The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-06-26
AUTOS IN Big RACE
GREAT CROWD Wild As GIANT
MACHINES SPEED AROUND
COURSE.
MATsoa WINS FIRST EVENT
Drives chalmers-Detrolt TO Victory
at Crown Point In Contest o.
Little Observation-Disclosures
Locomoblle Second.

Crown Point, Ind.--Keyed to the
highest pitch OF excitement by the
great race of the small machines won
by Joe Matson In the Chalmers-De-
troit Friday the great crowd here Tor
the automobile race Saturday was
wild with enthusiasm as the big cars
started on their mad dash.
II was estimated 100000 persons
witnessed the race Friday at points
along the 23-miles course and II was
believed Saturday that at least $4,000
more watched the big machines as
they dashed around the course.
The soldiers had great trouble keep
ing the great mass OF people on the
track and reports have been received
that others were injured.
Saturdays race was the most severe
test of machines and drivers In the
history of stock car racing In Amer
lea. Twelve cars-two Locomotives,
two Appersons. three Bucks, two
Stoddard- Daytons. two Knox, and
f. I. A. T.--were entered. The cars
are OF 40 and As horsepower. The
race was at II laps-395.59 miles.
Matson plotted Chalmers-Detroit
BLUE Bird" to brilliant victory over
is rivals in the 233-mile contest. The
Friday race was for light cars only
and. while of great Importance In IT.
self, was generally considered as pre-
liminary to the race of the big cars
for the Cobe Cup. over the same
course, Saturday. Perfect weather
and the absence Of any save the most
trivial injuries to drivers were for
tunate circumstances attending the
winning of the Indiana trophy by
Matson. EEu &#sE1
The field numbered 16 cars at the
start. the Ford and Renault having
withdrawn. The leading trio finished
as follows:
Chalmers Detroit (Matcon) .4:31:2f
tocomobiIe (Robertson). 4:3s:o3
Marion (Monsen). ........4:42:o3
The time of the other cars was not
taken as they were tagged of the
course after the FIRST three had
finished. k
When It became apparent, as the
initial race in the two-days' contest
drew to finish, that the victory lay
between Matson, Robertson and Mon
sen, the affair increased in dramatic
intensity, each Of the leading candi-
dates was deserted on the hilltop to
the south, where the oil-stained road.
fringed by two gray streaks Of light
er earth at the side seemed to meet
the horizon, the cheers of the specta-
tors began.
The race which was an hour late
In starting, owing to the belated ar
rival of the auto-trucks for the
transportation of the militiamen to.
their station around the course, was
finally got under way when Starter
Frank Wagner slapped jacksonville.
the Corbin driver, on the back and the
machine shot across the line. The
remaining cars were dispatched at
minute intervals.
The second lap brought about the
downfall of Louis Strang. who was
admittedly the favorite driver before
the, race because of his previous sue
cesses IN other parts. of the country.
He covered the first lap in fine shape
in 24:32 3-5. but half way round on
the second he was put out of the con-
test by the sudden necessity for using
his brake. lie had pursued car for
several miles. and thinking he was
about to have an opportunity to pass.
he turned loose with his best speed.
He had not room to go by, however,
and to avoid crashing into the car
ahead, he applied the brake SO sud-
denly that his transmission gear was
stripped from the rear axle.
Matson, who finished the first lap
in an apparently hopeless position.
steadily forged to the front. Matson
was forced to relinauish his lead for
brief period at the end of the
fourth !. lap. when Knipper forged
ahead by the scant margin Of two
seconds, with Poole a close third.
From this time on Matson was never
in danger. as he steadily increased his
LEAD until at one time he was eight
minutes ahead of the field. Matson's
teammates were unable to maintain
the terrific pace. Knippcr dropped
out OF the race at the end OF the fifth
lap. and Poole encountered many diff
culties In his sixth round, which oc-
cupied SO minutes.
stutz. In a Marion, made a deeper
ate race and was well up when ne
blew out cylinder. Just north OF the
grandstand, during the eighth lap.
His car ran into the shallow ditch at
the side Of the track. but he and HIS
lnachinist cdcaped with a fow bruises.
The interest IN the last lap cen.
tered In the race for second place be.
tween Robertson IN his Locomobilo,
and Monsen. ne the wheel of Marion.
indian Lad Killed Four HslatIvss.
| Salt J1tc Cify--Dan TITO Ac. a III
yenr-0id Navajo indian. pleaded Guiity
In the United States district court a