The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-06
Tragedy Due to the Inadequate
Policing at Automobile Races
C. @. Stafford, Former Mayor of Eureka Meets
Instant Death at Emeryville

The automobile races on the Emery
vile track held under the auspices of
the Reliance athletic club of Oakland
yesterday were married by a fatal ac-
cident. C. G. Stafford. former mayor
and a former Judge of Eureka, Hum
boldt county, was struck by one of the
racing machines and instantly killed.
The accident happened in the first
heat of the eighth race, which was
10 mile event Thee cars started,
Buick White Streak driven by Carl
Christensen, a Carter car driven by S.
Hall and a go" Cadillac driven by
M. E. Silva.
mile and were entering the eighth, with
Christensen in the lead about a six
teenth of a mile in front of Silva in
the Cadillac Silva had his car wide
open and was coming for. the first turn
when Stafford tried to cross the track
to the entrance OF the inner field
THE FATAL ACCIDENT
AS Stafford started to go across the
track those who were standing at this
point shouted for him to look out. and
he turned and saw the car coming,
then tried to run across the track.
Silva saw him also and, thinking that
ne would stop, started to take the rail
at the same moment Stafford began to
run across. Silva attempted to turn,
but it was too late and the radiator
struck Stafford, practically breaking
every bone in his body.
Silva lost control of the car and it
turned turtle, rolling on its side and
~. oIa 0f the He
was picked up unconscious and it was
thought that he, too, was fatally in
iured. but when taken to the track
hospital in the automobile ambulance
it was found that he had but few
minor bruises, including a broken nose,
and was able to go to his home 1t Is
reported he will be around in couple
of days.
The radiator of the car and the steer
ing wheel were badly wrecked.
Although the races were continued
the tragic death of Stafford took the
enthusiasm out of the record crowd Of
10000, and it was hard to raise cheer
DUE TO POOR POLICING
The accident was due to the poor
policing of the track. At the point
where the tragedy occurred are two
gates One leads into the inner field,
while the other leads into the pad
dock for the automobiles. At the pad
dock gate, standing on the track, were
drivers and others interested in the
different competing cars, besides many
spectators. 1t was from out of this
crowd that Stafford walked. 1t is said
that he asked c. A. Sanborn and Dep
uty Sheriff z. r. Patterson If he could
go across the track and was told not to
try it. but before they could stop him
y o4o ~ rxynf Io q crowd shouted for
him to look out
PROMINENT IN EUREKA
STAFFORD was one of the most prom
inent men in Eureka. He had been
visiting with his daughter. Mrs. II. B.
Bemis, who lives at lis Bonita avenue,
Piedmont Mrs Stafford accompanied
him from Eureka. four weeks ago.
Stafford was born in New York state
IS years ago. In his earlier life he
went to Illinois and while at Freeport
enlisted in the union army for four
years service during the civil war.
Some time after the war closed he re-
moved to this state and for many years
has made his home at Eureka, where
he practiced law,
Stafford was twice mayor of Eureka
and served one term as Judge of the
superior court of Humboldt county.
He was a member Of the Odd Fellows
order.
He is survived by his daughter, Mrs.
H B. Bemis who was his only child.
and by widow. The family has made
arrangements for burial at Eureka, to
which city the remains will be sent in
few days.
TERRIBLE CASUALTY INVITED
The crowd on the track was badly
handled. due to lack of experience.
From almost the sixteenth pole to the
first turn the spectators were allowed
to sit on the fence bordering the track
If any of the racing cars had swung
into the fence at this point there would
have been a frightful casualty. The
police force on the track consisted of
10 men under command of Sergeant of
Police Wood, but with the crowd over
flowing into the track there were not
enough policemen to keep 1T clear.
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