The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-30
:, -
6Eeiner Fatally Hurt and Mech
anician Killed.
First Fatality Recorded When
80 Miles Are Run.
DRIVERS DROP OUT.
Great 500 Mile Automobile Race
Is Benig Run.
First Fifty Miles Is Made in Al
Minutes.
DRIVERS DROP OUT.

Indianap polls. May 30.-The first ac-
cident Of the race occurred on the
back stretch of the track when an
AmpIex car, driven by Arthur Greher
of Chicago, blew tire, the car leaV-
ing ths track. killing S. ]. Dickson,
the mechanician and perhaps 1atal-
ly in1uring Arthur w. Greiner.
C;reiner had driven only 30 miles IN
the race when the accident occurred;
He was taken to the field hospltal
where physicians say his injuries are
At the end of twenty miles. when
he was in the lead Wishart (Mer-
cedes) blew a front tire ana went 10
the pit. He was off again in a MIN
At the end of fifty miles John Ait
ken (National) was leading. His time
was Al minutes and seven SECONDS.
Bruce e-Brown CF1at) .Sir9 second Faiph
Caleb Bragg (F'iat) broke crank
shaft and withdrew from the race at
the end of his 18th mile.
Arthur Chevrolet, driving Buick.
broke a crank shaft in Goth mile and
withdrew.
hSpeedway. indianapolis. Ind, May 80
THE race in nutshell:
Starters-40.
Distance-500 miles.
Length of track-212 miles.
Laps to finish-20O.
Estimated time duration-6 2-3 hours.
Total prizes-$40,0OO.
Cash to winner-$lOOOO.
Estimated attendance-S5,OOO.
Fighty-five thousand people massed
about a two and one-half mile oval on
the grounds of the Indianapolis motor
speedway today ran the gamuet Oh
emotions in response to the thrIllhe
feats Of 40 speed-made automobile pl-
lots racing 500 miles for fame and gold.
Trains last night brought into the
already overcrowded city added thou
sands. The hotels were inadequate ana
many a motor enthusiast spent the
migbf I,t in the parks Many parties mo-
tored to indianapolis from nearby cit
les and sat in their cars all night or
drove through the boulevards.
Hot Weather Gone.
A cool breeze over night had driven
off the intense heat in which the city
had sweltered for two weeks ana me me
Great bleachers were filled at o'clock
and the grandstand crowd began to
arrive on trains
THE parking spaces were lined with
touring cars. At o'clock the pits
aione the track edge swarmed with
Tnechanicians and tire men. All the
drivers were busy about their cars ex-
amining every part for possible de-
feet.
course officials to appear and he strict
lv enforced the rule that no car should
be permitted on the course before the
race was called. Many of the pilots
and team managers had slept with
their cars.
The brick track stretched away as
clean as a floor. At the turns it had
been spread with alkali powder to cut
the oil that would drip from the cars
and otherwise make the curves dam
gerously slippery.
1000 Special Police.
Carl G. Fisher. millionaire sports
man. president OF the Speedway asso-
citation. superintended the posting of
the militia and the one thousand spe-
cial policemen engaged to guard the
crowd in case of a panic IN the stands
and to keep the people off the path of
the racing cars.
At $3.50 O'Clock all the cars were
ready for the start of the race. 1t
l was announced that they would be sent
A~ray promptly at 10 O'Clock. Mechan-
ics and drivers nervously paced about
the pits, eager for the call of the
starter, the signal for the beginning of
the greatest race in the history of the
development of the automobile. a test
of skill and endurance, in which the
victor would win fame and fortune.
Change Drivers Plans.
Shortly before the race started the
contest board of the American Auto
mobile association, on recommended
tions of the manufacturers contest
committee, ruled that tire changes
during the race be restricted to re-
plenishments at the pits Several of
the drivers had prepared to change
tires at various other points on the
course and were forced to change
their plans.
o'clock the drivers and mechanicians
took their seats and the cars were
lined up in the infield back of the re-
pair pits, ready for the call to the
track.
Burman Gets Crown.
A tumult of applause arose when
Bob Burman in the Bitten Benz drove
up before the grand stand to be
crowned speed King" A heavy gold,
bejeweled crown, presented by a man
ufacturer of tires was placed on Bur
mans head, after a speech had been
made Encircled by photographers and
operators of moving picture machines.
Burman posed and then drove off the
track.
A parade Of all the starters in the
race ensued. Starter Wagner an
nounced the names of the driver and
cars as they passed in review
At $3.50 o'clock Starter Wagner called
the cars to the wire. They were
ranged in ranks of five in the order ir
which they had filed their entries in
the race. President Fisher and Secre
<AllASOA u the speedway, IN an au-
'ssmobile, took position at the head Of
: the assemblage of cars and pilots. All
the drivers lined up for a photograph
ana then clapping each other on the
back they wished each good luck and
r.curned to their cars to await the
starting signal
Ihe official start of the race came
after @ Fisher and Allison had led the
cars around the two and a half mile
course once and to the wire.
Aitl1en Takes Lead.