Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-14
BIBLE DEATH ENDS
AUTO SPEED RACING
Daytona Beach. Begins
Mourning Period for VIC
tins of. Tragedy.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla, March A.
The nine-mile stretch of beach where
the American Automobile Association
holds its yearly speed trials was de-
serted today and Daytona Beach had
entered a two-day mourning period
following the tragic elimination of Lee
Bibles effort yesterday to break. the
231 mile n-hour record established by
Maj. H. o. D. Segrave of England two
days previously.
The death of Bible and Charles Traub,
a news reel cameraman, who was
crushed beneath the giant 36-cylinder
Triplex racing car when it went out OF
control just after roaring across the
mile finish marker at speed of 202
miles per hour, also brought the end
of this years speed trials, originally
intended to extend through March II.
Val Haresnape, T. E. Myers and
Tommy Milton, members of the contest
board in charge of the meet, issued a
statement after the crash, officially
closing the meet, expressing regret at
its tragic climax and expressing igno-
rance of the cause of Bibles crash.
Maj. Segrave. who before the triplex
crash had indicated he might try
another run in an effort to force 240
miles an hour out of his Golden Ar
row, announced he would make no
effort to break his record, in respect to
Bibles widow and J. M. White, Phila-
delphia manufacturer and owner Of the
wrecked racing car.
Unknown as Racer.
Bible, 42-year-old Daytona Beach
garage mechanic, father of two chill
dren and unknown as racing driver,
was chosen by White as the driver of
the Triplex. which last year set world S
mark of 207 miles per hour, for Senti-
mental reasons. Bible was one of the
chief conditioners Of the car at its last
years trials, when it was driven by Ray
Keech, and White this year decided to
give the garageman chance for fame.
Unapproved, because Of his lack OF
experience as a race driver, by the
American Automobile Association, Bible
went onto the beach yesterday in the
Triplex and roared O. one-way test at
the rate Of $50 miles an hour. speed
far too low. He made ready for his
second assault against time.
Flying along at the rate Of 202 miles
an hour near the far end of the official
mile, the Triplex went out of control.
Just what happened no one will ever
know. The car somersaulted and
barrel-rolled for 800 feet into a sand
dune crowded with people.
Directly in line with the machine was
Traub, a news reel cameraman. He
was hit squarely, and his mutilated
body was strewn along the beach by
the flying car Bible died of crushed
head, broken back and neck. fractured
legs and arms and internal injuries. He
was picked up some 200 feet from
where the Triplex, twisted wreck,
stopped.
Mrs. Bible Historical.
Mrs. Bible was hysterical when she
reached the scene and had to be taken
away. Today she was under the care
Of a physician and nurse. White was
in seclusion at his hotel The tragedy
shook him deeply. and he declared he
was through forever" He believed the
car had failed and not the driver.
Maj. Segrave, who was in the grand
tragic finish. He will leave here shortly
for Miami, where in his speedboat Miss
England he expects to try for the
worlds boating speed laurels.
| Its Just one of those things that
occasionally happen in the develop
ment of high-speed racing Segrave
said ct am deeply sorry"
Daytona Beach will be In mourning
until Bibles body will be taken back
to his birthplace at Midway, Tenn, fol
burial. It was the second such accident
here within two years. Last year Franz
Lockhart of indianapolis, drove a tiny
Stutz car to his death when a tirt
failed during his record attempts.