The Ordway new era., 1907-09-06
WHILE GOING AT RATE OF MILE =
MINUTE AUTOS BECOME
uNMANAGEABLE.
BOTH DENVER DRIVERS
5000 PEOPLE WITNESS cATAS'
TROPHIES THAT SEND FRIENDS
TO DEATH.

better than mile minute, on IAVO'
day, In the presence OF n madly eX-
cited throng OF $4,000 spectators, VIII
liam d. Felker and c. V. Dasey were In
stantly killed and the lives OF Harold
Briuker. 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
rashionably attired women and their
escorts. Women fninted 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
8. \. Blanchard.
When D5sey was killed.
It was in the ffth mile that the Ap-
person Jack Rabbit. fifty-horse power
cor. received puncture in its
ire at about the three-quartcr
pole. The car was about an
eighth OF n mile from any of these
Immediately behind It. and when the
tire burst the machine whirled com
7letely around three times with terrific
force, hurling 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was withdrawn and owing to the fatal
ity the Apperson reserve machine.
which was ready TO start. was with.
he'd
After about the twenty-ffth mile,
,lose 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. WahlEreen and Referee
y. II. Van Sicklen Immediately had
conference with the judges in charge
Of the meeting concerning the advis-
AbliiAs VI hhStAiiS E'ih'A. " - auN
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
eases 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 II was expected that
| the drivers. all OF whom were expert.
! enced. would shortly stop for the pur-
pose of making tire changes. The fact
| hat 1t would be unjust to the other
drivers, as well as TO the public, to
stop the whole race was also brought
| )ut in this conference. II was agreed
% 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
Selker's bad tire partly gave way, and
foot of the outside covering flew q
score of feet in the air. Despite this he
.ook the curve at the clubhouse with
put slowing down. The officials ther
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
ems" says Brinker. Il heard the tire
pop and strained every nerve to avoid
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. had Just time tc
steel myself for the worst. | saw hin
swerve and all could do was to TAX,
the fence. l went through first ant
was fortunate enough to hit it betweeI
two posts. He followed me and mus
have struck the Jagged fence near on,
of the posts. didn't have any tim,
to think. / saw Felker hurled high II
the air. My car raced over the grass
jumped the ditch and ran like a fright
ened thing up forty-fve per cen
grade. The grade slowed me up and
jumped to safety unscratched.
Il saw Felker was done for an,
rushec to his machine. 1t was at higl
speed when I shut it off. II was yard
beyond where he lay and was jamme,
IN between trees and bushes. Th
light front tire was gone and the lef
'front.' wheel completely demolishe,
where it had partly torn away tn
.runk OF tree"
Observers state that Felker mus
| ave vealized the condition of his tir
when the outer covering gave way an,
hat he seemed to point at the whee
!. as he took the turn. That he slowe,
: iown q bit is also certain. The reasol
/ he again started up was probably II
, fear that some Of those coming benin
| might collide with his machine.
Beth Neeks Broken.
An Investigation at the morxue o
Coroner Rollins q the injuries whic
s. caused the death Of Dasey and DAlkn