The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-03
DAREDEVIL RACE
CLAIMS 4 VICTIMS
Auto Accidents Begin Early
on the Brighton Beach
Course.
NEW RECORD MADE
BY SIMPLEX CAR
Robertson Covers Sixty-two Miles
in Hour-Barney Oldheld Will
Drive Stearns Today.

BRIGHTON BEACH RACE TRACK,
n. Y, Oct. 3-One dying. two terribly
hurt, another badly injured, and two
racing automobiles wrecked, marked the
penalty OF the neck breaking. record
breaking pace OF tho first eight hours
Of the big twenty-f6 III hour race today.
At the thirteenth hour the Simplex.
driven by Robertson, and the RenauIt,
with Lewis Strang at the wheel were
side by side and eating up the miles at
nearly a One-minute gait
Eight Thousand persons saw T. D.
Fishett, a detective, struck as he
crossed She course by the Simplex car.
driven by George Robertson, as II swept
past the C-ahCstand at sixty miles an
hour. He Was hurried into the paddock
and WIS picked ur unconscious The
Simplex c:,r was stopped. In other ac-
cidents The two drivers were badly
burned.
The Injured are Thomas D. Fishett,
detective, COney Island Hospital; both
legs broken, internal -injuries, condition
critical; Harry Bloch. driver RenaUIt,
No. u, Paddock Hospital face and
hands burned; Charles atiken, driver
Zust, Paddock Hospital, arms burned,
wrist broken; Harry CoDa, driver Lo-
zier, No. 2, left leg injured.
The series of accidents, which began
With the elimination Of two cars before
tie race started, kept the great cowd OF
men and women on edge during the
cold hours before daylight.
Before o'clock a trio OF cars met
with trouble on the gTandstaud turn,
and only by the greatest fortune was
fatal accident avoided.
Machine in Flames.
The Cleveland. running in sixth posi-
ton, cracked two rear cylinders and
halted in front OF the clubhouse A car
was sent out TO tow the Cleveland 20
the paddock for repairs. Harry Bloch.
in No Il. RenauIt. let OF an extra link
10 pass the .wo machines. The tank OF
the Renault began 70 leak and before
Bloch co1ld stop, his car was mass OF
flames. The maChinist sDrang from the
car and rolled under the inner rail.
Bloch stuck to the burning dutOmO-
bile. shut of tho power, and steered
clear of the Cleveland. The big Re
nault overturned and crashed into the
inner rail Bloch, al hOugh badly
burned, climbed out of ne wTeckase
and set to work with FIRE extinGuisners
Attracted by the flames. scores
crowded on the track in the path Cf the
automobiles BlueLJats from the COney
Island station hurried to the spot and
with night sticks cleared the course
Charles NaJjken. pilot OF the ZusJ, III
attempting 10 avoid the reckless spec
tatOTs. drove his car high on The bank.
A tire exploded and the next instant
the machine went through the outer
ran.
Driver and mechdnician We're thrown
twenty feet. NaUken struck on his
side. Before the ambulance carriage
100 Nnn H-au~
eXcitedly about, demanding that he be
provided Immediately with another car.
Managers OF the Zust led the injured
driver 70 the hospital tent, where lie
was Quleted with difficulty.
The hood Of the machine wGs pierced
with a portion Of the renee and Put out
Of commission for the time. Work at
once was begun 10 get the car in shape
for the race agsin.
Hurled Twenty Feet.
Fishett was struck BY the Simplex,
driven by George Robertson. before the
race was two hours old He crossed
the track TO warn two boys from a
dangerous place on the inner rail
Chevronet, in the Cleveland, narrowly
missed striking the officer. He lodged
to the right almost in the path Of The
Zust. FisheJt jumped back directly in
front Of Robertson's SirlplcX. He was
hurried twenty feet
Robertson shut of power ard backed
his car, crashing into the StearnS- The
latter was badly crippled The man
ogement Insisted that the car would re-
sumo but it was still out at daybreak.
Lewis Strang, in the Renault. took the
lead from RObertsO2's S Simplex after
the second hour, and continued in that
place. Records established BY the
Lozier at the last meet We're shattered
each hour. After several hours forty
miles had been added 10 the best pre-
viOus score by TIE hero OF ETiarcliff,
and three other cars were ahead Of the
old figures.
Although technically under arrest for
striking Fishett, Robertson was allowed
to continue driving
He dropped to fourth place during the
delay, fifteen miles behind the first car.
In an hour Robertson passed the Re
nault a dozen times, ani only three
miles separated the rivals.
Lescault relieved Robertson. For more
than fifty miles the two cars raced
abreast. Strang held tbs rail. prevent
ing the Simplex from again passing.
During the seventh hour 'Briarclif
Strang drew away and added three miles
70 his lead
The big six-cylinder Thomas remained
in third position, always within strlk-
ing distance of the leaders. Tire trOu-
bic during the seventh hour set the
car back, and allowed the LOzier, win
ner of the last meet, to e it for third
place.
The little Fiat broke n connecting
rod after covering tWenJy-siX miles and
was withdrawn for repairs The car was
in fourth place at the time
A new record for an hours driving in
competition was established by George
Robertson during the fifth hour. Sixty
two miles were covered during the
time, bringing the score Of the Simplex
TO within FIVE miles of the leader
To allow repairs 70 the track the
race was discontinued at O'clock for
an hour and twenty minutes The race
Will end after 10 tonight.
Barney Oldhe!d will take the Stearns
during the day. Although far in the
rear, OlddelC will attempt to smash
RobertsOn's new record Of sixty-tyyo
miles for an hour.
During this morning Acme. M
blew forward tire The car was
turned into rut and headed for the
outer rail- Driver Rod gers iammed
on the BRAKES so hard that the ma
chine spread-easied and brought IN
q few feet Srom the rail Rodgers