Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 127, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1914 — LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE ENROUTE TO THE RACES [ARTICLE]

LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE ENROUTE TO THE RACES

Record Number of Cars Passed Through Rensselaer—Local Garage Men in Warm Rivalry.

Beginning Thursday morning, increasing toward evening, continuing in large number through the night and becoming a constant stream today, automobiles and motorcycles, have passed from the north to the south through Rensselaer. The great majority of the cars come from Chicago, though many are from Hammond, Gary, and points in Wisconsin and northern Illinois, with a few from more remote points. The great majority of the cars are of late patterns and expensive makes, a' vast number of seven-passenger cars being among them, while a few were old models, some* were cheap cars and some looked so rakish that their chance of getting to the races seemed rather remote. V"

There was more novelty this year than 'heretofore, and motorcycles built for two, both the basket seats and the rear extension were rather common, and a number of khaki clad lads and lassies, begrimed with dirt, sped through town like they were really enjoying themselves, and maybe they were. One man from lowa had five men as passengers. They were dressed in calico wrappers and wore sunbonnets. Just what tun they were having from the wierd garb we can not imagine. A large truck carrying a number of cases of beer and filled to running over with passengers flitted through town this morning. Some times men fall off of a water wagon, but we never heard of any one falling off of a beer wagon. The explanation for carrying beer with them was the fact that the route from Chicago to Indianapolis passes through so many “dry” towns and the passengers were afraid they might die of thirst if they did not have the “life-saver” with them. The passengers were evidently foresighted enough to have a sober driver and had avoided being ditched when it reached this place. There was a demand for sleeping quarters in Rensselaer Thursday night that had never before been equaled and after the hotel was filled to running over and many private residences had been used to accommodate the tourists who were tired when they reached this city. It is reported that four wearied tourists gave up $5 each and slept two in a bed, having paid Bennie Hansen and Ed Lane that price for their room over a store on Washington street No serious accidents occurred near Rensselaer, although a false alarm took two or three doctors and a large number of curious people to the Norman corner, north of town, where a fatal accident occurred last year. It was found that nothing worse than a “blow out” had occurred, and those who went to the scene seemed really disappointed. Local garage men engaged in a war of wits to secure advantages by having the machines pass their places of business. The rivalry was chiefly between the Main Garage, run by A. E. and N. C. Shafer, and the Central Garage, managed by Max Kepner. Crushed stone bad recently been placed on Cullen and Forest streets, which was the surest route to the Main Garage. Believing that the large and fast running machines would do a great deal of damage to the street. Marshal Shesler placed J. W. Childers at the north side of town to steer the tourists down Main and Division street, which would route them past the Central Garage. This worked against the Shafer garage and an appeal was at once made to Mayor Spitler, who with the chairman of the street committee decided that the Main Garage was being discriminated against and Mr. Childers was recalled.

In the meantime sign writers were busy and Edward Honan was dispatched UP the road to hold aloof a sign which was calculated to aid the Central Garage. Another large sign was painted for the Shafers. It read “Official Turn,” and was leaned against an automobile that was set crossways of the road near Van Grant’s residence. Tourists heeded the sign and swung west on Cornelia street and for a time Shafer was doing about all the gasoline business. Then the Central Garage fellows stationed a man one block west of the Main Garage sign and the. tourists were herded south on Weston street and past the Central Garage. Marshal Shesler then took a hand and ordered the machine with the “Official Turn” sign out of the street and Manager Shafer arranged to have it placed in a yard at the corner. A large number of machines went right through, evidently having enough gasoline to carry them safely to the next buying station. Two or there accidents of more or less seriousness occurred in the neighborhood of the Kankakee river. A gray road’tor, occupied by a man and his wife, went off the grade Just north of Water Valley and it was reported the lady was seriously injured, having one leg

broken. Another accident occurred near RoselaWn, according to reports, a touring car and a focal car meeting in collision. Another accident near Thayer was reported. Local garage employes remained up all night to make repairs to disabled cars. No count of the parsing cars was made; so far gs could be learned, but it Is probable that in the neighborhood of 500 passed through this city fast night and today. The return trip will be made Saturday night and Sunday following the races.