The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-20

Indianapolis. August 1.-TWO lives were
lost and two records broken during the
Inauguration of the indianapolis motor
speedway today. William A Bourque,
driver of the Knox car in the 250-mile
race. and Harry Holcomb, his mechan-
ician, were killed in the frenzied carni-
val of speed.
Barney Oldfeld, driving a high power
Benz, covered a mile in 0:43 lilo, break
ing DePalma's mark of 0:51, and Louis
Chevrolet in a Buick negotiated ten miles
in the marvellous time of 1856 4-10, cut
ting Oldheld's time of 912. Both of these
are new American track marks
Robert Burman won the 250-mile race,
that cost Bourque and Holcomb their
lives. The winners time was 4:3s:57 40
slow because of the many accidents that
marred the race.
The standardization (Clements) was
second in 4:46:o1, the National (Merz)
finishing third in 4:52:99 ITO. Another Ma
tional with Kincaid at the wheel was
the only other car of the ten starters
to finish the long grind.
Improvements Are Demanded.
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the event will be withdrawn.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 Amer
lean Automobile association demands that
the track be freed from the many and
dangerous ruts which are said to be
unavoidable in a new track, and that
every inch of it be thoroughly oiled and
tarred.
Today only a short portion in front of
the grand stand was oiled, and the dust
on the other parts is 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.
Two records were broken and the first
day of the immense track fair proved to
be an unqualified success, when pail
was cast over the crowd of 1900 spec
tators by the deaths of Bourque and
Holcomb.
The Knox car was in second place with
Burman, in his Buick leading, and had
covered nearly $50 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 pin
ming it's two occupants beneath it. Both
men were alive when taken from under
the Inflated machine, but Bourque died
in the ambulance on the way to the
Mercy hospital Holcomb lived few
minutes longer, but was dead soon after
he arrived at the hospital.
Causes of Accident.
Stories as to the cause OF the accident
vary and no one will ever know what
really caused the car of death to swerve
from the track. According to the story
told by Private Frank Bender. Company
II, Second regiment, Indiana National
guard who was nerest to the scene of the
accident and had a narrow escape from
injury something caused the two men to
suddenly turn and look behind. When
they did So the steering wheel slipped
from Bourque's hands and he threw up
crash.
One of the rear wheels was found a
few hundred feet from the scene of the ac-
cident and this had led to the advance
ment of the theory that the axle nuts
had not been properly frightened when
new tire had been put on this wheel
shortly before.
The men probably felt the wheel slip
ping off and after they looked behind
realized their helplessness to preevnt an
accident.
Bourque was rs 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 a hill climbing contest
| near Worcester, Mass in May
Holcomb was % years old and lived at
| Grandville, Mass. He had been with the
Knox company for two years and was
| considered one of the best mechanicans
| In the racing business. Both men were
| unmarried.
Albert Denison, the racing partner of
| Bourque. collapsed after the accident and
the services of a physician were required.
| The sight Of the two men lying dead
was too much for the friend Of both, who
| had been called upon SO often to face
| death in the same manner
| Louis Chevrolet, the French driver OF
! the Buick team, was led into the hospital
almost blinded with the tar and dust
| from the track, shortly after the two men
| had died The Freedman, who had been
leading during the early part of the long
| Icdo Wdb lOTCeu " give ny. lt soHcu
| upon the bodies of his two former rivals
| on the track he muttered: TOO bad! toe
bad" and then staggered to chair, too
weak to stand both the physical and emo
tional strain of the moment.
| As the result Of the two deaths the
Knox company has Withdrawn all its en-
| tries for the next two days, and 1t is said
| 1t will probably never again enter its
| car in a race
Strang Comes to Grief.
| Aside from the deaths the $50 mile race
| teemed with dramatic incidents and dis
| appointments. The following cars start
| ed In the deathdealing grind
| Knox (Bourque) National (Kincaid),
| National CMerz), Stoddard- Dayton (Mil-
| ler), Buick (Burman). Buick (Strang),
| Buick Chevrolet Jackson (Ellis), Stod-
| dard-Dayton (Ellis).
| Strang was the first to come to grief
| as his car caught fire before he had COW
cred one lap. He was delayed some time
BY this. and the officials at first refused