Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-10
7DEAD, 4DY|NG
AS RESULT OF
MOTOR CRASH.
Eddie Hasha, Worlds Cham
pion Motorcycle Racer,
Jumps Track at Walls
burg With Fatal Results.

burg With Fatal Results.
Newark. N. j, Sept. 9.-The death
list resulting from the accident at the
motordrome yesterday when Eddie
Hasha, holder OF several worlds
records, crashed into the grandstand
on his machine during motor cycle
race, was increased to seven today by
the death in hospital Of WILLIAM
Barnett Of this city. Three othsr vic
tins of the crash two Of them boys
under IA years Of age, are not expected
to survive.
A dozen or more eye witnesses to
the accident included Paul j. Durkin,
manager of the motordrome, were Ques-
toned today by the police and prose-
cutor. There will be no coroner's In
quest. The third man killed was
Johnny Albright, Denver motor
cyclist, who was riding third in the
race. The other four dead were boys
and young men among the spectators.
Five thousand enthusiasts were
witnessing the finish Of a four mile
free-for-all race as the daring Texan,
doing ninety-two miles an hour, took
his fateful plunge. He was riding
high on the bank Of the track when
the wheel Of his heavy machine
swerved and struck the upper rail. He
was pitched headfirst fifty feet into the
air. He must have been instantly
killed in the collision. His body was
shapeless from broken bones when 1t
was picked up almost at the feet Of
his wife, seated among men and boys
in the bleachers.
Albright Thrown TO Death,
Albright was thrown head first IN
the other direction into the inclosure
OF the track. when the champion's
wheel came sliding down the steep
bank and struck him. He was picked
up for dead, but he lived in an tncon-
scious state for more than two hours
after removal to hospital. He finally
succumbed to hemorrhage of the lungs.
The spectators injured were mainly
the men and boys who were leaning
over tue rail yelling encouragement
to the riders when Hasha came tear
ing into their midst. Some of the
spectators were hurled high into the
air and landed in the laps of those
seated behind. A panic among the
spectators followed the tragedy.
Many Tragedies.
The stadium where the accident oc-
CURED is in Vailsburg, q suburb Of
this city, where bicycle and motor
~ ha,, fo1 h3e
year. The season has been marked
by number of accidents both here
and at Brighton Beach, N Y, but
never in the history Of local racing
has such a death list been recorded
as was yesterday.
Free-for-AIl Race.
Six riders started In the Ifree-for-all,
which was the last race on the pro-
gram. It was handicap event. with
Hasha and Ray Seymour Of Los
Angeles, an old rival for premier track |
honors, each starting from scratch.
Ray Peck, another Los Angeles rider,
started at the quarter mile mark, and |
Albright, the Denver rider, and Frank
King and John King Of Newark were
each given two full laps handicap. The
Ir6CK IL a QudTueT Ulllo duu ClTCuldT.
At the crack Of the pistol Hasha
leaped ahead OF Seymour. After six
Of the course, during which his
rival had eaten his smoke, the pair
evened up, and in another lap Seymour
passed Hasha with terrific burst of
speed BY varying margins, Seymour
kept the lead until the last few laps.
The railing was lined four deep, with
he men and boys urging Hasha to
overtake his rival. Just at the COM
of the last lap the cham
pion tried to satisfy. the crowd by q
desperate effort. The leader ran high
IN the track, leavingsa narrow space
or Hasha to pass, and the latter tried
t. It was then that he struck the
all.
Whether he really lost control OF the
machine or merely misjudged the near
less Of his run to the rail is mat.
er Of dispute among the Witnesses.
sprocket Kills Boy.
The sprocket of Hasha's wheel was
oosened by the collision and went
ailing into the crowd. Witnesses say
hat it literally tore off the skull Of a
title boy who had been one Of the