t was ut high
speed when shut 1t off. 1t was yards
beyond where he lay and was jammed
In between trees and bushes. The
tight front tire was gone and the left !
'front.' wheel completely demolished |
where It had partly torn away the
trunk of tree"
Observers state that Felker must |
ave realized the condition Of his tire |
when the outer covering gave way and |
that he seemed to point at the wheel |
rs he took the turn. That he slowed |
iown bit is also certain. The reason |
he again started up was probably in |
fear that some Of those coming behind |
might collide with his machine.
Both Necks Broken,
An investigation at the morgue of |
Coroner Rollins OF the injuries which |
caused the death of Dasey and Felker
showed that the base Of the skull had |
been crushed In both instances and |
that the necks were broken