Evening journal., 1912-01-02

iduc was ihihiihcills 50 Jdmmcd and
packed was Market street with the
crowd come down to see the race.
The race did not start until after
2.30. but an hour before that time.
THE EVENING JOURNAL building
was surrounded by red devils, yellow
tigers, "mudhens," sand diggers and
a variety of other machines, which
according to their young owners
were "some cars" There were near
lv forty entries. many of them named
Benz" some "Loziers," an &c. NJ. f."
and one Elk" a Marmon. Wasp.
National. Keystone and many others
among them.
The equipment was various, some
cars boasted foot brake, some dis
played regulation pneumatic honkers,
while others depended upon human
lung power for their whistle. Some
were bought, others homemade. as
grocery box tonneau gave evidence,
some were made so short a time be-
fore the race that there was no time
10 paint them. Many were gaily dec
GRATED with flags and paper flowers
and also college pennants. One
carried lantern and one an electric
headlight, and one was the proud
owner of a Delaware auto license,
1911. A lot of boys wore goggles.
The boys say they don't cost so much
if YOU get them at a ten cent store.
Each car had its rider and a push
nician," for pushmobiles go by human
footpower.
AS fast as each new racer arrived,
the long. low rakish-lOOking craft
was hidden from view by a solid mass
Of small boys buzzing with admira-
ton aud advice.
Preliminary speed trials ragged up
and down the side streets and along
the race route, shooting like comets
and leaving a long tail of running
sionally collided with pedestrians or
were extricated from the cowcatchers
of street cars by skilfull policemen.
neither pedestrians. pushmobiles nor
street cars being damaged by the col
lision. Downtown Market street was
so plumb full of people that the street
cars had to walk instead Of run.
Finally all the machines were duly
tagged all the judges were at their
respective corners. and all the police
men had duly told all the people 10
get back to the sidewalk and give the
boys a chance. and the race was on.
j started in two classes. First the
hoys from 9 to u years old, and a
few minutes later the boys from II.
to Is years Of age.
The boys had TO plough their way
through a solid mass Of people at
the starting point and it was no Won
der that they upset a good man spec
tators who persisted in standing in
the middle of the race-track. But
the spectators were good-natured
and the boys were true sports about
putting up with any mishaps.
Nearly every machine spent tho
'qusrter hour before the race in tight
cning ~ nuts and rivets with
wrenches and hammers, but quite a
number Of them went home minus a
wheel or steering gear.
Lively Start.
And it was ''some start" too. In
stead Of the cars lining up. after Po-
lice Sergeant George Lyons and a
squad had cleared a small space, one
pushmobile started for the starting
point and didn't stop. It just kept
clatfering up Market street over the
cobblestones, one boy steering and
another pushing the machine. OF
co.,rse, the other boys started after
the hrst machine. 1t was somewhat
OF frayed start, but it went, just the
same. All the way mp Market street
the crowd pressed in upon the boys.
Persons were struck and knocked
down, but didn't seem to mind.
The second race got little better
|start. but that didn't help much. Lyn
|Thomas in his auto cleared path
Nor the youngsters. but the people
4 tnoked the course again as soon as
4lhe auto went by. The police just
Nouddn't keep the crowd back.
t8oys' Have Mishaps.
Il Theodore Coles car met with q
lhishap which would have resulted
sVriously for an ordinary automobile
A. ii was passing Seventh and Ship
nv streets The steering gear OF TINS
Machine broke and in an instant u
skerved to one side. As hasty warm
Ing shouted by the spectators saved
those standing nearby from belne
struck.
Lawrence Gallagher and Earl Ridg'
way's cars had a collision at Seventh
and Shipley streets. but luckily fol
both cars their motive power hat
about given out and no damage was
done
owing to Charles Cardwell. chaul
fer of the Benz Car No. u. operatet
by Paul Graves, falling at Eleventh
and Orange streets those standing OF
was forced to proceed along the rout,
unassisted. As be passed Seventh
and Orange streets those tanding OF
the curb urged him on and he finish
ed third Just as he reached the I'm
ish line one Of the front wheels col
lapscd
j. J. Kelley. who drove Car No, 10
was not to be disappointed by an.
slight mishap. and when his machin'
broke down at Seventh and Orang
streets the operator grabbed tn
broken parts up and showed the dis
abled machine to the finish line.