Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-18
WILD AUTO KILLS NINE
Spectators at Races at Syracuse, N. ",
Run Down by Racing car-Fourtssn
Others Injured When Machine Crash
% Into Crowd.

/
Syracuse, N. Y. Sept. 1s.-Nine per-
sons were killed and fourteen injured
some Of them seriously as the result
Of an accident during the closing miles
| Of fifty milo automobile race at the
state fair grounds track Saturday af-
ternoon. when a Knox racing car, driv-
en- by Lee Oldheld. leaped from the
track, crashed thru the fence surround
ing It. and plowed into the t,1rongs that
lined the other side Of the speedway.
Six Of the nine people were killed
outright ana three others were injured
30 badly that they died on the way to
the hospital The dead are:
Claude Hamil. Hammond. n. Y.
Fred ]. Arnold, Syracuse. n. Y.
Charles Ballantine, Syracuse, N. 7.
James Coin, Alexandria Bay. N. z.
Fayette Funk, FArleyville. N. Y.
Leo HaIpin, Syracuse, N. Y.
Two msn, unfdsntified, and an un-
identified boy.
The identified injured are:
Leo Ohheld, driver of the car that
left the track; William Sharkey. Harry
Bradley, Charles Dooley and Miss Anna
Youkerall, Of Syracuse.
More May Die.
The list Of dead may be increased
as 1t is believed several of the injured
are hurt 80 badly that they can not
live.
The accident came as the fatal term
ination Of day that was undoubtedly
the biggest the state fair ever held
in point of attendance and in the mat
ter Of attractions.
The honored guest Of the fair was
President Taft. 1t was but short
time after he had left the grounds that
the tragedy occurred.
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 cause
drivers who were to compete in the
fifty-mile event to protest.
When the race was called Ralph De
Palma and Bob Burman who had been
driving in previous races, refused to go
on because of the condition Of the
track, saying the water had made It
too dangerous to take chances. There
was some delay. during which the
track dried somewhat. The race was
called and De Palma aud Burman We're
both entrants along with Oldfield and
six others The accident happened in
the fortythird mile. De Palma was
leading by lap with Oidfield trailing
him as they entered the first quarter
OF that mile The big cars, travelling,
it is estimated. at seventy-fve miles
an hour, were running side by side. as
they swung around the turn, after
passing the grandstand.
Car Leaps Into Air.
AS they took the turn there was re-
port. The car driven by oldfield leaped
in the air. Then It swerved to the
cutter side and crashed thru the fence
The crippled machine. beyond the con-
troll OF the driver. plowed thru hum
dreds Of persons lined along the fence
It was at first thought that no one
had been hurt and this announcement
was made. Despite this hundreds hur-
ried to the point where the car left
the track
The runaway car had left persons
piled together on the ground, several
mangled beyond recognition. At once
nearly score Of the dead and injured
were picked up. Hurry calls were sent
to this city for ambulances and every
one in the city responded. Vehicles
Of many kinds on the fair grounds also
were pressed into service.
The dead and injured were taken to
the emergency hospital on the fair
grounds and at tn same time the wo-
mems building was turned into hos.
pitol ward.