Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-11
MANIA FOR. SPEED
COSTS MANS LIFE
MeChaniCian Killed and Owner
Hurt PraCticing for the
Grand Prize Race
ASSOCIATED Press)


SAVANNAH, Ca, Nov. 1O.-Speed
mania cost it's first toll of life in the
Grand Prize automobile race today.
Albert Fuchs, young mechanician,
met instant death and w. II. Sharp,
driver and owner of the car bearing
his name, was seriously injured when
the powerful machine swerved from
the road and crashed into barbed wire
fence.
Sharp had his car out for practice.
He had made several laps at high
speed when the accident occurred. All
had seemed to be we'll with the car
and the cause of its disaster is mys-
terry. Only Sharp, 1t is thought, may
be able to shed any light upon 1t, and
he Is lying in a hospital unable to
make a statement One theory is that
Sharp took a curve on the back stretch
at too high speed, thus losing control.
Another is that a tire blew out, caus-
ing the driver to lose control. The lat
ter theory is supported by the fact
that the left front tire was stripped
from the wheel
KNOCKS DOWN TREE
For fifty feet along the side of the
road the car plowed its way, then
leaping a ditch struck small tree.
Seemingly the tree, though bent to
earth and swept its entire length by
the machine, impeded its course but
little.
A few yards further the car struck
a thick post of barbed wire fence.
The car sped on, knocking down many
posts and tangling posts and wires in
it's mechanism and about its wheels. 1t
was this tangle of wires that finally
brought the car to n standstill, first
throwing it into the air for a somer-
sault driver and mechanician falling
as 1t was thrown.
Fuchs struck upon his head. Sharp
fell clear, but apparently sustained
injury to his stomach by striking
against the steering wheel. When a
fiagman on the course and two con-
at the point where the accident oc-
Cured ran to the assistance Of the men
they found Fuchs dead and Sharp
helpless. Efforts were made to flag
other racing cars as they sped by in
practice, but without result until word
was telephoned to the grand stand sew
eral miles away. Then two of the rae
ers stopped on reaching the scene ana
brought the body of Fuchs to the
grand stand.
MAN HAD PREMONITION
Fuchs, "a years old, lived in Tren-
ton, N. j. Men at the Sharp training
camp say IlG ildt lhdb
the course held danger for him today.
He sought to be relieved from duty,
but no substitute was at hand
Those about the car as he started
with Sharp made light of his fears
and his driver sought to steady the
young mans nerves by giving him in
structions to be followed as they
drove.
Hold onto this oil can all the time"
Sharp said. Don't let it get out of
your hands. When 1 call for oil, let
her have it,"
Imbedded in the ground in the pool
of blood that marked the spot where
Fuchs skull was crushed was found
the oil can.
Sharp is a manufacturer and driver.
His accident eliminates him and his
car from the Grand Prize race, in
which he had drawn first place for the
start.
The meet will open at 10 o'clock to-
morrow with seven entrants in the
Savannah challenge cup race. The
will start at S0-second in
tervals, to be followed an hour later
by the eight starters in the Tiedeman
trophy race.