The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-21
WILD AUTO RACE
Frenzied Carnival of Speed Cost
Two Lives.
STORY OF THE Drive

~ Sae WI eeHo u Haa U u
Car Driven by William A. Bour-
que Crashed into q Fence, killing
the Driver and the Mechanican,
Harry hIolcolmb-Cause OF the
Accident Merely Conjecture.
Two lives were lost and two speed
records we're broken on Thursday
at Indianapolis, Ind, in races by
automobiles during the Inauguration
of the motor speedway in that city.
William A. Bourque, driver Of the
Knox car in the 200 mile race, and
Harry Helcolmb, his mechanican,
were killed in the frenzied carni-
val of speed
Barney Oldfeld, driving a high
powered Benz, covered mile in 43
1-10, breaking DePalma's mark of
81, and Louis Chevrolet, in a Rlick,
negotiated ten miles in the marvel
| Gus time of S:56 40, cutting Old
fields time of 9.12. Both of these
are now American track marks.
Robert Burman, in a Buick car,
won the $50 mile race, the feature
OF the day, and the contest which
cost Bourque and Holcolmb their
lives. The winners time was
4.3S.57-10.-slow, because of the
many accidents that mared the race.
The death Of the two men caused
the American Automobile Associa-
tion to issue an ultimatum to the
owners Of the big track that certain
changes must be made, or the sane
tion for the races will be withdrawn.
The Association demanded that the
track be freed from its many dang
erous ruts, which are claimed to be
unavoidable in new track, and that
every inch of it be thoroughly oiled
and tarred.
Thursday only short portion in
front OF the grand stand was oiled
and the dust on the other parts is
blamed for the collapse of two driv-
ers in the lons race-Louis Chew
rolet and Fred Ellis-who were
blinded by the dense white dust that
covered the major portion of the
track.
The Knox car, driven by Bourque,
was in second place, with Burman
in his Buick; leading. 1t has COW
cred nearly $50 miles when the crash
came. 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 its two occupants be-
meath 1t.
Both men were alive when TAX
en- from under the illfated machine,
but Bourque died in the ambulance
on the way to the Emergency Hos
pital. Holcolmb lived a few min
utes longer.
According to the story told by
Private Frank Brandoer, Company
H, End regiment, Indiana NATIONAL
Guard, who was nearest the scene
of the accident and had narrow es-
cape from injury, something caused
both men to suddenly turn and look
around. AS they did so the steer
ing wheel slipped from Bourque's
hands and he threw his arms help
lessly in the air. Then came the
crash.
One Of the rear wheels was fOun
few hundred feet fro mthe scene
of the accident, and this has let to
the advancement OF the theory that
Il. le nuts on had not been prop
erly tightened when the machine
had taken on new tire shortly be-
fore. The men probably felt that
wheels slipping off, and after they
lOUh6u Utlllllu uAtJ ItdIILSu ehC'i
helplessness to prevent an accident.
Bourque was 26 years old and Hol-
colmb o. Both were unmarried.
Albert Denison, the racing partner
of Bourque, collapsed after the ac-
cident and the services of physicians
were required. The sight Of the
two men lying dead was too much
for the friends of both.
Louis Chevrolet, the French driver
of the Buick, was led itno the hos
pital almost blinded with the tar
and dust from the track shortly after
the two men had died. The French
man, who led during the early part
of the race, was forced to give up.
AS the result OF the two deaths,
the Knox Company has withdrawn
all its entries for the next two days
and it is said it will probably never
again enter its cars in race.