New-York tribune., 1913-05-18
POLICING A GREAT RACE
ARMY Methods Are Utilized on
indianapolis Speedway.
DC0MBING' is FIRST DUTY
little Chance offered Those
Who Would Witness Race
without Paying.

u.rdliue 4 crowd Of one hundred thou
"a people is no easy task yet the Ind
,.n,,olie Motor Speedway has found
",a~ 10 do it without confusion. at the
-. nr1o providing for the absolute com
,,rt and safety Of every person in at
..,dance az the 5Oo-mile races. Year by
the system has developed until to-
lo, 81 if not surpassed even by the
,o,hode NJ the United States army In
,.., army methods have been followed
,d mare elaborate preparations than
ar are being made to take care Of the
uics,t'c crowd which will attend the third
annual 5oo-mile race on the speedway at
tho end Of this month.
V.ber the big circuit was first opened 1t
,,.,s intended 10 have a policing system
,,,nllar to tnat Of the St Louis eXposi-
,on CAPTAIN William =. Carpenter, com
.,i,eary officer of the ID Infantry. ]. n c..
,ros arpealel 20. and he mas proved him
.oif IN no unusually efficient along these
u,.s Under his direction the speedway
,rsrds we're organized. and to-day the
organization numbers $50 men. all OF
whom have had active military expert
orcA and have learned well the lesson of
chewing orders and DOING their duty.
csptsin Carpenter will take his men to
re speedway grounds the night before
,be race. and there they will pitch camp
IN regular military fashion. Subsistence
r,n he served out by the commissary de-
rsrtment. and the bugle will sound taps
rbsu the commanding officer deems II
time for his men TO be in bed getting the
res, which IS 10 prepare them for the
strenuous day before them.
Early IN the morning. long before the
Ars, motor enthusiast has rubbed the sleep
from, his eyes, the notes Of the reveille
v,n ring out from the camp. and the
men tunblng out Of their blankets. will
line I'D for roll call. Breakfast will be
served and the commissioned officers will
be assigned 10 their details.
The first duties OF the day begin with
what is called the "combing' process.
The guards are dispatched to every part
~ the grounds, which are more than
mile IN extent. and, forming a skirmish
line. they work toward the main gate,
rounding up all the fence climbers who
may have entered during the night. Past
races have revealed the fact that from
Nftv 10 one hundred and fifty OF these
men enter the grounds during the night
hoping 10 remain there undetected during
the race.
This duty performed. the guards are
then assigned 20 the posts they VIII oc-
cupy throughout the day, and are reaoy
n receive the crowds, which begin pour
INC through the gates early In the morn
inc They are placed under the military
orders which apply 10 guard duty ana
in addition are given strict special ORDERS
pertaiping 20 the handling and protection
OF the visitors. ,,,..
rverv man carries regulation military
equipment. the speedway maintaining ITS
own armOry. with supply OF uilliOl @ me,
rifles and side arms Every man Knows
exactly what ne is expected 10 do' ana IN
ease ne meets with resistance ne Is aDle
legally 10 arrest the offender. since ne
mas the authority Of deputy constapI-.
Crooks. who are commonly FOUND WheIe
arge crowds gather, long ago iearneu
that the indianapolis Motor Speedway is
not a safe place for them 10 ply their
trade, and consequently the ohenaers
with whom the guards have 10 cOhteIiu
are usually merrymakers VINO permit
their enthusiasm 10 get the better OF theih'
10 the discomfort of their nelgnDols'
Intoxicated persons and others VINO are
guiltv al pettv misdemeanors are prompt
II rounded up and ushered TO the ONCE
Of a justice OF the peace, who Is on the
grounds and who holds court all 1ay.
The Justice assesses fine or detalns ths
culprits as he sees fit. while those VINO
are guilty Of more serious offences are
sent to the Indianapolis police station.
City police. special officers and large
force Of Pinkerton detectives are also sta-
toned all over the grounds and heip 10
preserve perfect order.