Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-22

Continued from First Page.)
same car with Merz. He had been Ait
ken's mechinician in another National.
Aitken jumped into the dead at the start,
holding the nineteen starters and remained
there till a cylinder-head cracked after he
had covered 105 miles. Then he was
forced to drop out. Aitken covered 100
miles in 1871 al $40, setting a new record
for the track and breaking the one made
by Chevrolet in the 25O-mile race Thurs
day.
Kellum and Aitken tried everything in
their power to get their car in shape to
continue. and were forced to sit by with
idle hands while the cars they had been
leading a few minutes ago went by. Kel-
lum wept like a child when he found his
car would not be able to continue the
race.
Shortly after Athens car was with
drawn, Merz's first mechinician, Robert
Lyme, collapsed in the National repair pit
and Kellum was substituted for him.
Merz's car had gotten into trouble on the
far side OF the track and Lyme had run
all the way across the infield in the beat
ing sun, and this, combined with emotional
excitement of the moment and his efforts
TO help Merz, caused him to fall into a
dead faint. He was able to gasp out
that he wanted a new battery for the car
MerE a Local FaVOrite.
KeIlum, eager to get back. into the ex-
citing contest, grabbed a battery and
started off across the field. After a little
work on the car he and Merz were able to
get the car going and continued the dizzy
grind around the track, which was becom-
ing more bumpy every minute. AS Kellum
passed the National repair pit the first
time after getting the car back into the
race. he waved his hand in a joyful salute
to his fellow workers. Mers, who is an
Indianapolis boy and the son of a police
man here, is a great local favorite and was
greeted witr-a hearty round of applause
when 1t was seen he was back in the run
ming once more. The car was then work
ing in excellent shape and, as machines
were dropping out with regularity, Msrz
and Kellum sped their car along, evidently
thinking that they might work their way
into ar advantageous position and that
some good fortune might give them the
race. Then came the fatal crash. Despite
the tragedy the six cars left in the con-
test continued the race until the accident
happened to Bruce Keene in the Marmon.
His car crashed in a post near the side
" AlN hAhNh ~ IL AAou " ecAAAN SiAAS
countable reason skidded. Schiller, the
mechanician, sustained a slight fracture
Of the skull, but did not realize the extent
Of his injury, thinking he was only cut.
Keene received a cash in the sideNof his
neck and several cuts about the head, but
was not seriously hurt. After this acct
dent the officials, having decided that every
man in the race was in danger, stopped the
race.
At the time the race ended there were
still five cars on the track. Lee Lynch in a
National was leading and had covered 25
miles in 4:l3:3l 4-lO. DePalma was second,
three-quarters of a lap back. SiIllman in a
Marmon was third and Harroun in another
MarmOn was fourth.
According to the statement made by the
officials, Keene, to whose car the accident
happened just before the race was stopped,
was awarded fifth place. De Hymel, in
a standardization was the sixth man.
Statement by Referee.
A meeting Of the officials was held after
the race and the following statement was
issued by Referee S. b. Stevens:
owing to the physical condition Of the
contestants, who had been subjected to
the strain of a three days race meet, under
trying climatic conditions, l deemed II to
the best interests OF the entrants and
spectators to abandon the race, therefore
/ rule no race and no awards,
In conclusion, however, / recommend TO
the management Of the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway, and TO the donors Of the
trophies, that suitable engraved certih-
Gates OF performance be presented to all
contestants in active participation in this
event at the time Of abandonment and
that they be signed by the management
OF the indianapolis Motor Speedway, the
donors and the referee"
Up to a late hour tonight the body of
one Of the two spectators killed remained
unidentified. AZ first II was thought the
young man was Benjamin Logan Of this
city, as a lodge card bearing that name
was found In his pc set. Upon lnvestlga-
ton It WIS found that Benjamin Logan
had not been to the speedway, nor could
he explain how the card came into the
unknown mans possession.
Homer toilette. the other spectator killed.
was a farmer living at Trafalgar, Ind.
and was Identified by a man from that