Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-10-02
machine LEFT The TRACK
REAR TIRE BLEW OrT WHILE
GOING NIENTy MILES
HOUR.
MECHANICIAN IS INJURED
Bruce Brown Died Three Hours AZ
ter the Accident, but His As
sislant Still Lives.

MILWAUKEE,, oct David
Bruce Brown, "A wealthy young
| New York sportsman, lost his life
and his mechanican Tony Scudalari,
was fatally injured the result of an
accident on the new Wauwatosa au-
| tomoblie race course today on the
eve Of the eighth running of the Van
| derbilt cup race Bruce Brown was
driving his high powered Fiat car 80
miles an hour when a rear left tire
blew out, The heavy ear swerved
into ditch and then the men and
machine were catapulted diagQnally
across the road and into field. Tho
men were thrown clear Of the car
which was hurled high in the air. IT
fell complete wreck
Bruce Browns skull was fractured.
his left leg was broken and he suf-
fered internal injuries. The top of
Scudalaris skull was crushed, his
right arm broken and his body SER
iously torn.
The daring young driver died at
Trinity hospital of hemorrhage three
/ HuuIH hlltI lllt diNlutIlAt lltANlllE plis
partly regalned consciousness for a
few minutes. Surgeons had trephan-
ed his skull on both sides in an effort
! to save his life.
Caleb Bragg, Bruce Browns close
friend, Ralph Depalma, Teddy Tet2-
laff, and other well known drivers
stood weeping in the hospital corri-
dor as Bruce Brown was sheeled
from the operating room to a pri-
vate ward. The hospital authorities
withheld news of his death for an
hour.
According to Bragg, an experienced
automobile race driver, the narrow
course here partly was responsible for
the death Of Bruce Brown. He says
that on wider track the young driv-
er could have righted his car after
it had curved when the tire blew out.
Much of Bruce Browns fame came
by his ability to take turns at speed
other drivers feared, and was to a
large extent responsible for his riy6
from helper in the Fiat car camp
during the first running Of the Grand
Prix race at Savannah to Pilot of the
winning car in the nenewal of the
same race two years later over the
same course. Referee h. r. Hard
ington declared the accident could
not be blamed on the course.
The accident was unavoidable"
said Mr.. Harrington, and the track
was in no wise to blame. 1t is in eX-
cellent condition. The casting of the
tire would have upset any machine
travelling at that speed, no matter
how excellent the course was
The accident occurred while Bruce
Brown was few yards behind Teddy
Tetzlaff in another Fiat car. Bruce
Brown had just driven the fastest lap
of the days trials and had set a new
record Of minutes 5S $40 seconds
for the mile course. He was try
ing to better this record and was try
ing to pass Tetzlaff when the crash
came. TetZlaff said he did not hear
the tire explode but missed Bruce
Brown behind him as he slowed down
to take the graveyard" turn. Tetz-
laff at once reported Browns out"
to patrol judges at the stand Mean
while George Clarke. one of the Mer-
cedes drivers, discovered the flight
of Bruce Brown and Scudalari and
telephoned for an ambulance after
giving first aid to the injured men.
While the surgeons were working
over Bruce Brown at the hospital, a
half dozen friends of the young driv-
er were making repeated efforts to
hxr long 1ictap
telephone at Mrs. Bruce-Brown's
country place, Islip, Long Island, and
at her town house In east 10th street,
New York. Messages also were sent
to Bruce Browns brother in New
York and other relatives. Tonight
messages were received here stating
that Mrs. Bruce-Brown. accompanied
by other relatives had started for
Milwaukee.
Bruce Brown had been in Milwau-
kee only two hours and 20 minutes
when the accident occurred. He ar
rived from New York this afternoon,
accompanied by his manager " w.
Kllesrata and Caleb Bragg. To-day
was the first time he had gone
around the course since the early
trials more than a week ago.
He was greatly interested In prep
aration for Saturdays grand prix
race, the only event In which he was
entered. He had won the American |
grand prlx twice at Savannah and he |
had hoped to win again this year |
which would have made him perma
nent holder OF the american grand |
prix cup.
Although only rs years old Bruce !