The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-20
DEATH WINS IN MOTOR RACES Two Lives Lost on Speedway. CAR HURLED FROM TRACK Records Arc Shattered in Fatal
 Event. Driver and srechanieian Yield Up Their Lives in Frenxiea Carnival of speed at Opening ef Indianapolis
 Track.
 

Indianapolis, Ind, Aug. 1s.-Two lives were lost and two records broken du- ring the inauguration of the Indiana polls Motor Speedway today.
 William A Bourque, driver of the Knox car in the 250 mile race. and Har- ry Holcomb. his mechanician. were killed in the frenzied carnival of speed.
 Barney Oldfield, driving a high pow cred Boaz. covered a mile in :t3 1-t0. breaking De Paima's mark of :b1. and Louis Chevrolet. in Buick, negotiated ten miles in the marvellous time of s:bs 4-l0. cutting Oldfelds time of e:12. Both of these are new American track marks,
 Robert Burman won the 250 mile race. the feature of the day. and the contest that cost BourQue and Holcomb their lives. The winners time was 4:3s::57 4-1o--slow. because of the many accidents that marred the race. was second in 4i46:01 S-10. and the Na- tional. (Perse). finished third in t:52:3e T-10. Another National. with Rincaid at the wheel, was the only other car of the ten starters to finish the long grind.
 The death of the two men caused the American Automobile Association to is- sue an ultimatum to the owners of the big track that certain changes must be made by tomorrow or the sanction for the event will be withdrawn. The American Automobile Association de- manda that the track be freed from the many and dangerous ruts, which are said to be unavoidable in new track. and that every inch of 1t be thoroughly oiled and tarred.
 Dust Blinds Drivers.
 Today only a short portion in front of the grandstand was oiled. and the dust on the other parts was blamed for the collapse of two drivers in the long race--Louis Chevrolet and Fred Ellis who were blinded by the dense white mist that covered the major portion of the track.
 The Knox car was in second place. with Burman in his Buick leading. and had covered nearly i50 miles when the crash came. While coming down the home stretch. the car suddenly swerved and tore into the fence at the left of the track, turning completely over and pinning it's two occupants beneath H.. Roth men were alive when taken from under thalsg ill-fated machine, but Bouruus died in ti1e Mfnbnlhnee on the way to the Mercy Hospital. HolcoiIsb lived few minutes longer, but was dead soon after he arrived at the hos pftai.
 stories az to the cause Of the acci- dent vary, and no one will ever know what really caused the car of death to HWoFYG from In0 LTHCh. ACCOtAhu8 eO the story told by Private Frank Bran der, Company H. And Regiment. Nation al Guard, who was nearest to the scene of the accident. and had e narrow es- cape from Injury. something caused the two men to suddenly turn and look be- hind. When they did so. the steering wheel slipped from Bourque's hands and he threw up his arms heipiessiy. Then came the crash.
 Wheel CnmN OW.
 One of the rear wheels was found a few hundred feet from the scene of the accident and this led to the advance ment of the theory that the axle nuts had not been properly frightened when a new tire had been put on this wheel shortly before.
 The men probably felt the wheel slipping off and after they looked be- hind realized their helplessness to pre- vent an accident.
 Bourdue was 3e years old and had been a racing driver since 1907. He finished second in the recent Cobe trophy race at Crown Point. Ind. and shortly before he had been seriously injured when his car overturned in hill climbing contest near worcester Mass, in May.
 at Crandville Mass. He had been with the Knox company for two years and was considered one of the best mecha- nicians in the racing business Both men were unmarried.
 Albert Denison. the racing partner of Bouruue, collapsed after the accident and inc services of e physician were required. The sight Of the two men laying dead was too much for the friend of both, who has been called up- on so often to face death in the same manner.
 Chevrolet Gives Up.
 Louis Chevrolet, the French driver of the Buick team, was lead into the hos pital almost blinded with tar and dust from the track. shortly after the two men had died. The Frenchman. who had been leading during the early part of the long race was forced to give m. As he gazed on the bodies of his two former rivals on the track, he muttered; '-Too bad; too bad" and then staggered to chair. too weak to stand both the physical and emotional strain of the moment.
 Knox Company has withdrawn all IFS entries for tho next two days, and It Is | said if will probably never again enter | It's car in a race.
 ! strang also came to grief as his car caught fire before he had completed one lap. He was delayed some time by | this and the officials at first refused to allow him to continue as he and his mechanician had been aided by the track volunteer fire company In extin- | Ruishing the blaze. The rule of the | contest forbade any but the two men riding in the car making repairs or | touching tho cars In any way. Finally. after a long discussion. he was allow | ed to continue, after the remainder of the field had gained About fifteen miles l on him. The fire. however, had sapped all the racing blood from his machine ana he dropped out after making a/ gal