The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-09-17
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| the cars locking wheels in such a man.
| ner as to overturn the Stearns. Acct
dents of this kind have happened on
the road where cars have attempted
to pass one another and the drivers
have misjudged clearing distance.
IN the case of the fatal accidents
at Indianapolis last month the track
management now realizes that every
serious accident might have been
avoided had the track been completed
or properly safeguarded. When the
car driven by Bourque and Holcomb
left the track it had clear space of so
feet between the edge of the track and
the fence and the probabilities are that
the car would have come to stop
right side up had there not been an
open ditch at the track side which the
front WHEELS dropped into. Immediately
toverturning the car. There was no eX
cuse whatever for this ditch being left
open
I'm the second accident, resulting in
! the death of the mechanician of the
National car. the car struck the stone
abutment of a bridge overturning it,
Nand not only was the mechanician
killed but the fact that the car was
| hurled violently against the fence
thrnuoh INN Of vii CT oh
ment resulted in the death of several
spectators. 1t will thus be seen that an
open dich and a stone abutment Meth
er of which should have been allowed
to remain at the edge of the track,
were directly responsible for these ia
tai accidents
I'm the case Of the accident to Lu-
Their Smelser at Morris Park two years
ago his car went through the fence
up. and Smelser would have escaped
unhurt had it not been for the fact
that a five-nch iron pipe at exactly
j the heighth of a drivers head. was
attached to the fence encircing the
track
In the case of the death of w b.
Foelker, at Denver, his car went
! through the fence and was compare
lively uninjured. but spintered fence
, rail pierced the drivers heart.
IN the case of a track. such as
the Brighton Beach. there is only one
mile to be safeguarded, and only a
few things are necessary to render ia
tai accidents almost impossible In the
first place, heavy fences should be
entirely removed The S B. O. in the
last event went through the fence on
the turn, entering the home stretch.
tearing down seven of the light posts
! to which the canvas guide strips were
attached and the car Immediately ana
without stopping swung back on the
the car or drivers In the econd place
both the inside and outside of the track
should be smoothed down 50 that a car
leaving the track through throwing a
tire, or from some other cause will
continue onward until the driver has
an opportunity to bring it to Il .,tOp.
f. and even should Il car overturn after
leaving the track, if the ground is soft.
there is small chance of fatal accident
In Indianapolis the steering gear of
the car driven by Herbert Lytle. broke
at the steering knuckle. and any driver
knows that in an accident of this kind
Il car is absolutely beyond control The
car shot down the embankment and
the infield and ploWed along in the soft
dirt until it came to q stop right side
up. Had there been ditch or a fence
at this point, the chances would have
been very much in favor Of a fatal
accident. As it was. the car was re4
paired and re-entered the race within
Il few hours.