New-York tribune., 1911-11-21
AUTO CRASH ENDS
A DRIVERS ROMANCE
Jay MCNay, Pilot of Case Car,
Killed in Practice at
Savannah.
HAD HOPED TO WIN BRIDE
Wedding Hinged on Victory IN
Race Next Monday-Other
Accidents Mar the
Initial Trials.
HAD HOPED TO WIN BRIDE

Savannah. Ga, Nov. 20.-Jay McNay'
driver of one of the Case cars, was Klleu
and "Joe" Dawson. one of the Marmoh
team. was injured to-day during the lirSI
davis practice over the Chatham county
road race circuit. Both accidents were
directlv traceable to the presence ol
otbar vehicles on the race circuit pe-
tveen If and 1:30 o'clock, when the
roads were supposed TO be clear OF dl
traffic i'm order that the racing drivers
might speed their cars in preparation
for the contests next week
McNav. a novice in road racing, al
though an experienced automobllist' hau
coma here with high hopes of winning
not only the Savannah Challenge ITO
phv. but bride as well. year ago
while racing at san Antonio, Tex" lie
met Miss Daisy Jennings, OF tlat CITY
and recently they became engaged.
To have the end of their romance In
keeping with the beginning, they ar
ranged TO be married in front Oh the
erandstand Immediately after the race
prCvided McNay succeeded in winning
rho nrize. With this end in view, the
Rey. Arthur II. Robinson, OF Johnson
Vile y. Y. was invited TO become
member Of the Case team, and he Is now
here. McNay had intended to be mar
rled in his racing uniform. The case
company had promised to give McNay a
ney six-cylinder racing car as we'd
To- VI
Years old and was born in Texas, HIS
engagement with the Case company be-
gan on Friday. October Is, of this year.
According TO a statement made by h.
Z, Maxwell who was acting as mechanic
for McNay when the accident occurred,
the low-swung, light, little Case sud
denly came upon negro In a wagon
near Cattle Park, where there is an
turn The car was travelling very fast
at the time, and when McNay swung his
steering wheel over TO dodge around the
wagon the car sweryed off the road and
struck a tree.
The drivers seat of the Case racing
car is set very low, and McNay had no
chance to Jump when the car began to
slid nor was there any possibility OF
his being thrown out as the car bumped
of, the road. When the machine struck
the tree it q, As crumpled into mass OF
metal and the steering wheel was driven
hack against McNay's chest. DR.. H. Y.
Riphton. the Coroner said that death
had been instantaneous, and was due
nrlmarlly to rupture Of the heart fol-
lowing the impact against the steering
wheel
Maxwell. the mechanic, mad his left
arm broken in three places, his left side
bruised very badly and his face lacer-
ated. He was removed to the Savannah
uosnital. lie is thirty-fyc years old.
married and lives at jacksonville Fla.
The mishap that befcll joe Dawson
occurred when Joe Nikrent. driving
one of the light Marmons, was compelled
"a swcrvc on the road onto a bank in
order 10 avoid striking \ touring ear
that was on the course. Dawson. riding
in the mechanics seat. was thrown when
the Marmoh struck the bank. Then
Knippcr who had been trailing the Mar
mon. stopped his car. and Barnes, In an
other Mercer. ran into knpper's ear.
Both the Mcrcors were badly smashed
mn although none of the Mercer drivers
or mechanics was injured Dawson was
knockcd sensclcss. but recovered con
sciousness when taken to St Joseph's
Hospital. He IS not badly hurt and IS
expected to be out again in a day or
two.