Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-29
ead-On Collision Affords Real
Thrill for Interested Spectators

The DAY Of the great head-on collision
between two giant locomotives, which
viii be staged at the Omaha Auto Speed
wsy on labor day IL rapidly approaching.
and large force OF workmen are busily
engaged In constructing as fine a road
bed az Il Ia possible to build, using brand
new eighty-pound steel rails 10 give the
engines smooth running for the eventful
smashup. A gala day has been arranged
by the promoters. At noon the gates
win be thrown ouen TO the public, who
will occupy the grandstand In first como,
first served order with the predicted
overflow occupying space on the board
track facing the exhibition. which will
take place on tho track 90 feet away.
The bands will open the afternoon OF
sports with patriotic airs, followed by
harness and running races stock yards
derby relay race. motorcycle events run
off in rapid succession with the head-on
collision as the grand climax.
Colonel J. s. Connolly. veteran Of the
railroad collision for exhibition purposes.
is here supervising the construction work.
Omaha Is 20 be congratulated" he says,
ION having such fine place as the
Auto Speedway affords to stage the
head-on collision. We will have three
quarters OF a mile run for tho engines
and ample room for the spectators with
perfect view Of all that is enacted.
will give them the cleanest and safest
afternoon OF events within my power"
Carl Marfisi. who il acting az manager
for the local business men, instrumental
in bringing this attraction to the city.
Gays: IT am convinced we have the
largest attraction conceivable, ana 1 am
glad TO DO under the banner with the pro-
moters."
w. y. Sullivan Of New York City, after
witnessing the exhibition given there, de-
scrlbos It thusly:
The signal given; They're off, The
signal was three shriclIs from engine No.
l. The shorts were taken up by No. Q,
and-they started. Both engineers
slammed their levers over. Tho pistons
pounded. black. choking smoke ensued
from the stacks and steam. intermittent
and kissing. sduealed through the vents
about the trucks. Grizzled Mr.. Dwyor
had petted and cajoled his charge 30 we'll
that he attained the greater speed al
most instantly.
1.-THE crowd got a strangle hold on its
breath and held II. Fifty feet from the
starting point No began TO chortie. and
Dwyer decided that he'd better jump. He
did, Anc he landed in about a foot and
a half OF wster. Matthews was strokins
the fur of No. /, hut the bunch of black
metal didn't seem TO respond. Finally
the Demon Farmer gave the lever an
uppercut and No. picked up Some cour-
ago and went at It's opponent.
It's more difficult to describe what
happened than II Is to serve q subpoena
on q Standard OH magnate. Both ma
chimes whisked off, with the torpedoes
handing out line Of rapid fire CONVEX
Bation on the rails. the whistles wide
open, doing cruel things TO the ear
drums and the chug -chug-chugging OF
the pistons making swwet music for tho
smAil boy, whose eyes were saucerlike
an papa held him In leash in the stands
300 feet away.
Foot by foot. yard by yard. the two
engines gained speed. You couldn't have
heard a pin drip, for the simple reason
that q pin doesn't make any noise when
II hits D quagmire. such as the track
waa this afternoon.
And then came the crash
mo. . was the thoroughbred. But No.