St. Tammany farmer., 1922-07-15
Car. No. 12, Driven by Fer
nando Clemento Skids
and Turns Over
CLEMENTO, BAKER
KILLED INSTANTLY
Accident Due to Defective
Wheel Which Crumpled
When Car Skidded

COyington was astir last Sunday
In anticipation of an exciting after
noon at the fair grounds. The an
nouncement that an auto racing as
sociation Of New Orleans had enter
ed nine highpowered racers and that
the event would be a record-break-@
ing affair, with the novelty Of te-
male driver, the pretty Miss Cline,
who it was said would do this rec
ord-breaking, jumped the interest to
high pitch. The racers skinned
about the streets and the big Stew
ems went out on the Vaudeville road
and was said to have made ninety
miles an hour.
1t was generally known that the
track was not fit for fast driving,
and the knowing ones smiled when
it was suggested there would be any
record breaking. The Fair Associa-
tion leased the track with the under
standing that it was not safe for
fast driving, and to protect itself
from any indiscretion in this respect
put clause in the lease releasing
them from all responsibility for ac-
cidents or damage during the races.
It was signed by the racing associa-
tion and by each driver entered IN
the race. To eliminate danger to
some extent the track was worked
over and dirt was thrown up on the
outer side of the track as a protec-
tion from skidding.
Mayor Badon acted as timekeeper.
It was evident from his smiling and
contented face that he anticipated
no accident. In fact, it is said that
drivers were asked to not make over
thirty miles an hour, as the track
Is a fiat dirt circle three-eighths of
a mile around.
onds. No. 8 failed to run because
the carburetor trouble. No. II made
in it 81 Y seconds. then No. IL
took the track and was warming up
for the start when the accident oc-
Cured. This car was driven by
Fernando Clemento, Henry r. Baker:
a stepbrother of Miss time, riding
with him as mechan4c. ClementO
jokingly remarked that he would
beat the time or get hiilu1. He hal
lust rounded the cure near the
grand stand and opened up for the
start, both holding up a hand as Q
sign that all was we'll, when the car
skidded, shot acress the track to
the inner circle of grass, seemed to
stop short and then jump into the
.ir, came down on it's top and rolled
up on it's wheels again. The right
front wheel crumpled. Examination
showed that it was. defective. Some
;aid it was rotten. However this
nay be, 1t is generally conceded that
the accident would not have occurred
.f the wheel had not broken. The
car crushed the life from the. two
unfortunate men In it. The top Of
Bakers skull was taken almost COM
pletely off. Clements skull was
crushed and he was hurt internally.
Life was extinct in both within three
minutes. Doctors Bu1loch and Young
were brought quickly to the scene
but there was nothing to be done.
Dr.. Bulloch, who is coroner, held
the inauest, the verdict being accf-
dental death.
The bodies were placed In charge
of C. M. Poole to be embalmed and
prepared for shipment, and when
tho mangled remains lay In their
coffins they had a natural repose
that gave little indication OF the
violent death they had suffered.
C1emento had no relatives In this
country. He came from Paris,
France. Bakers mother was at the
race track in the grand stand when
tho accident occurred. Both Gle
mento and Baker we're employed by
the Gallagher Transfer Company q
New Orleans.
5 Clemento was known as very
careful driver. He had not made
fast time. Fate was against him
It is-rumored that the Auto Rae
ing Association will enlarge the
track and put 1t in proper condition
for racing.