FATAL MOTOR RACE.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 4853, 14 November 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

FATAL MOTOR RACE.

Nine persons were killed and fourteen seriously injured as the result of an accident during the closing stages of the fifty-mile motor car race at Syracuse State Fair, U.S.A., on September 19th, when a racing car driven by Lee Oldfield leaped from the track, crashed through the surrounding fence, and plunged into the throngs lining the other side of the speedway. The honoured guest at the Fair was President Taft, and it was only a short time after he left on his special train for the VVc'st that Oldfield’s car took its toll of death. Just before the President left the clubhouse, where he had spoken at luncheon, he took a short ride round the track in an automobile. The tracks were watered to keep down the dust for the President and his party. This watering was such as to cause the drivers who were to compete in the fifty-mile event to protest against it. When the race was cillcd, Ralph de Palma and Bob Burman, who had been driving in the previous race, refused to go on. because of the condition of the track. They said that the water had made it too dangerous. There was some delay, and during that time the track dried somewhat. When the race started De Paitna and Burman were both entrants, along with Oldfield and six others. The accident happened in the 43rd mile. De Palma had been leading with a lap to the good, and Oldfield was trying to pass him aa they entered on the first quarter at the Leginning of the 43rd mile. The big cars were travelling, it is estimated, at seventy-five miles an hour, and were running side Ly side us they swung round tho turn after passing the grandstand on tho first quarter. As they took the turn there' was a loud report. Tho car driven by Oldfield leaped into the air. Then it swerved to the outer side, and went clean through the fence. The crippled machine, beyond the control of the driver, ploughed its way through the hundreds of persons who had lined themselves along the barrier in the hope of getting a fine view of the contest. It was at first thought that no one had been hurt, and an an announcement to that effect was made to the people in the grandstand. Despite this, hundreds hurried to the point where the cur left the track. The runaway car had left people piled together, many of them wangled almost beyond recognition, in heaps on the ground. At once nearly a score of dead and injured were picked UP- , „ Swift calls were sent to Syracuse for ambulances and everyone in the city responded. The dead and injured were taken to an emergency hospital. Aid was volunteered by scores of physicians, and there were many oilers of trained nurses, who were in the vast throng. One woman tore off all her undergarments that bandages might be provided for the wounded. Her own sister was injured, but she stuck heroically to her task, and continued to provide bandages until she had no more material from which to improvise them. In spite of tho fact that it quickly became known that many had been killed and injured, the ofiiicala in charge refused to cull off tho race, and the last few miles were run while hundreds thronged the track.