Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-10
MOTORCYCLE
HITS FENCE;
KILLS RIDER
JOHN DERKUM VICTIM OF BAD
ACCIDENT
MACHINE sWERVEs WHILE GOING
MILE A MINUTE
Brother of "Dare Devil" Meets Death
While Practicing for Races at
the Agricultural Park
Track

John F. Derkum in an effort to ride
a racing motorcycle around the Agri-
cultural park race course several sec
onds under the minute mark lost his
life yesterday afternoon at 1 o clock.
He crashed through the fence, crushing
his chest and fracturing his skull. He
was taken to the receiving hospital in
the ambulance, which was at the track,
and died at the Sisters hospital, to
which he was removed.
He was % years old and a fireman on
1re Southern Pacific railroad. He lived
at 1857 West Twenty-fourth street. His
brother Paul j. Q. Derkum, is one of
the most famous motorcycle riders in
the country being known as Dare
Devil" Derkum.
Derkum when killed was trying out
his Thor motorcycle for the races yes
terday afternoon. He was about to
make his first appearance as a racer
on the local track and his friends had
planned to make a clean sweep with
the new rider in the amateur events.
His machine had been tuned to the
minute and he was on his final trial.
At Full Speed
AS several of the boys who were to
race gathered on the track Derkum
started around. After a couple of cir
c-its he slowed up and, stopping, said
to his brother Paul: Catch my time.
/ intend turning the machine loose and
will take the turns at full speed" With
that he was Off The machine was
equipped with multiple cylinder en-
gine and was capable of miles under
the minute. He had already made a
circuit in 5s seconds and was aiming at
the 81 mari. He made the quarter turn
easily and as he moved around to the
back stretch his machine gained speed.
Down the long sweep he made a quar-
ter under IA seconds. He passed the
half-mile post and seemed to be MAX
ing the turn successfully when he sud
denly shot from the rail and in the
next instant the air was filed with
flying boards as the rider and machine
plunged through the outside fence.
Paul Derkum saw his brother hit the
fence and was among the first to reach
his side. The injured man was put into
the ambulance and hurried to the re-
ceiving hospital. After the first ex-
animation it became apparent that
death was certain. An operation was
performed in the hopes that something
might be done, but it was useless. He
was taken to the Sisters hospital,
where he died at 4:32. He was en-
gagged to be married next winter to
Estella Lyman of 4S7 Solano avenue.
With his brother dying Paul Derkum
displayed the wonderful nerve which
has won for him the title of a worlds
champion.
Brother Rides Exhibition
Five thousand persons had gathered
at Agricultural park to witness the
races. Paul Derkum had been adver-
tised as the star. He would appear.
lie hurried to the park and appeared
on the track during the middle of the
afternoon. His features We're drawn
and his face colorless. He donned his
leggins and sweater and prepared to
start
In the face of the ovation he received,
the nervy rider could hardly keep back
the tears, but as the machine began to
shoot he lowered his head and was
away like the wind on a mile exhibition.
On his first mile he made a quarter in
13 seconds, a 52-second clip for the mile.
The second time around he slowed
up and stopping in front of the stand
hastily left theI track.
A valve had broken, the public was
told, but the fact was that the
sight of the broken fence which meant
the loss of brother had been too much
for the plucky little man who has
thrilled thousands.