The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-09
POP-POP KILLS SIX
Motorcycle Flies Track and
Flows Through Crowd.
Besides the Dead Is Persons
Are Badly Injured.

Newark, N. J., Sept. 9.-Eddie Hasha,
of Waco, Tex, holder of several world E
records for motorcycle racing, plunged
over the rail of the course at the new
Newark moterdreme into a crowd late
Sunday afternoon, causing the death of
six persons, including himself, while
13 are badly injured.
The only two of the six dead posi-
lively identified were Hasha and Johnny
Albright, Denver motorcyclist, who
was riding third in the race. The Other
four dead were boys and young men
among the spectators.
Five thousand spectators were wit
Messing the fNish of a four-mile free
for-aH race when the daring young
rider, doing go miles an hour, took his
fatal plunge. He was pitched head
first so feet into the air. His body
was shapeless when it was picked up
almost at the feet of his wife, seated
in the bleachers.
Albright was thrown head first in the
other direction into the enclosure of
the track, when the champions wheel
came sliding down the steep bank and
struck him. He was picked up for
dead, but he lived in an unconscious
state more than two hours.
The spectators injured were mainly
the men and boys who were leaning
over the rail yelling encourag cement tic
into their midst.
six riders started in the free-for-aIl,
which was the last event on the pro-
gram 1t was a handicap event VII
Hasha and Ray Seymour of Los An
geles, an old rival, each starting from
scratch Ray Peck, another Los An
geles rider, started at the quarter-mile
mark and Albright, the Denver rider
and Frank King and John King, of
Newkirk, were each given two full
laps handicap. The track is a quarter
mile and circular.
Had Led the Race.
At the crack of the pistol Hasha
leaped ahead of Seymour. After six
rounds of the course, during which his
rival had eaten his smoke the pair
evened up and in another lap Seymour
passed Hasha. By varying margins
Seymour kept the lead until the last
few laps. The railing was lined four
deep, with the men and boys urging
Hasha to overtake his rival Just at
the commencement Of the last lap the
champion tried to satisfy the crowd by
a desperate effort. The leader ran high
on the track leaving a narrow space
for Hasha to pass, but the latter tried
it. 1t was then he struck the rail
The sprocket of Hasha's heel was
loosened by the collision and went SAIL
ing into the crowd. tearing off the skull
of a boy In addition to those injured
many persons fell and were trampled
in the wild scramble among the spec
tators. Seymour kept control OF his
machine and was riding to safety when
Hasha's wrecked motorcycle came slid
ing down the track.
Albright, the first of the rearward rid
ers, who was making a great effort to
Overtake the leaders. was struck by the
Hasha machine and received fatal in
juries.
OF the injured spectators ten were un-
conscious when aid reached them. Two
died before reaching the operating ia
BILE at the hospital and two others as
the surgeons were about to work over
them
Hasha, the dead champion, sprans
into fame as motorcyclist at Los An
geles last February, when he was given
credit for new records in the one, two
three and four events. On the Newark
track last month. he bettered the mile
record again, travelling the distance in
80 2-5 seconds.