The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-09-18
AUTO KILLS NINE.
Flies Track at state Fair and PIoughs
Through Crowd.

Syracuse. n. Y, Sept. 18.-Nine per-
sons were killed and fourteen injured
during the closing of a 5O-mile auto
mobile race at the state fair track
Saturday afternoon when a Knox rae
ing car driven by Lee Oldfield leaped
from the track. crashed through the
fence surrounding it and plunged into
the throngs that lined the other side
of the speedway.
Six of the nine people were killed
outright and three others were so bad
ly injured they died on the way to the
hospital.
CLAUD HAMIL. Hammond, N Y.
FRED J. ARNOLD. Syracuse, N. Y.
CHARLES BALLANTINE, Syracuse,
N. Y.
FAYETFE FUNK, Farleyville, N Y.
LEO HALPIN, Syracuse, N Y.
TWO UNIDENTIFIED MEN AND
AN UNIDENTIFIED BOY.
The Injured.
Lee Oldfield, driver of the car that
left the track; William Sharkey, Harry
Bradley. Charles Dooley and Miss
Anna Youker, all of Syracuse.
The list of dead may be Increased,
as it is believed several of the injured
are SO badly hurt that they can not
live.
Taft Had just Left Grounds
The honored guest of the fair was
President Taft It was but a short
time after he had left the grounds
that the tragedy occurred.
Just before he left here Mr.. Taft
took a 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 So
mile event to protest.
When the race was called Ralph De
Palma and Bob Burman, who had
been driving in previous races refused
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 DePalma
and Burman were both entrants along
with Oldfield and six others.
At the 43d Mile.
The accident happened in the forty
third mile. DePalna was leading by
a lap, with Oldfie1d trailing him as
they entered the first quarter of that
mile The big cars, travelling it is es-
timated, at rs miles an hour, were
running side by side as they swung
around the turn after passing the
grandstand.
AS they took the turn there was a
[.
leaped in the air. Then it swerved to
the outer side and crashed through the
fence, the crippled machine, beyond
control of the driver, ploughed through
hundreds of persons lined along the
fence
The runaway car left persons piled
together on the ground. several man
gled beyond recognition. At once
nearly q score of the dead and injured
were picked up.
The dead and injured were taken to
the emergency hospital on the fair
grounds and at the same time the
womans building was turned into a
hospital ward.
Physicians on the grounds hurried
to the hospitals. At the same time a
general call was sent into the city for
help.
Aid was volunteered by scores of
physicians and there were many Of
fers from trained nurses in the vast
throng in attendance One woman
tore off all of her under garm ents that
bandages might be provided for the
wounded. Her own sister was injured,
but she stuck heroically to her task
and continued to provide bandages IN
til she had no more material from
which to improvise them
For more than twenty miles specta-
tors said Oldfield had been driving his
car with one of the shoes Tapping, in
the hope of beating DePalma. How
ever, his manager. instead of stopping
him. had, it is said, urged him to in
crease speed
In spite of the fact that it quickly
became known that many had been
killed and injured, the officials in
charge refused to call off the race and
the last few miles were run while hun
dreds thronged the track
Oldfield, the driver. who is in a hos
pital. is being guarded by an officer
and as soon as he RECEIVERS will be ar
rested.