Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1909 — TWO ARE KILLER IN MOTOR RACES [ARTICLE]

TWO ARE KILLER IN MOTOR RACES

Driver of Machine Chokes In His Own Blood. UMBS AND SKULLS ARE BROKEN Going at Frenzied Carnival of Bpeed Auto Crashed Into Fence, Pinning Occupants to Ground—Two Records Were Broken In Two Hundred and Fifty Mile Run—Both Are New American Track Marks. Indianapolis, Aug. 20.—Two lives were lost and two records broken during the inauguration of the Indianapolis motor speedway. William A. Bourque, driver of the Knox car in the 250-mile race, and Harry Holcomb, his mechanician, were killed. Barney Oldfield, driving a high powered Benz, covered a mile in 0:43 1-10, breaking Du Palma’s mark of 0.51, and Louis Chevrolet in a Buick negotiated ten miles in the marvelous time of 8:56 4-10, cutting Oldfield’s time of 9:12 —both of these are new American track marks. Robert Burman won the 250-milo race, and the contest that cost Bourque and Holcomb their lives. The winner's time was 4:38:57 4-10—slow because of the many accidents that marred the race. The Stoddard-Dayton (Clements) was second in 4:46:01 8-10, and the National (Merz) finished third in 4:52:-39 7-10. Another National with Kincaid at the wheel was the only other car of ten starters to finish the long grind. The car in which Bourque and Holcomb were killed crashed into the fence about 300 yards north of the grand stand. Bourque lost control of his car for a second, swerved from his course, crashed into the fence, hl» machine turning over and pinning both occupants to the ground. Bourque had both legs broken, his skull fractured and was drowned in hi 3 own blood, which poured down his throat, preventing his breathing. Holcomb had three holes in his skull and both arms broken.