Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1914-08-28
KILLED WHILE GOING
100 MILES An HOUR
Wishart Fatally Crushed During
Contest at Elgin, III.
DE PALMA COMES IN FIRST
Several Persons Are Injured When
Millionaire Driver of Philadelphia
Loses Control of Car-Victim
Dies In Brides Arms.
FINISH OF ELGIN RACE.

Pos. Car and Driver. Time.
1. Mercedes, r. De Palma. :. .4:o6: 10
2. Mercer, Ed Pulien. $500. .4:o7:28
8. Stutz, Barney CIdfieId. .4:24:o2
q. Sunbeam, CASTOR Morris. .4:31:oo
5. Burman Spl., Ed Hearne. .4.35:47
Average per hour-De Palma. 1875;
PuIIen, 70; CIdfield. 68.2; Morris,
66.7; Hearne, 65.6.
Elgin, H., Aug. 25.-Ralph De Pal
ma. driving in race marked by the
death Of Spencer Wishart, young
Philadelphia millionaire pilot, several
injured, and the most spectacular
driving ever seen on the Elgln course
emerged the victor for the second
time in two days, when he won the
Elgin National trophy.
De Palma came up from behind a
field of four or five daring drivers
three laps before the end and nosed
out Pullen, in Mercer, by fraction
over a minute De Palma sent the
German Mercedes around the 30l
miles at an average speed of 1873
miles an hour, tenth of mile SLOW
er than his time in the contest Tor
the Chicago Automobile club trophy
Friday.
When De Palma pulled up at his
pit after winning the race, one OF the
pitmen told him of the death or
Wishart.
Wishart met injuries in the four
teenth lap Of the race which caused
his death shortly afterward in ST.
Joseph's hospital here. He died in
the arms of his bride of nine weeks.
He was married June % to Miss
Louise MCGOWAN, daughter OF the
late Hugh MCGOWAN. Indianapolis
traction magnate.
His speed. it is thought, must Lave
been about one hundred and ten miles
an hour.
The accident was described as fol-
lows in the official report announced
after an examination of several wit
nesses:
TIL, Philadelphia had completed
his thirteenth lap and was two miles
away on his fourteenth. He had
gained his cars maximum accelera-
ton down the back stretch. In front
of him, travelling at comparative
slow speed, was Otto Henning, Chi
cagoan, and Wishart's teammate. driv-
ing the smallest Mercer. Henning's
mechanic looked back and sa-' Wish
art coming. He looked at the road
and saw 1t was the narrowest part Of
the course.
He signaled Henning to pull to the
right and waved to Wishart TO come
on Wishart paid no heed to the peril
which lay in the narrowest Ct the
course and CANT with rush.
His car wavered for a fash and
then careened to the left. 1t struck a
slight elevation and jumped. When
the car alighted it was on four wheels
atop of a high embankment. Its rush
apparently was unimpeded.
Wishart fought the Wheel and sue
ceeded in keeping the car straight, al
though it raked against picket fence,
along which the car catapulted for
100 feet, tearing pickets and posts
from their supports. Spectators lined
the fence, and madly scrambled for
safety. Some were injured.
Wishart turned his machine off the
embankment and attempted to regain
the road. The speed would not per-
NIT the slight turn necessary, how
ever, and the car plowed through the
front yard of farmer residing on
the course. He escaped one tree. but
was brought up sideways against an
other with terrific impact. From the
wreck John c. Jenter, Wishart's
mechanician, was thrown so feet
wishart's flight, INSTRUCTED by the
steering wheel, was permitted only
after the bones in his legs gave way
He fell a few feet from the machine.
Several rushed to him. They found
his side had been crushed by the i'm
pact against the tree. He was con-
scious, but Jenter was In a coma
His body was crushed and right arm
almost severed from the body
Both were rushed to St Joseph's
hospital. Wishart retained conscious
ness until he died.
The news of the accident took the
Joy out of the victory for De Palma.