Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-27
OLOFIELD BLAMEs
DRIVER MARRIOTT
BELIEVES HE WAS CARELESS
AT 0RM0ND
Large Crowd In Attendance and Inter.
est Apparently Undiminlshed.
Ryus and Smith Talk Of
Challenge

Opening night might have been in
order at the automobile show last even
Ing so far as the usual attendance was
concerned. Owing to the fact that re-
quests have been made to continue the
exhibition for another week 1t has been
decided to show this afternoon and
evening. The doors will be opened at
1 o'clock.
The wild plunge of Marriott at Or
mond beach Friday when the famous
driver was all but fatally injured,
formed a topic of conversation at the
| show room yesterday and, of course,
Barney Oldheld was called upon to give
professional judgment as to the cause
of the accident.
1t will be remembered that accounts
| We're to the effect that Marriott's ma
| chine struck small elevation on the
course, which hurled it 20 destruction
Mr.. Oldfeld said last night:
There could have been but two rea-
sons for Marriott's mishap-either his
car reached a rate of speed beyond its
| own powers or Marriott was careless.
/ am somewhat inclined to the latter
theory. From accounts the machine
| flew into the air and fell on it's side.
oIdfeld Gives Theory
Now experience has taught that no
obstruction on such a course as Or
mond beach could possibly result in a
car being wrecked as was Marriott's 8
| without the power being overtaxed or
the driver losing his hold. If the car
came In contact with some slight eleva-
tion it would surely have landed
squarely on the wheels after jumping.
1T Is difficult to determine just how
fast an auto may travel and the only
method of finding out will result in
several more drivers being killed. There
is limit to speed under certain circum-
stances and if Marriott's car went be-
| yond it's own powers an accident was
| bound to result.
From what can be learned at the
present, however, 1 believe that Mar
riott was to blame. There il no use in
| trying to give reasons for an automo-
bile accident unless of course the ma
| chine meets with q visible obstruction
l never tried to make excuse when l
upset though L have not been placed
| In circumstances where there was much
doubt as to the reason.
When car suddenly smashes to
pieces 1t is easy to say that the steer
| ing gear went wrong, or some other
| equally poor excuse. How can you
| tell what causes an auto to go to pieces
when there Is apparently no reason?
For instance, the engine f1ywheel
has not been built that will stand a
speed Of two miles a minute. When
a certain limit is reached a wreckage
| is bound to ensue. So with an auto
mobile"
| Oldfeld was asked If he intended to
remain with the racing game.
| Yes, so long as there is money in
1t, and at present it would appear as
though the American people demand
the danger element. l like the sport
| and am willing to take whatever risks
| may be entailed."
For a few argumentative moments
last night 1t appeared as though A. j.
| Smiths challenge to race an Elmore
over Agricultural park mile course in
competition with some other gasoline
stock car would be accepted.
Captain Ryus of the White learned
| that Mr.. Smith was out with a def
and fastened to the Elmore booth to
hear the conditions. Ryus was willing
to race Hartford against the Elmore
before he learned the requirements.
"Now what do you call for?" said
Ryus.
1.-THE race must be run backwards"
replied Smith. Ryus reflected for
second and came back.
"Now, Mr.. Smith, l would be glad
to hear of the Elmore going back, but
don't want my cars to be caught
that way"
A Jolly little confab resulted without
any suitable proposition being made
by either dealer. Mr.. Ryus did not
care to send q gasoline car against
the Elmore and though various other
propositions We're discussed, nothing
Of moment occurred.
1t would be difficult to find a more
versatile set than some of the sales
men who have been demonstrating
during the past week.
A story was going the rounds last
night concerning a certain energetic
young man who, taking prospective
purchaser in hand, became stalled on
the Grand avenue hill. Backing to the
curb, the demonstration climbed out and
began fussing with the inner workings.
The passenger smelled a rat.
Whats the matter; why don't you
go on?" he asked.
Not at all nonplussed, the driver re-
piled:
"Oh, nothing at all. am just length
ening the engine to get more horse
power"
spark advancing exhibition also
called for wonderful explanation.
You see," said the accommodating
young man, "our car can advance the
spark further than any other machine
in the world"
"Well, what's the object?" was the
question.
"Wlel-ahem-the further you ad-
vance the spark the more power you
get"
A meeting of the Automobile Dealers
association Is to be held Thursday
night. when 1t will be probably decided
whether an automobile show is to be
an annual occurrence in Los Angeles.
President Smith will propose that the
exhibition be held on a corresponding
date next year because of interest
aroused by the New York show.
Arrangements for the Pasadena hill
climb will also be made.
| FRIENDS HOLD REUNION