New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-07
RIDER FACES DEATH
IN THRILLING RACE
Charley Stein Crashes to the
Track on Dangerous Curve
in the Garden.
ESCAPES SERIOUS INJURY
Fair Sized Crowd on Hand to
See Cycle Kings in Action
as Curtain Raiser to
Six-Day Grind.

Charley Stein. the daredevil motorcycle
racer, OF Brooklyn. had narrow escape
from being dashed 10 death at Madison
Square Garden last night, while Compel
ing In a two-mile match race with Jimmy
Hunter, Of Newark. In rounding the
Madison avenue curve-that il-omeneo
bend in the great saucer track, where
Johnny Nelson fell to his death several
years ago. and where many other riders
have had close calls-Stein lost controi
Of his machine when riding at sixty-nve
miles an hour crashed into the fence
and fell TO the track with sickenins
thud.
For moment he lay. stunned or dead
the crowd did not know which, while
men shuddered and women screamed.
Stein. however, was not seriously hurt'
lie picked himself up and limped from
the track. with his legs full Of splinters
and his nose bleeding.
In the meanwhile Hunter, looking the
part Of a red devil in his scarlet riding
suit. drove his engine around the track
the exhaust cracking like Maxim gun
I'm the trenches. He was slightly IN the
lead when his opponent fell, and the ac-
cident evidently had no effect on MS
iron nerve Instead he threw his throttIe
wide open and fairly flew around the
plistening track at a speed which took
the breath away He had only half
mile to ride and while the crowd cheered
he flashed past the tape winner.
II was only after the race was hnished
that the crowd stopped to consider the
grim possibilities of STEMS accident
Plunging into the fence at that great
speed. ne knocked down the braces ana
tore away the top of the track for thirty
feet. Only the half-inch steel rope pre-
vented the rider from falling into the
arena boxes. machine and all, bringing
death and destruction to the occupants
Of the seats. Be it remarked here that
said occupants fed from the scene ana
got themselves seats in the rear rows OF
the arena. where the view was unoo-
structed and where grewsome accidents
were not so liable.
The accident to Stein was not the only
one which provided thrills The regular
cycle races were prolific of falls, out
these were just mere bumps where the
riders slid down the banks OF the trach'
and jumped up none the worse 1or the
little experience. Walter De Mara, riding
I'm tn. first heat Of the one mile piofes-
sional championship. was badly shaken
I'M when his front wheel collapsed, and AT
late hour last night was still in poor
condition. with the extent Of his injuries
unknown.
The races we're close and thrilling IN
themselves. and several blanket finishes
brought the crowd to its feet amid thun-
deriug applause Donald McDougal, the
New York Athletic Club flyer, rode to
victory in the two-mile amateur open
race. winning by one Of the greatest
spTints of the night. Harry Kaiser, OF
The Bronx, was second.
McDougal hung back in the ruck for
the first mile. but soon placed himself in
position to strike when the time came
Half a mile from home he bent over the
handle bars. and, riding on the wings OF
the wind. shot past the field. all but
Kaiser. The Bronx lad hung on gamely,
but McDougal was too strong and won
i'm the final dash to the tape.
II was a field day, or rather field
night. for McDougal, for he scored In the
half-mile handicap for amateurs, riding
from scratch He allowed liberal handi-
cans. 400. but won handily on his merits.
w. l.. Mitten, of Davenport Iowa, rid
Ing from the limit mark in the half-mile
professional race, won hard fought
race from Alvin LOTUS. OF Providence.
who a:sa started from the furthest mark,
Will, = ovd Krebs. the veteran of many
la ought race, was a close third.
poned until tonight. The most interest
ing heat in this was the third semi-hnal.
In which Frank Kramer, the national
champion; Fred Hill. of Boston. and All
Grenda, the big Australian, met. Two
HAAS were required, for Kramers rear
tire blew out one lap from home.
Grenda won the heat. but under the
rules the race had to be reridden. Nu-
merous friends of Grenda Kissed the YER
dict. Their displeasure was doubled In
the final running of the race. for Kremer
rode in his finest form and won easily.
Floyd Krebs won the five-mile profess
sional race, with the dashing little Jackie
Clark second, and Lloyd Thomas in third
place. Elmer Collins made a runaway
race of his match race with Jimmy
Moran and won by two laps.
The summaries follow:
One mile indoor championship-First heat
won nv Gordon Walker. Australia Fred Hill.
Boston second. Time. 80. Second heat won
by Joe Fogler Brooklyn; James Moran. Bos-
ton. second Time 0:59tS. Third heat won by
Jackie Clark. Australia: Eddie Root, Boston.
second Time, 100. Fourth heat won by
PADDY Osuiiivan Hehir. Australia: Lloyd
Thornss Salt Lake City second. Time. 90.
Pifth heat by Alfred Grenda, Australia;
G. Cameron, New York. second. Time. l:ol.