Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-09-08
HEROIC LAD HURT.
IN BIG AUTO RACE.
ON THE SPEEDWAY.
WINSTON GREGORY, 1s.YEAR.oLD
SON OF THE COMMISSIONER,
TERRIBLY INJURED WI ~
CAR CRASHES INTO FENCE

most distressing accident oc-
CURED yesterday afternoon ut the
Rodeo grounds. during the forty-mile
race. when the Overland car driven b.
Ray Davis suddenly swerved to the
right and crashed into the fence, turned
three complete somersaults, and land
ed right side up. fifty feet from the
, race track.
Winston Gregory. the nineteen year
old son of County Commissioner James
Gregory. who was acting as mechani-
clan, was found lying alongside tho
. car. where he had evidently fallen af-
ter the car came to a stop. He was in
an unconscious condition. a number OF
ribs being crushed. his skull probably
fractured. and his whole body badly
bruised.
Ray Davis, the driver. was thrown
from the car ms n went through the
/ fence. and was found walking around
. in a semi.COnscious condition. He was
I badly bruised and shaken up. but his
injuries were not serious. That he es-
capped serious injury or death Is a
miracle, for those who saw the acct
dent say that he was thrown fully fif-
} teen feet in the air. and he landed
fully thirty feet from the point where
the accident occurred. Mr. Davis is
able to be around today. and will soon
/ have entirely recovered.
! Richard Hadley, laboreT. who was
! sitting on the fence directly over the
point where the auto struck, was sent
high in the air. and fell among the
I broken fence timbers. He sustained q
! sprained knee and other minor in
jurics. lie Is confined In the county
hospital. but will soon be none the
worse for his experience.
Young Gregory was taken TO his
homo and medical attention was imme.
diately given him. Up 10 a late hour
this afternoon he had not recovered
consciousness. but his respiration and
heart functions are improving. and il
Is believed that consciousness will
soon return. Until then the full extent
of his injuries cannot be determined.
The cause OF the accident Is a mat
ter Of speculation. 4 small log chain
was found wrapped around the axle oi
the right front wheel and 1t was SO
tightly jammed that the wheel had Ia
he removed before IL would turn. II il
the belief Of some that the chain was
picked up on the track. when the
wheel was so locked that the car wa.
thrown into the fence. This theory L.
supported by the fact that Il furTow Is
ploughCd in the track distance oi
fully fifty feet. Just before the cal
struck the fence, indicating that one
of the wheels on the right hand side
slid. As there were no brakes on the
= car. il was probably the front wheel
. In contradiction of this theory II 1:
positively stated that the chain was
attached to drag which was leaning
against the fence at the point where
= the car struck In that event II at
tachCd itself to the wheel when tho
T. car went through the fence.
The car was badly damaged. bu
with n few repairs II was run int,
town and To the garage today on II!
own power
There is a story about today. ana /
seems to have good foundation. that tn,
% car was tampcred with the night be
: fore the race. This matter Is bein:
Investigated, and IL found to be true.
Is hoped that the guilty one will b,
brought to justice. Such crime dc
. serves scvcrest punishment. II is pos
sible that II was the cause of the &C
; Cident and young GregOry's pitiabl
. condition.
; Winston Gregory Is one of Elk,
Countys most popular young men, an,
II Is sincerely hoped that he will full
; recover from his injuries. As he /
young and Of wonderful physiCa
strength. the attending physician
; hope for the best. II will probably b.
several days, however, before they cal
state positively how the case will ter
: inmate.