The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-21
.SPEEOER LOSES
WIFE AND LIFE
Lewis Strang, Demon of the
Track, Killed in Very
Ordinary Run
|OTHERS ESCAPE. WITH
BUT SLIGHT INJURIES
Driver, Noted for Reckless
ness, Goes Down an EN-
bankment During En-
durance Run

CHICAGO, July 20.-Lewis Strang,
whose name stood for unbridled dar-
ing Wherever motor racing is known,
died to-day. a victim TO the reck-
lessness which caused his wife re-
Gently to divorce him.
Hero of 81 hundred heart chilling
fiirtations with death on tracks where
to run d mile minute was like
standing still. 1t was left to Strang
TO meet his end in a staid relia billty
run.
His car overturned over an en-
bankment twenty miles from Rich
land Centre, in Southern Wisconsin.
Others III the machine escaped injury,
but the young racer was crushed an
der the footboard.
so hoGy in the veins of Lewis
Strang ran the desire for speed that
II forced into subordination all other
considerations. First his wife and
then his life were sacrificed to its
qualification. Some Of Strang' =
friends gay the nrss fastened the
second
Since the beautiful woman. known
on the stage as Louise Alexander
divorced him on the principal ground
that he was too needless of his life.
Srang appeared more careless Of
death. lie became a demon on the
track ana on the road he seemed TO
he incapable Of keeping a car down
10 moderate speed
Hair Line Passage.
When he met death be was driving
a j. a. Case car In the reliability
run Of the Milwaukee Automobile
club. On high, narrow road he
encountered team. The car was
running al fast clip. but Strang at
tempted n hair line" passage with
out slowing down. He miscaleulated
the formation OF the roadway and
went over the bank. The autarno-
bile turned over several times
Strang at the time happened to be
carrying the members Of the techni-
cal committee OF the run. but all fell
out OF the car in such a manner as
IN escape injury. Four persons be-
sides Strang were in the car. One
member of the committe was Les
ter Clark. Joseph kaegenberger. the
other member OF the Case team. was
another OF the passengers.
Strang left Milwaukee with q flock
Of cars Monday. At the start he
carried several club officials and rival
contestants, hut 1t was not long be-
fore his guests began to desert him.
They declared that ne was too reck-
less, and that they feared to ride with
him. The members of the technical
committee took chances with him as
part of their duties
Drove bishop Potter
Fame came To Lewis Strang almost
with manhood. He was born twenty
six years ago at Amsterdam. y. ",
where three sisters live. His first
experience as professional chauf-
fenr was in the peaceful job of pilot
ing bishop Potter's car around New
York, The blood Of the famous rex
oiuuonary general ran in his veins.
and II surged tantal!zing into. the
hnger tips that guided the good pre-
iate's limousine on its dgnified
rounds The spirit that prompted
his ancestor to jump his horse over
cIiu when pursued by the British
finally sent Strang into the racing
game.
His name was known In Europe
and America year or two later when
he became acquainted with Miss
Jeanne Lou Spaulding. of Hartford,
Conn. who was then in the ''FolIies
Of 1908" under the name of Louise
Alexander, strang paid impetuous
court but threet lines after their
engagement; the young woman post
poned the wedding on a few hours.
- o.
she agreed 10 wed. providing the cere-
mony be performed In Chicago.
Impctuons in Marriage.
With characteristic speed Strang
buidled his fiancee aboard the Tween
ieth Century Limited and came to
Chicago. They arrived the next morn
ing. The first man at the marriage
ifcense clerks window was Strang.
by telephone he arranged with the
Rev. John Newton Freeman. OF tho
Fourth Presbyterian church, to per-
form the ceremony.
From racing friend Strang Dor
rowed high powered car and the
car rushed to the ministers resi-
dence. They were married at noon
and brought DR.. Freeman downtown
with them for wedding breakfast
At 2:45 they we're on an eighteen
hour train. headed for New York.
where Strang was scheduled. to start
training the next day for the Van
derhilt cup race.
The honeymoon was one round Of
hreathless anxiety on the part of the
bride. Strang went right along risk
Ing his neck with such regularity that
the constant fear of becoming sud-
denly widowed became mental tor
ture to her. She admired his Prov
ess. but begged him to seek safer
fields. But the keen-eyed. steel
nerved Strang only laughed at her
fears and delighted in drawing from
her little cries OF terror while they
we're on the road in one OF his big
cars.
When the life OF the speed dem
on's' wife became unbearable, Mrs.
Strang sought a divorce. Strang was
deeply affected by her action. but she
persisted and obtained her decree
January Is OF this year.
VETO RTI.I. pACCEC