The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-24

though Now YORK city must be without
"honk houk" this morning. Every
body owning an automobile and thous-
ands OF others in goggles and rented
machine, left the town during the wee
small hours and piloted a tonnoau load
OF friends over the Long Island roads 20
one OF the main POINTS OF vantage-the
turns suspected Of being dangerous he
Ing most in favor
At these points also were gathered the
masses OF less opulent spectators and
here was thrown the main strength OF
the constabulary, on whose SHOULDERS
rested the responsibility Of keeping the
course cleared for the drivers.
At so race officials and special police
started the seemingly impossible task OF
clearing the course, which for mile In
either direction From the grandstand
was solid mass of humanity.
Soldiers Clear Course
A few minutes after the work started,
the First Regiment. the Irish Volun-
teers, swung from the course. deployed
and quickly drove the crowds into the.
stands As the work was completed.
motorcycle couriers brought word that
the course at the dangerous Westbury
turn was so blocked with humanity
that il would be impossible for a car
TO get through. A detachment OF sol
diers was Immediately sent to the scene.
Daylight showed the grandstand
packed with humanity and overlooking
enLnuSldStIls a
rainfall which threatened TO make the
course slippery and doubly dangerous,
not only to the speed fiends in the
monster cars, but to the crowds.
OF the nineteen cars entered all but
two, Harry Payne Whitney's Bracer
and Thomas Williams b l. NJ wheeled
up to the starting line. All Of the
cars got away without a hitch save
the Renault, with Strang at the wheel
which baked and was delayed more
than thirty minutes. starting after all
but one Of the cars had completed
On the first round Foxan Keene's
Mercedes took fire and was out OF the
race for several minutes.
Crowd Is Immense.
The biggest crowd in the history OF
motor racing was strung along the
twenty-four miles of the course on
Long Island. 1t was estimated that
10000 people saw the race.
Some of the best known automobile
drivers in the world were entered in
the contest Herbert Lyle. winner of
the big race Of a fortnight ago, drove
an Isotta. Louis Strang was at the
wheel Of a Renault. FoxhaH Keene.
son OF James R Keene, drove his own
car. a high power Mercedes.
William K. Vanderbilt, jr., donor of
the cup. was on the starting line with
helped 70 get the racers of The big
grandstand on the Motor Parkway was
crowded, despite the unpleasant wealth
er and there was not a vacant park
space around the entire course.
James Florida. driving a L1OcomObile,
with Fred Hall as his machanician.
was the first TO cross the tape The
start was made promptly at $50 o'clock.
The other cars followed at one minute
intervals.
Brazler car. entered by Harry
Payne Whitney, and driven by POuget.
broke It's steering gear and was with
drawn Louis Strang drew up TO the
tape with mis- Renault, but when he got
the signal 10 60, the machine refused
to bulge. Vanderbilt. Wagner. and 9TH
er officials worked buslly over the ma
chine trying 70 get 1t in order.
Florida's Great Lap.
They were still at work when Florida.
In the LOcOmObile, made the first lap in
almost record time. He flashed past the
gTandstand in twenty-three minutes
and ten seconds, having made the
course at an average Of sixty-one miles
an hour. Taking into consideration the
slippery condition OF the track, this was
remarkable time.
A fine northeast drizzle, cold and pene-
trating. which swept over the whole OF
Long Island. beginning at 4 o'clock this
morning, did not prevent the great
crowds surging about the course.
The clouded sky had, however. re-
suited in delaying the start little from
the time f1rst set, and IL was $50 wher
Fred wagner, the Official starter and
clerk Of the course. called the cars to
the line.
To the surprise of many, car No s.
a Thomas entry, came TO the line, and
II was announced that J. NJ. Seymour
would drive it. The car, IL was an
nounced last night, could not take part
OF the twenty caxs originally entered
only one was really withdrawn, No. il,
A B. L. M; which was TO have been
driven by Thomas Williams. There
never has beer a No. u in a Vanderbilt
Cup race. A light drizzle began again
Just as Florida, in his big Locomobile,
came TO the line, and there was a scam
per for shelter by those who had left
the stands.
It was announced semi-officially that
Mr.. Riker, Of the LOcOmObile Company,
had made a protest that portions OF
the course were not sufficiently guard
ed by the sheriffs deputies and the
with members Of the Irish Volunteers
left the starting point. going to in
vestigate.
Sharply on the minute, each car left
the line. the exhaust Of each working
like a Calling gun. Florida got a ire
mendOus cheer from the crowded stand
ana every QrlNeT was given a CueeT
Willy Haupt in his Chadwick, looking
like a travelling arsenal; Robertson in
his Locomobile. and Strang, in the Re
nault entry, came in for special no
tice; but when Keene in his great Mer-
cedes came to the line. every box
holder, men and women, stood up and
waived everything available from hats
TO wells He was a prime favorite both
Bentimentally and for the bettOrs-
Robertson, Haupt, and Chevrolet were
also favorites IN the betting. To the
disappointment Of nearly everybody
,Strang, in his No. Il had trouble al
the start, and could not get away
promptly. Florida was the first to com
plete the circuit. Lyle. in his IsOtta
which won the stock car race tive
weeks ago. dashed by soon after, hi
time being q minutes and 50 seconds
This was going at the rate OF 64-5 miles
an hour Robertson, IN his Locomobile
got speed better than siXty-seven milo
an hour.
Keene Comes to Grief
Strang's trouble was with his mag
netto. but he finally started about Ia!
an hour late Keene came to grief a
Meadow RroCLx nd held ~, Ions