Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-20
TWONEW RECORDS; TWODEAD
Sensational Events Mark Opening of
Indianapolis Auto Races.
KNOX CAR RUNS INTO FENCE
Driver and Attendant Almost In
stRntIy KiIIed-New MarlSs.
for One aud Ten
Miles.

dianapolis motor speedway today. William
A. Bourque, driver Of the Knox car in the
25O-mile race, and Harry Holcomb, his
m"echanician, were killed by crashing into
a fence.
Two records were broken. Barney Old
field, driving a high-power Benz, covered
q mile in O;42 Ito, breaking De Palma
mark Of O;5l, and Louis Chevrolet. in a
Buick, made ten miles in S:56 40, cutting
Oldfield's time OF 9:l2. Both Of these are
new American track marks.
Robert Burman won the 250-mile race, the
feature Of the day. 1t was this contest that
cost Bourque and Holcomb their lives. The
winners time was 1855 4-1O-slow because
Of the many accidents that marred the
race. The stoddard Dayton (Clements) was
second in 4:46:O1 $40 and the National
(Merz) finished third in 4:52:S9 7-lO. Another
National was the only other car of ten
starters to finish.
Changes Ordered in Track.
The death OF the two men caused the
American Automobile association to issue
an ultimatum to the owners of the track
that certain changes must be made by to-
morrow or sanction. for the remaining
events will be withdrawn. The American
Automobile association demands that the
NNNA w AANNN rum ITO many uhHkeIOuH
ruts and that every inch Of il be thoroughly
oiled and tsrred. Today only a short por-
ton in front of the %grandstand 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 Enls-whu
were blinded by the dense white mist that
covered the major portion OF the track.
The first day of the races at the big
track had bid fair 90 be an unqualified
success when a pail was cast over the
crowd of 1900 spectators by the sudden
death of Bourque and Holcomb.
How Men Were Killed.
The Knox car was in second place, with
Burman in his Buick. leading and had
covered nearly loo miles when the crash
came while coming down the head stretch,
the car suddenly swerved and tore into
the fence at the left Of the track, turning
completely over and pinning it's two oc-
cupants beneath it. Both men were alive
when taken from under the wreck, but
Bourque died in the ambulance on the
way to the emergency hospital. Holcomb
died a few minutes after he arrived at
the hospital.
According to the story told by private
Frank Brandon, company H second regi-
ment. Indiana National guard. who was
nearest to the scene Of the accident and
had a narrow escape from injury. some
thing caused both men to suddenly turn
and look behind. As they did 80. the
steering wheel slipped from B~ourque's
hands and he threw his arms helplessly in
the air. Then came the crash.
One Of the rear wheels was found a few
hundred feet from the scene Of the acct
dent and this led to the advancement OF
the theory that the axle nuts on 1t had
not been properly frightened when the
machine had taken on a new tire shortly
before. The men probably felt that wheel
slipping off and after they looked behind
they realized their helpiessness to prevent
Identity of Victims.
Bourque was 26 years aid and lived at
Springfield, Mass. He had been in the
employ of the Knox company for seven
years and had been a racing driver since
1907. He finished second in the recent CODE
trophy race at Crown Point, Ind, and
shortly before he had been seriously in
jured when his car overturned in a hill
climbing contest near Worcester, Mass. in
May.
Holcomb was p years old and lived
at G~randville, Mass. He had been with
the Knox ompany for two years and was
considered one of the best mechanicians
in the racing business. Both a. N were I'M
married.
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 laying dead
was too much for the friend OF both, who
had been called upon so often to face
death in the same manner. "
7 - Ta
Buick team, was led into the hospital
almost blinded with the tar and dust from
the tracS-shortly after the two men had
died. The Frenchman, who had been lead
ing during the early part Of the long race.
was forced to give up. He gazed for a mo-
ment upon the bodies of his two former
rivals of the track, then moved by emotion
retired to a chair.
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 viii
probably never again enter its cars in a
race. H'. ~--
Many Accidents I'm Race.
The 25O-mile race teemed with dramatic
incidents and disappolntr5en:s. The follow
ing cars started in the contest:
Knox (Bourque), National CKincaid)
National CMerz), Stoddard-Dayto MilerJ,
Buick CBurman), Buick CStrang), Buick
(ChevroleU, jackson (Ellis) and Stoddard-
Dayton (Clements). %
Strang was the first to come to grief, as
his car caught fire before he had covered
on lap. He was delayed some time by This
and the officials at first refused to allow
him to continue, as Ire and his mechanician
had been aided by the track volunteer fire
company In extinguishing the blaze. The
rules Of the contest forbid any one but the
two men riding in the car to make repairs
or touch the cars in any way. After a long
discussion Strang was allowed to continue.
but the remainder Of the field had then
gained about fifteen miles on him. The
fire had so injured his machine that ne
dropped out after making a brief effort TO
regain his lost ground.
Chevrolet dashed into the lead at the
start and held II for nfty-two laps, or more
than half the race, with The brief excep,
ton OF the fifteenth and sixteenth laps,
when he rslinqulshed # TO his team mate.
Burman, the winner. When he was blinded
by dust he was led from the track. Miller.
in a standardization, also gave up his
losing race about this time.
BurmRn Again la Lead.
After Chevrolet's Withdrawal. Burman
again went into the lead, with Bourque
second and Kiucaid, in a National, third.
This order continued unul the fatal acct
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