The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-09-21

Siduu t1dHll, nam mOnd, n. Y.
Charles Ballantyne, Syracuse,
=. Jas, Coin, Alexandria Bay, n. /.
Fayette Funk, Farleyville, n.
Leo Halpin, Syracuse, n. Y.
Unknown man, 60 years old.
Unknown man, 25 years old.
Unknown boy, 10 years old.
Syracuse, n. Y, Sept. 16.-Nine
persons were killed and fourteen
hurt, several of them seriously, as
a result of an accident in the
SO mile automobile race at the
State Fair track this afternoon.
Knox racing car driven by
Lee Oldfield crashed through the
renee on the return after leaving
the stretch in front of the grand
stand and ploughed for some dis
tance into the crowd causing the
causalties. Oldfield was not seri-
ously hurt. The blowing up of
TIRE on oldlfeld's machine was re-
sponsible for the accident
Every ambulance in Syracuse was
rushed to the scene and vehicles at
the park also were pressed into
service to aid in the relief work.
Bad Tire Caused Accident.
The woman's building was turn
ed into an emergency hospital.
The accident happened during the
torty-seventh mile of the race.
Oldfield was lap behind Ralph De-
alma and running with him Old
Held had bad tire on his car for
over II miles, but it did not blow
out until the race was within three
miles of the finish.
At the time it exploded DePalma
and Oldfield were neck and neck
Ihey had just taken the turn at a
terrific speed that had the specta-
tors in a frenzy Then came a
crash that was heard all over the
Held, followed by screams of wo-
men and children in the stand. the
paddock and inside of the track
Refused to Stop Race
Efforts We're made by prominent
SyracuslanS to stop the meet at
once. Starter Fred j. Wagner, of
New York, however. refused to
stop the race. He started another
In five minutes after the track had
been cleared.
Death List May Grow.
The list of dead may be increased
as it is believed several of the in
jured are SO badly injured that
they cannot live Oldfield is
among the injured.
The accident came as the fatal
termination of the biggest day the
State fair has ever had in point of
attendance, as we'll as in matter of
attractions
Taft Guest OF Day.
The honored guest of the fair
to-day was President Taft 1t was
but a short time after he had left
the grounds that the tragedy occur
red
Just before he left President Taft
took short ride in an automobile
on the track which was wet to keep
down the dust for the President
and his party.
This wetting was such as to
pete IN the fifty-mile event, to
protest.
Track in Bad Condition.
When the race was called Ralph
DePalma and Bob Burman, who had
been driven in previousu races, re-
fused to go on because the water
had made it too dangerous to take
chances. There was a delay, dur
ing which the track dried some
what and DePalma and Burman
were entrants along with Oldfield
and six others.
How Accident Occurred.
The accident happened in the
47th mile, DePalma was leading
by lap with Oldfield trailing him
as they entered the first quarter of
that mile. The big cars, travelling.
it is estimated, at rs miles an hour,
were running side by side as they
swung around the turn, after pass
ing the grand stand
AS they took the turn there was
a report. The car driven by Old
field leaped in the air. Then it
swered to the outer side and
crashed through the fence. The
crippled machine, beyond the con-
troll OF the driver, plunged through
hundreds of persons lined along the
fence.
Crippled for Twenty Miles.
For more than 20 miles Old
field had been driving his car with
tors had been driving his car with
cne of the shoes flapping, in the
hope of beating out DeRadma.
However, his manager, instead Sof
stopping him, it is said urged him
to increase speed.
In spite of the fact that it
quickly became known that many
bad been killed and injured, the
officials in charge refused to call
off the race, and the last few miles
were run while hundreds thronged
the tracks.
Oldfield, the driver, who is in a
hospital, is being guarded by an
officer and as soon as he RECEIVERS
viii be arrested.
Mrs Monroa RoparS and LITTLE