Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-09
KILLED IN MOTOR RACE
CycIist Conway Dashed to
Death at Burk's Station.
WAS LEADING IN CONTEST
Wheel Skidded at High Speed and
Threw Him Against Post.
DIED IN HOSPITAL SOON AFTER
Skull Fractured and Other Injuries
Youth Was Efficient Employe
of Patent Office.

Dashed to his death from flying mo-
torcycle in a race at Burk's Station. Va,
yesterday afternoon. was the fate OF
James Balm Conway. young man whose
home is in this city.
Conway. flushed with the prospects of
winning the race from his competitors.
was speeding his machine at a rate esti-
mated at between forty-five and fifty
miles an hour. Spectators cheered the
cyclist as he sped along the track in a
cloud Of dust. Others watched with bated
breath his increasing speed as he bent
TO his work.
1t was near the finish Of the race. Con-
way was in the lead. He was ten seconds
ahead of his nearest competitor. Sud-
denly. like an arrow shot from its bow,
he shot farther ahead and set the pace.
With the goal in sight. Conway glanced
back at the man nearest to him and
smiled. He had opened wide the throttle
on his wheel. and the Virginia dust was
flying in front Of him and all about his
machine.
Being in the lead. he evidently did not
consider Il necessary for him to take the
inside OF the course. This mistake was
fatal. costing the young man his life.
Motor Skids in Soft Soil.
He kept toward the outside poles. His
wheels sank into the soft soil. Then the
motorcycle skidded and crashed into a
pole.
Like a projectile from a catapult. Con-
way landed with terrific force against the
pole He struck squarely upon his head
and shoulders. Then his form dropped
limp to the ground.
Spectators, paralyzed with fear and ex-
element, stood motionlcss in their places
for a moment. Then some of them rushed
toward the helpless rider and raised him
from the ground.
A stretcher was quickly improvised. He
was removed in an unconscious condi-
ton to the dressing room.
Physicians who were summoned saw
that life was ebbing. Upon their advice
special train was made up and the
injured youth was rushed to this city.
He was taken to the Emergency HOspi-
perform an operation upon him. He had
sustained a badly fractured skull and
other serious injuries.
Clerk in Patent Office.
Conway. who was eighteen years OF age.
was a clerk in the patent Office. He was
an efficient empioye.
DR.. D. B. Street, at 1000 9th street north
west. He was a graduate Of the District
high schools and an enthusiastic motor
list.
The young man left his home at s
clock yesterday morning to take part
In three motorcycle events at Burkes
station in connection with the Fairfax
In the 2O-mile race.
Conway had ridden in the two events
that preceded it. He had a punctured
tire in the first race. causing him to lose
E. ]. Smith of 1887 Lawrence street
Brookland. D. c.. who was an eye wit
ness to the fatality. in a statement made
for The Star today said:
1.-The race which resulted in the death
OF Conway was a handicap. Four con-
testants had thirty-second handicap on
Conway. who overhauled the entire field
on the third mile. He passed the leading
man. Gennella. at the grandstand.
Conway then took the turn at high
speed. His rear wheel skidded and threw
him with great force against fence
post. sHis skull was crushed, his shoulder
badly cut and he sustained other in
juries.'
a number OF amateur motorcycle events
in fhe District Of Columbia, and was an
enthusiast on motorcyclina.
Competitor Tells How It Happened.
When Conway passed me 1 feared
something was going to happen said
W. B. Gennella, jr.. competitor in the
race, last night. My machine had be-
come clogged with oil and this threw
me back. Conway passed and 1 yelled
at him that the race was not over.
I'VE were just approaching the far
turn. / noticed that Conway. instead o:
cutting in toward the inside. kept to the
outside pole.
He was about to make the turn when
the accident occurred. His machine shot
toward the outside rail in a cloud OF
dust. The earth was soft at this point.
THE right handlebar snapped. and Con-
way was thrown to a pole ten yards
away. His head and shoulders struck it.
II was directly behind Conway and fol-
lowing him closely. When I saw a cloud
of dust realized something had hap
pened and kept we'll 10 the center OF the
track. This saved me, for my machine
also skidded l passed within a few
inches of Conway's machine.
when the spectators and riders had
realized what had happened the race
was stopped and preparations begun to
bring Conway to Washington. I have
ridden on the track for the last time
Gennella came to this CITY on his ma
chine. beating the train By ten minutes.