The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-06-05
GOUX LANDS FIRST.
FRENcHMAN CAPTURES 5oo-MILE
AUTO RACE AT INDIANAP-
Oils SPEEDWAY.
WINS $4,000 CASH PRIZE
Wishert and Merz Are Second and
Third RespectlveIy-Latter Drives
Full Lap With Head of Machine
Wrapped In Flames.

Wrapped In Flames.
indianapolis, June 2.-France won a
sporting victory over America Friday
on the Indianapolis Speedway when
Goux, driving a Peugeot car, won the
5OO-mile motor race. Wishart, in an
American Mercer. was second. Merz.
in an American-made Stutz, captured
third place.
Gouxs time was six hours 81 min
utes 43:45 seconds, an average Of
1853 miles on hour. His rewards were
international honors, cash prizes
worth $4,000. including the $4,000
cash prize offered by the management
of the speedway for the winner of the
race. a kiss from a dirt-covered me-
chanician, and shower Of champagne
made of grapes that grew in the coun-
try whence he came.
The worst wishes OF the crowd were
with Groux throughout the race. Few
of the 100000 spectators who saw him
hoped he would carry the honors, cash
and trophies back to France. But
when his car flashed across the line
at the end of the long grind ne was
cheered as heartily as any of the
American drivers would have been If
they had met the success the throng
was wishing for them.
Spencer Wishart, who drove Mer.
Ger car into second place at the finish
of the race, was given a kissless and
champagneless reception at the Mercer
pits, but his two hands, worn out by
the steady work at the wheel of his
car, were shaken wildly by hundred
admirers. He was lifted upon the
shoulders of his pit men and cheered
with the enthusiasm equal to that ac-
corded to the Frenchman. He was
given a check for $4,000.
One of the most remarkable bits of
race car driving was staged by Charles
Merz In his Stutz car, when he drove
three and one-half miles more than
one lap around the course, with his car
ablaze beneath the engine, and his me-
and himself hardly able to
keep their seats on account of the
1iames that were licking at their legs.
Merz was watched on his last lap by
the breathless thousands who feared
his car would explode or that he would
be driven from the wheel by the
flames. Displaying almost unbeliev-
able nerve. he waved acknowledgment
nf tho 40 l. ty,,h hYyl
Starter Root us he crossed the finish |
line for the next to the last time and
settled into the hot seat of his car for |
the final lap.
Spectators remaining In the grand |
stands and bleachers were on their |
'eet straining for a glimpse of the in.
repid young Indianapolis driver as he |
rounded the last curve and started |
1own the final stretch with tongues of |
iames squirting from under the hood
of his car. He could not have made
mother lap. His car would have gone
o pieces in another mile. But it re-
NAMED intact and continued to do his
bidding until it limped across the fin
sh line and Merz was $4,000
Sealthier. Pit men had extinguishers
'eady and extinguished the fire that
'oon would have destroyed the car.
Charles Merz's father is an Indianap-
Ills policeman with record for brav.
'ry to his credit.
Another Frenchman. Delbert Guyot,
irving an English made car, the Sun.
'eam. drove consistent race to
ourth place and prize of $3,500 He
vas more of favorite with the crowd
han Goux on account of numerous
rushes he had with other cars in
ront of the main grandstand, where
e showed wonderful control of his
Mount and left trail of smoke for
he other cars to travel in
The other drivers who finished with
n the prize money were, in order:
Theodore Pillette, In a Mercedes
might.
Howard Wilcox. in a Gray-Fox
pecial
Ralph Mulford, in a Mercedes.
Louis Disbro%, in a Case.
G. H. Clark, in Tulsa.
w. Haupt. In Mason.
Another year went into motor rae
lg history with 500-mile race with.
ut the loss of life. Only one acci-
ent marred the racing. Jack Tower,
riving Mason Special and Lee Gun
ing. his mechanician. we're thrown
'om the car on the southeast turn Of
ne course and the car overturned
overs leg was broken and Cunning
Uttered three fractured ribs Neither
as in danger of dying, according to
n official report by the speedway