The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-02-17

Hugh Harding was to drive the car
with which l won the Savannah road
race in 1908, but hit telegraph pole
five days before the race, and l was
selected to replace him on the team.
won this race and had no accident.
This was my first big victory, and IT
was through Harding's accident that /
had the chance.
Il then won the Briarcliff race of $50
miles. and travelled under a lucky star,
having no accidents. ! followed thls
up by winning the Lowell road race
OF 80 miles, l drove the last lap OF
this race on a fat left front tire, and
finished without accident.
Terminate Is Killed.
while driving in the fall of 1908 in a
Neutrality-suspicious. race at Birmingham,
Ala. l was relieved by my teammate,
who was Emile Stricken. He had been
my roommate and pal for years. he
took the wheel of the car, and after
he had driven about two hours was
awakened to be ready to relieve him.
I had been awake about ten minutes
when the car that he was driving
turned over and killed him instantly.
lone year later, while driving on the
same track again my car went through
the fence at almost identically the
same point IHdI SlllChtl was hAllSN.
I saw the steering gear fall down and
knew the connection between the steer
ing gear and the front wheels was
broken so that l had no control over
the car, and soon 1t would swerve into
the fence, so I jumped out and the
broken bones in my left foot and a bad
shaking up.
Sensation of a Chance.
Gambling is the greatest sport in the
world. The sensation of winning and
losing and of taking a chance with
something is probably the greatest in
the werld. 1t is natural to gamble with
what you value. Some men obtain sport
through gambling with money. l
wouldn't take a minutes interest in a
money stake. 1t doesn't appeal to me.
like to gamble for something else,
though. The sensation when you come
close to a bad accident and yet don't
get it can never be described.
your feeling the second after an
accident is indescribable. You almost
say. Well. you didn't get me that
time with an inward chuckle or
laugh. The sensation OF elation and
triumph when one shakes dice with
death and beats him at his own game
is truly the greatest sensation in the
world. You often hear the remark
made that Nothing is sport unless
you take a chance That shows the
way that the sports Of the world are
measured; hence. the greatest sport
must be that which you play for the
greatest stake-life.
Danger in Them All.
"Aeroplanes, automobiles. racing
motor boats and fast hydroplanes. all
of them at the terrific speed they
stand for are dangerous and the
chance is what makes the sport. Many
drivers retire almost as often as an
opera singer runs a farewell tour. but
all of them come back to it again
They cannot help 1t. There is a GER
tain call and it is the free careless
ness in which life is held that makes
it fascinating.
IAN aviator does not remember,
while he is flying. the falls that kill
ed his teammate or friend the day be-
fore. An automobile racer neither.
There is a certain free masonry
among these men that is a stronger
tie than in any other society. They
admire. trust and are one and an
others best friends. Some of them
are the grandest fellows in the
world"