Evening journal., 1913-07-31
DEATH and
FIRE AFTER
CYCLE LEAP
MOtOrdrOme Horror at CinCln-
natl Claims Seven Lives
and Injuries 20
Spectators
EXPLODING GASOLINE
SPREADS AWFUL FIRE
By the United Press.

by the United Press.
CINCINNATI, O., July 31.-Three
deaths early today increased to seven
the toll of fatalities resulting from a
motorcycle accident last night at
the Motordrome of the Ludlow
Lagoon. a summer resort, opposite
Cincinnati.
The dead are:
Odin Johnson, thirty-four, Salt
Lake City.
Charles Davis, FIVE, Ludlow. Ky.
Sam Andrews, fifteen, Cincinnati
Miss Ethel Bucbtman, twenty
Covington. Ky.
Mrs. William Michaels, Cincinnati.
William Patterson. Cincinnati.
James Carter, twenty-three Gin
cinnati
machine being ridden in a race
under the auspices of the American
League of Motorcycle Clubs, which
also has tracks in Cleveland, Detroit,
Chicago and ST. Louis, became un-
controllable when a tire burst and
ran off the track into a section of
the stand occupied by spectators.
Those killed were motorcycle
. rider, two other men, two children
+ and two men. Twenty spectators
were burned by gasoline when the
motorcycle tank exploded Some of
them may die.
Odin Johnson, the rider, tried to
make a new twenty-five minute rec
ord. The present record is thirty-one
miles. Five thousand men, women and
children were on top of the saucer 10
see IL done. Johnson had told his
wife the present record would be
broken and he would be the man to
break It. Mrs. Johnson sat in the
front row and she saw him go to his
death. Edward Gabanna. the Italian
champion, was leading the race.
johnson, at the start. had trouble with
his machine and had fallen to the rear.
With a mighty squirt he forged to the
front
Isn't he great" exclaimed young
Mrs. Johnson, as her husband over
took his leading rival The next mo-
ment her exultation gave way to a
scream of norror that was echoed by
i G, 900 voices.
In passing Gabanna. Johnson's front
wheel struck the rear wheel of Ga
bannas motorcycle The impact was
terrific. Johnson tried vainly to save
himself and right the machine, but
s. it swerved to the right. He crash
ed through a guard rail and a heavy
Hscreen where sixty spectators were
sitting
The gasoline tank exploded and tho
burning oil flew ino the crowd A rain
OF blue flame fell on the spectators
Some started to run but the fire caught
them Where the sixty had sat WIS a
pit Of fire, in whi,n men women and
children fought for their lives.
Death was taking its feast out of the
saucer. II had its victims well penned
up. Escape was through a tunnel. Some
Z of them tried TO reach it. The flames
fed by gasoline, sped after them and cut
them off,
Women tainted. The men sat tight in
their seats. Not in years has there beer
such a horror in Cincinnati. Some mer
Iran away fighting Through the crowd
Owners of automobiles, panic-stricken
jumped into their machines and tried
10 dash away for no reason whatever.
Fire Chief Griffin. of Covington, Ky.
took a position in the middle of the
& road revolver in hand, and cried:
S. III shoot the next man that leaves
In an automobile without aiding in rush
Ing these people to a hospital"
He stood his ground and no machine
left the park without its burden o
victims
Nearly everybody seemed to be OF
fire" said Grover c. Vandyke. an eye
witness today. Zone man had all his
rlothes burned off and he screamed lik'
8 maniac.
"NIen took off their coats and holding
# ynelt down before the vision of deatl
|' hnd prayed. Some broke from the hor
ible stupor and tried TO fight their wa!
nto the flames which drove them back
Men took off tteir coats and holding
hem in front of their faces for pro
ection fought to get through the wall o
ire only to be forced back.
III "Then somebody found the chemica
rxtinguisher and began to play it on tn
lanes. Finally they died down and al
ceounting was made of the dead ant
injured"