The Washington herald., 1909-08-22
DIE IN AUTOS.


the National car, with Merz as driver
and Kellnm as. mechanIcian. came down
the track with terrific bursts OF speed.
dashed into the fence. and the specta-
tors at the south side OF the speedway
Machine Turns Turtle.
The tire on the right front wheel had
burst and the machine turned turtle,
Kellum being pinched against the fence
and Merz was caught under the machine
In a twinkling. he reached up and turned
of the throbbing engine, and then called
TO those who had gathered around. to
look after Kellum. having no thought Of
himself.
The machine had run into the crowd.
but By some lucky chance the people
scattered just as It struck the fence. and
thus the many escaped death or serious
injury.
Kellum and the others we're rushed on
to the EIherency HospitaL Kellum was
unconscious from a terrible wound in the
head where il came into contact with the
fence, and his body was mass OF bruises.
From the first examination Il was clear
that he was fatally injured, and he died
an hour later
Wedged Against Fence.
Logan was picked up unconscious. The
wrecked machine had struck him and
wedged Kim in against the fence. and he
died in few moments. Jellefe was dead
when taken from under the end OF the
machine.
In the crowd at the fence were many
women and children and when the ma
chine turned over and threw Kellum
against the fence. there was a mad rush
to get out OF the way. men and women
and children falling over each other and
some OF them being trampied in the stam-
pede. This lasted but a moment. and the
injuries thus received were Of a minor
character.
! Merz, who was not injured beyond a
/ few scratches was perfectly self-pOs-
1 sessed as he lay under the machine He
asked that some one go at once and tell
| Eis father that he was not dead. but the
messenger met the elder MerZ just as he
was going away 70 deliver the message,
and the meeting between the father and
son was very affecting. the driver being
lifted from under the machine just as his
father arrived. Merz gave an account OF
the accident himself
He said he was driving close 20 the out
side of the track on account Of the bet
ter condition at that point when the tire
burst. At the same moment he struck
the bridge that spans a small stream and
the car leaped high In the air. left the
! course, and turned over among the spec
tators that were lined Up az the fence
He said he knew that he was not badly
! injured. but he feared for Kellum. whose
body he saw flying through space toward
the fence. which II struck with terrific
force. Kellum was a substitute mechan-
ician. having taken the place OF Lynn
who had fallen from exhaustion early il
the race.
Programme Cut Short.
The second accident that resulted ir
the wrecking OF the Marmon car driver
by Bruce Keene caused the American
Automobile Association TO cut short th'
programme and meeting.
The Marmon car ran into the side OF
the overhead bridge opposite the bleach.
ers. The car was put out OF commission
but was not badly wrecked Keene was
badly cut about the head. but was thought
20 not be fatally hurt His mechanical
was painfully bruised
The calling on Of the race was directly
due to the fact that drivers and mechani-
clans were not in physical condition tc
continue a.
Many OF them were exhausted from thC
long strain, and the officials recognized
the fact that the longer they went ths
greater would be the chance for acci.
dents and the greater the blame thai
would be placed upon them.
No winner was declared IN the bis
race. and none can be in any unfinished
contest under the rules OF the A. A. A.