Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-20

WI LILLIAN r. RUESS, better known
w as wild Bill" in the automo-
bile world, drove the Pope Hart
ford auto to victory in the Mount Badly
century race for the Fenner trophy
yesterday That means that Ruess was
victor in what may properly be termed
the classic of American automobile
courses. His time from Los Angeles to
the finish, 100 miles away and 7400 feet
up the side of North Baldy mountain,
was hours and seconds.
Second in the race was the Apperson
Jackrabbit, Harris Hanshue driving.
Hanshue's time was hours and "a
minutes.
The Mercury II, entry of the White
Steam car, turned turtle close to tho
railroad crossing at Newhall, hurting
out Gus Seyfried, the driver, and A.
Forbes, known as Happy Hogan"
Forbes, slightly injuring both meE.
That they were not killed seemed al
most a miracle. The heavy racing car
turned completely over three times.
The steering wheel was broken. The
seats were swept off and the car was
otherwise damaged.
Injuries Not Serious
The injured men were picked up in
side Of a minute and taken in an auto
mobile to Newhall, where they were at
tended by DR.. Thrailkill, who pro-
nounced neither man seriously hurt.
The damage to the Mercury II was
mostly superficial and can be readily
repaired. The steering knuckle on the
right side was bent, the steering wheel
demolished and the top portion of the
seat and dasher were crushed. In the
afternoon a new steering knuckle was
sent to the scene of the accident, ana
the Mercury II returned to the city
rN1i iF11h
Newhall grade without trouble.
The accident to the steam car hap
pened in the fraction of a second. As
the Mercury II dropped down the
slope from the heavy Newhall grade
spectators who had sought the ridge
followed the speeding machine with
their glasses until it disappeared In
the valley, which is dotted with groups
of liveoak trees.
There were only few persons VINO
saw the accident to the White steam
er. What they saw was told in an
incoherent manner. The deep furrow
plowed in the sand by the forward
wheels of the heavy machine; the
torn earth; the blood spots on the turf
and the shattered wreck told more
graphic story.
Machine Turns Turtle
The scene of the disaster to the
racing car was at point about one
half mile from the railway crossing
near Newhall and about two miles
from the pass. The White was show
ing a wonderful burst of speed along
a fair piece of highway, level but
somewhat cut up by chuckholes. Sey-
fried struck a deep chuckhole and his
car swerved violently to the right and
ran into a stratum of heavy, deep sand.
For thirty or forty feet the racer
plowed through the sand straight to-
ward a heavy telegraph pole. The
driver saw the peril and with tre-
mendous effort turned the steering
wheel to the left in an attempt to
send his machine back on the solid
roadway. At this instant the wheels
struck more solid ground and the ma
chine went over like a football player
rolls on his shoulder to save his neck.
The accident was caused by the
sudden breaking of steering
knuckle, making 1t impossible for
Seyfried IL e driver to gain any con-
troll of the ear Seyfried was hurled
clear of the car at the first turn and
rendered unconscious.
Pinned Beneath Car
Forbes was caught beneath the ma
chine and pinned down. He was still
conscious, although his head and face
were badly lacerated. He demanded
chance to finish the race, but this
was impossible, as there was no ex-
ira steering knuckle and the two men
were picked up and hustled to the
nearest physician.
The injuries sustained by Forbes
consisted of a confusion of the right
cheek, a deep laceration of his scalp
at the crown and cut on the back
of his necek. Seyfried sustained more
painful injuries in the shape of torn
muscles of the right arm. Both men
were comfortable last night and will
be able to be around their places of
business today.
Beginning Saturday evening and
continuing throughout the entire night,
there was a general exodus OF Los An
geles automobilists, who sought van
tage points along the course where
Continued on Page Twelvel