Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-08

DEs MONIES, Aug 7.-Morris
Keehler, Chambers mechanician'
died tonight in a hospital.
DEs MONIES, Ia, Aug. 7.-One
killed and three injured two PROB
ably fatally, marked the initial 800
mile automobile Derby on the new
mile speedway here this afternoon
in which Ralph De Palma was de-
clared the winner, Ralph Mulfold
second and Eddie o'Donnell third.
Joe Cooper was killed during the
thirty-eighth lap of the race When
his car literally sailed over the outer
edge of the bowl, as he was nearing
the grand stand, and landed outside
with Cooper and his machanician'
Louis Piel, pinned underneath the
wreckage.
The second accident came near the
close Of the race, when, in the two nun
dred and thirty-eighth lap, Billy Channd-
ler's car crashed against the inside rail-
almost opposite the point where Cooper
had met his death.
Death h Near.
Morris Stubbs, Chambers mechanician.
was said to be in the more serious con-
dition Of the two, and at the hospital TO-
night, his death was predicted within a
few hours. Chandler has less than an
even chance for recovery. According to
the physicians, Piel. one of the victims
of the first accident. was reported also
20 be in q critical condition with better
prospects, however, than the others.
Coopers skill was crushed in the first
accident and his death was practically
instantaneous. Stubb's injuries are a
broken right shoulder and hip, fractured
collar bone and conousssion Of the brain.
Chandler went -,iataesaNa.allsiona While
being taken to the hospital. where Il
was found that he, suffered a broken
left hip and internal injuries.
In both accidents tire blowouts were
ascribed as the cause, although i'm the
case Of Cooper a broken steering knuckle
was said to have been the immediate
reason for his loss of control After
striking the ground outside the track,
the momentum OF the car was so great
that Il crashed into the end of the grand
stand and forced it's way under the
structure. Officials said Cooper was go
ing at the rate of 100 miles an hour at
the time.
wife in Grandstand.
Chandler's wife was In the grandstand
when he husband went through the in
side track fence. She rushed TO his side
and later accompanied him TO the hos
pital. At the hospital Chandler recov-
cred consciousness for "A few moments
and his first question was about Cooper.
He had not learned of Cooper's death
and the fact was kept from him.
The race itself was full of thrills.
aside from it's tragic features For most
of 300 miles 1t was a nip and tuck af-
fair between DePalma, Mulford and
ODonnell, the former keeping the lead
the greater part Of the time. In the last
fifteen miles, however. he developed a
run of bad luck with his tires which
threatened to lose him first place. but
he forged ahead In the last three miles.
and crossed the line ahead of Mulford.
So close were the two leaders that the
judges were for several minutes divided
as to who had won. The first announce
ment was that Mulford was the victor,
but this was quickly changed and the
Official announcement gave Dei anna lile
prize.
Born in Ohio.
Cooper was born in Youngstown. o..
about twenty-fuor years ago. He was
unmarried.
At the end Of fifty miles o'Donnell had
taken the lead from De Palma, with Null
ford third. So fast were the men going
that the officials gave up trying to an
nounce their. time.
Alley went out of the race in the eighth
lap with engine trouble. Shrunk was
forced to drop out because of engine
trouble. De Palma and Henderson also
were having tire trouble. BY the eighty
fifth lap De PALMA had dropped to fourth
place, and was two miles behind the
leaders. oDonnell made his first stop in
the ninety-second lap to replace tire.
AIuIfOrd Takes Lead.
Ralph Mulford had taken the lead In
the race at the end OF the first 100 miles.
o'Donnell was second and De Palma
third. Alley and Chandler were next i'm
order De Palma was Obliged to stop at
the pit for a new tire on the 105th lap
At the 15Oth lap Mulford still held the
lead. with O'Donnell second and De
Palma second. with Alley and Chandler
following. Mulford's time was 1:44:SO.
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