The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-10

New York. president OF the Christie Iron
Works Company, SIS East Eighteenth
street, makers of the Christie automobile.
was seriously injured in an automobile
accident here this afternoon. at the Ma
tIonal Circuit automobile races. under the
auspices Of the American Automobile As
sociation. at Brunots Island
In an accident which Just preceded the
oue in which Christie was injured, and
was responsible for it. Rex Reinertson. of
Repair Company. was killed, and his ma
chinist Calire Daskin, who was riding
with him. was seriously injured.
Tonight Christie is lying at St Johns
Hospital, Allegheny, IN precarious con-
dition. The physicians at the hospital
and Fred w. Bailey, OF New York Chris
ties manager, both say that ne will re-
cover, but it is feared that he may lose
sight Of one of his eyes. and be other
wise permanently injured
Back, Eye, and Wrist Injured.
Christie's most serious injury is to his
back. Just how severe the injury is the
physician could not say tonight. One eye
was so badly cut by his goggles that it is
feared that he may lose the sight Of it.
His left wrist is also broken. Tonight he
is as comfortable as could be expected.
and Bailey is doing everything in his
power by Iong-distance telephone to keep
the news Of the accident from Mrs. Chris
- tie, who Is lying seriously fl at their
home in Riveredge, n. J.
The two accidents came toward the
close Of the racing this afternoon. The
first happened during the hfty-mile en-
durance race for touring cars. fully
equipped, for purse Of $3.50. There were
twelve starters in the race. and Rein
eTtson was In the rear. driving a Hayne
car There Is mile track at the island,
and Reinertson was on his eighth lap.
He had just passed the grand stand. and
was approaching the one-eighth mile
post when the front right tire few from
the wheel. Fhe car which was running
al enormous speed, turned over.
Man Thrown Fifty Feet.
Daskin was thrown fifty feet in front
OF the machine, but Reinertson held his
grip on the wheel and the heavy car fell
upon him. Round and round went the
eleven racers, despite the fact that two
men lay mortally wounded on the track
Ten miles were made after the accident
happened, the racers steering clear Of
the debris, until Mayor Charles F. Kir-
sehler. who was in the stand. summoned
Congressman James Francis Burke. the
referee, and demanded that the race stop
and the injured ones be attended 70. II /
was some time before the wrecked ma |
chine could be pulled of Reinertson. He |
and Daskin were then hurried uto ST
Johns Hospital. but Reinertson died 81 |
most Immediately after his arrival there
- His wife was removed from the same
hospital only a few days ago. where she /
underwent a serious operation. She is
still very III and cannot be told Of her
husbands death. Reinertson's skull was 1
fractured and almost every bone In his /
body was broken. He was thirty-fve /
years old. and prominent in business and /
automobile circles in Pittsburg
Dasl1in May Not survive.
Daskin, who is thirty years old. has
both arms and both legs broken, and is /
badly cut and bruised. It is feared he 1
cannot recover
The crowd Of 400 spectators was much /
worked up over the accident, and was in
no humOr 10 witness the next event on
the card. which was a race against time
20 be made by Christie. The track has a
record OF a mile in IS seconds. and Chris
tie was 10 receive 500 if ne made q new
record. 1t was decided to postpone the
event for a few months Barney OIdAald
was sent around and made mile in. 1,1o
IN the meantime.
BY this time the audience had it's nerve
back and Christie appeared in his mag
niheent machine, which he used in the
Grand Prix race in Paris-the Christie
direct-drive. He was given a sbou, Of
welcome as he rode past the grandstand
and then let his machine out for warm
ing-up mile in which to get hts e,ing
start. The track was In excellent condi-
tion, and he was going like the wind He
completed the last half of his warming
up mile IN twenty-four seconds. and
passed the judges stand on his start like
a fash
bpsets In same Place.
When the eighth mile post whore the
accident TO Reinertsons machine had
happened, was reached. the crowd gave
gasp Of borrow as they saw ChristiA's
car shoot up into the air, turn around
and over. and then fall to the ground in
exactly the same manner as Relnertson,s
car had done. but. fortunately, Christiels
grasp on the wheel had been broken and
instead OF going under the car he shot
twenty feet into the air and fftv feet
ahead Of the car
The widest excitement followed. The
spectators jumped from the grandstan6I
and surged onto the track, and the few
police who were present were who'll nm
able 10 handle them. Finally patb was
cleared, and Christie was placed IN an
autoRObile and hurried 70 St Jobnis
Hospital Several women AMONG tbe
spectators tainted and there was
small-sized panic II was not necessary
70 declare the races of, for the audi
ence had seen enough for one day.
Late tonight at the hospital IT IS said
that his condition Is encoura ging.
IT'S IN Vour 5,-.u.-