The evening world., 1908-10-03
STRANG PUT OUT
OF AUTO CONTEST
BY BREAKDOWN
Connecting Rod S1nasheS
While Daredevil Driver Is
In Furious Sprint.
INJURED VICTIM DIES.
Pickert, Pinkerton Agent, Hit
in Early Morning, Expires
in Hospital.
19TH.HOUR SCORE.

same time. /
The prediction which Louie Strang,
driver of the Renauit auto. made to the
Evening World at noon to-day regard
ing the finish of the 2i-hour race at
Brighton Beach tonight was close to
realization, VIXEN an accident put the
car out of tie contest. Strang said
that time. while the Simplex. leader in
the race, was up to its limit of speed.
About o'clock, when the Simplex had
lead of eight miles, Strang started to
cut this Town. He steadily gained. to
the surprise of every one, and the most
exciting sprint of the contest followed.
When ii was apparent that the Renault
would get the lead and just as Strang
had tied the score, the connecting rod
of his car was driven through the motor
base, and the car was sent to the pad
dock beyond hope of repair in time to
continue the race.
shortly after o'clock the chain of the
Thomas car, No. in the race, broke
at the first turn of the track where
bad hole had been dug out by the cars
The car swerved and neary ran into
the infeld fence coming back again to
stop crosswise on the centre of the
track. Several drivers closely followins
could not see the Thomas car because
of the dust and sharp turn and narrowly
escaped the outside fence in getting
around the obstruction. The danger
was soon removed
Thomas d Pickett, the Pinkerton
man who was injured last night, died
at O'Clock this afternoon.
Two cars were more than so miles
ahead of the best previous record at
the end of the fifteenth hour IN the
twenty four-hour auto race, and II was
absolutely certain then that the finish
among at eas; four of the cars would
Re close; that at least six of the fourteen
starters would finish and that four
might break the old record OF 1.1O1
miles, made two weeks ago by the Lo-
zier car.
The usual crowd that likes to be IN
at the finish began to gather about
noon and at . o'clock fully three thou
sand had partly filled the grand and
field stands and lawns. which tonight
will probably be crowded. The cold
northwest gale had subsidized and the
spectators felt more comforts able.
The intermission in the race from BAG
TO 10 O'Clock was followed by wild bit
of reckless and fast driving which
brought the crowd to its feet.
Daredcvilc Near Crash
In one of these mad spurts there was
close n
which six lives were in danger. The
LozIer, No 2, had come out from the
infield repair camp to the middle of the
track In front Of the grand stand, NOV
ing slowly Strang, in the Renault, and
Robertson, in the S.mpleT, the two lead
ing cars in the race, came down the
home stretch At Z E.Ie Il minute pace.
Strang tried to pass on the inside OF
the I.ozier, Wien its driver, Mulford,
pulled in toward the pole. Robertson,
who had followed strang, was also
pocketed on the inside. The crowd heard
the wheels scrape, yelled in horror but
in a moment the danger had passed as
all sharply shut off speed. All got a
warning from the judges,
There IS an intense rivalry between
the strang and Robertson teams, which
" III lllHNt a AtHl'A ~ ''N4 "t7t7'' ''.' ''
lead IN the race Tonight siranG says
the Rcnault car has not been forced
yet ana when he sets ~ Tor the hn.sa
he win win sure. Roberts, in he
Thomas. beat Robertson this morning
In a sprint Of several niles, and re
duced the latters lead materially.
Average Speed 81 Miles an Hour
The Rat, s.earns, Acme. Cleveland
Garford. Thomas. Eeuauh ana Zu't
numbered 3, 4, :, 8, lo Z ana Il, arr
practically ou, Of ,ae race leaving a.
the real contestants the Renau!t No
SIMPLEX No. 9, Loz!er 80 >, Thomas so
S. Anen-Kngston No. . ana Cleyelan,
No. as the ones likely IL be IN at IN
finish,
The score az the end Of the titeen'i
hour gave the leaders averages a
about N.ty-oue miles per hour
The best mile IN the race was 50 g.
seconds, made by the Slearns No.
which Barney OldGeld drove. Oldne.d.
driving Is ukey TO start many sprint
and fat;er Up the record for the win
ming driver
Crash Into Fences.
II there are any fences left aroun
the course when The race ends at
O'Clock tonight 4 wil not he the fau,
OF the daredevil drivers Of the rac.n
cara in he contest They have alrcsd
taken down about no Zee; az the sout
End north turns, ana Robertson, S'ran
and Roberts are easuns eyes a. N
back stretch, WITH It's egg-shapea turl
The home stretch looks 20 De safe
pprng The early morning hour