The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-05
SMELSER
NET HIS
DEATH
Accident Not Due to
Taking Of Drugs or
ReckleSSneSS.

In glaring headlines and in a sensational
manner. in an evening papers aecout OF
the twenty-four-hour race In which L. w,
Smelser. the Newark driver, met his
death. 1t was stated that he was urged
on by Repeatedly administered stimulants,
and that under this artificial acceleration
of vitality he was reeling off mile after
mile. taking the turns at the same speed
that he coursed down the stretches, max
Ing insane. -drug-inspired efforts to over
take the leader"
In another paper 1t was stated that
Sn elser had driven continuously from the
beginning of the race until the time OF
the accident at 9.20-praetieally twelve
hours-and refused to be relieved. 1t has
been generally stated that Smelser was
a reckless driver, and TO this fact his
death hahs been generally attributed.
1t is only Justice to Mr.. Snelser and
those who were in charge of the Lozier
cars and driN ers during the race, to say
that n statement to the effect that drugs
or stimulants in any form were admin-
iatered is mallciously false, and it is only
the fact hat a newspaper of supposed
reputation would. in large headlines, make
such an i%mputation that makes a denial
of this kind. in behalf of the LozIer drivers
anG m-echanicians and those connected
with the race. necessary.
a. itHNito AlLs AoltiNtoNl . AtlOSdA " ~
ccpt reliee and rest, he was the first driver
TO be relieved. driving only from $50 until
1910. a little over four hours. Kitchener on
the other car driving from $40 to 2. From
1910 until daylight Smelser's partner, Will
Iir'kroum. relieved him at the wheel, while
Smelser slept. and when Smelser resumed
the wheel again shortly after laybreak he
was refreshed and in good condition.
As regards Smelser recklessness. it is
only just to say that he was a most fear
less driver. accepting every reasonable
chance for bettering his position in a race
driving to the limit OF safety, and this.
too, to those who were not amiliar with
conditions. seemed to indicate reckless
ness. but those who knew him intimately
and who are in position 10 judge. know
that no driver on the track knew his ma
chine or its capabilities better, and no
driver was more careful Of the condition
of his car and more familiar with its de-
tails and working while in a race. He
was always quick to discover little de-
r-sT.sements or signs OF trouble, and never
failed to haye these corrected before pro-
ceeding. Before every race, no matter
how well vouched for by the shop or fac
tory the condition of his car might be,
he insisted on going over 1t piece by piece
and part by part, and the confidence born
this inspection enabled him to push his
car 70 speeds which appeared reckless, or
other circumstances might have
been dangerous.
Smelser competed in three tWenty-four-
hour races without accident of any kind
which could be attributed to recklessness, |
unless 1t might be called reckless to drive
q rate of speed that he knew would
lard him a winner. He felt that his car
was capable of maintaining the speed with
safety, and so it proved, the direct cause
ot his death being the throwing off of u
happened at least two score
during the last race to the various
cars engaged in the contest. The direct
cause of his death lay in the peculiar
manner on which the tire loosened. In
stead Of coming entirely off, as had hap
pened in other Instances, it became lonsened
driver on the track would AVE con-
trolled the car under the circumstances,
at n speed of forty miles per hour.
Unfortunately. he was on the outside near
fence. and the swerving and swinging
OF the car. due TO the tire %loosening at
one point. did not leave enough room for
him to escape the fence.
As regards the dangers of track racing,
compared with road racing, about which n
great deal has been said recently, it has
apparently been forgotten that fatalities
ong as they are conducted along country
and highways bordered by fences,
posts and stone walls. The fatal
accidents in track racing have, in almost
every Instance, been caused by cars rum
ming through fences, and it IS very inn
probable that n fatal accident will result
TO a car running off the track If wooden
posts and other obstruction of this nature
are removed. Track racing can be made
Just as safe as road racing-on a mile
horse track, too-but not until these horse
tracks are cleared from death-dealing con-
triyances fencing in cars and drivers. This
is Illustrated by the accident to the Pack
ard car which went through the fence at
the lower turn, turning comnletely over.
but with no injury to either the driver or
meehanician. If there had been no fence
at the other end of the track, where
went through, he would have
without any injury whatever. as
the ear remained right side up, and Hall,
the m~echanician, who was low enough in
the ear to go under the fence, was I'M
injured.