Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1908)
14 THE MORNING OKEGOMAN, FRIDAY, JUNK 5, 1HUS. 40,000 PEOPLE SEE AUTO RACES Covey in Cadillac Wins First, and H. Bell in Studebaker Takes Second. NOTHING TO MAR SPORT Xot a Man Hurt, Although Many Cars Are Disabled Early In Each Race Starting Perfect Ex cellent Driving Brought Out. Before a crowd of fully 40.000 people, strung out over the 14-mile course, H. M. Covey, driving his little Cadilac run-about, won the 50-mile automobile road race, covering the distance in 1 hour, 13 minutes, 20 seconds, and Harry Bell, driving a Studebaker, was first tn th 100-mile event, in 2 hours. 4 minutes, 8 seconds. Both races furnished surprises, because the wise automobile men . had figured that the Thomas 6 would catch the judge's eye In the 50-mile event and that almost any car in the 100-mile race would turn up winner, save the Stude baker car. To add to the surprise was the fact that in the long-distance event, the Studebaker cars finished one, two. In the 50-mile race, a White steamer, driven by W. Sllmmon. who accompanied Fernando Nelson on his long trip from San Francisco, finished second and Fred Dundee, another White, third in the 100 mile race. Covey was fourth away from the start in his race. He was in front when reported from Gresham and after that he was never headed. His car never faltered and he said after the finish that he never, after throwing in the high gear, had to change. He put the same car back into the 100-mile event, but came to grief and did not finish. Two Finish In First Race. There were seven starters in the 50-mile Tace and only two finished, the others coming to grief either at Kelly Butte, Gresham or at the Gravel Pit. This made the race rather tame, but the ding-dong struggle between the Oldsmoblle. driven by H. O. Harrison, and the Locomobile and the persistant manner in which the two Suidebaker cars hung on. gave the spectators a keen thrill of excitement. In the 100-mlle event ten cars started and, only four finished. Xot all of the cars were knocked out, but six were stopped by the judges because they were all the way from one to three laps be hind. It was a break-down to Harrison's car near Russellvllle, when he was on his seventh and last lap, that put the Olds mobile out of the race. When this hap pened he looked to have the race won, for the Locomobile, driven by Murray Page, that had finished the fifth lap, al though second to Harrison, was first, de ducting the time of starting. The driving of Harrison electrified the crowd. With his face a smear of grease and dust, he fairly flew by the Judges' stand and as he heard the volley ofl cheers above the roar of his flying car, he smiled and showed the only clean thing about him, his teeth. There was a murmur of keen regret when it was an nounced that he had met with an acci dent that put his car out of commission. This left the field clear for the Stude baker cars, for the White, In spite of Dundee's heroic effort, was performing badly. Xot a Man Is Hurt. One of the almost marvelous features of the big racing event was the absence of accidents. In spite of the number of cars that came to grief, not a driver or his assistant received as much as a scratchl and there were a number of serious smash-ups. The nearest that any of the drivers came to meeting with a serious mishap was when Harry Bell, on his fifth lap, ran into the fence just beyond the judges' stand. Bell had good control of his car and was able to stop before ha wrecked his car or Injured anyone. The perfect policing of the entire course by the National Guardsmen was a strong feature in keeping the event free from accidents. Both officers and men are deserving of great credit for the part they played in making the first automobile road race ever held In the Northwest the grand success that It was Once the time came for the closing of the course, no one was allowed to pass over the course, and in spite of the fact that people stood along the road throughout the entire distance, there was no running back and forth by those who were afoot. It was as fine a bit of route policing as any racer could wish. Starting 19 Perfect. Nothing could have been more perfect than the starting of E. L. De Camp and L. Therkelsen. Starter De Camp sent the seven cars away in the 50-mile event and the 10 cars in the 100-mile race right on the dot. Some of the rabid people near the start were inclined to howl Part of the Great Crowd of because Covey, who was to have started second, moved over the line before get ting the word and was made to start last. This would have given Covey fully a second the best of the following car and a second in a race of this sort might have meant the race. Promptly at 1:30 the first car In the opening event was sent oft and but for the trouble that several cars got into in this race, the 100-mlle race would have pulled oft Just as promptly. By holding the race back 10 cars were started and at the' very last minute several cars were added that were not even in racing trim. Just to make up a large field. R. D. Inman started his Thomas without even as much as removing the mud guards. The car made a couple of laps and had to limp back, because the 'chain would not stay on the gear. First Race Somewhat' Tame. The first race over the 58.6-mile course was lacking in interest after the machines had sped around once, for only three of the cars passed the grandstand on the first circuit, and only two of them finished. They were Covey's Cadillac, which finished first in 1 hour. 13 minutes and 20 seconds, and Slimmon's White steamer. W. D. Wallace, who was fig ured to win the half-century event with his Pope-Hartford, had bad luck in both races, for his first car was disabled at the Kelly Butte turn, and in the second race his Thomas Forty experienced trou ble with its valves1 and had to be retired after making one circuit of the course. Five of the" seven starters In the initial race passed the grandstand, although several of the machines made the first circuit while Covey and Slimmons were on their second lap. - The chief interest in the races, how ever, centered in the 100-mile event, in which there were 11 starters out of the 12 entered. Harry Johansen's White steamer was disabled In the first race, and was withdrawn, while R. D. Inman entered his Thomas flyer In lieu of the Thomas Forty disabled in the first event. Inman's car was driven by W. F. Dodd, and after making four laps, was com pelled to retire because of trouble with the radiator. Good Start for Long Race. The two Studebaker cars, .which eventually won the long spin. got. off fairly well, although their time for the TABLE OF 100-MILE EACE, Car No. Make. Driver. 1 2 3 4 5 6 ' Finish. 11 Studebaker H. B-311 0:17:30 0:36:15 0:52:39 1:10:00 1:28:44 1:46:19 2:04:08 9 Studebaker J. Cooper 0:17:10 0:36:53 0:56:00 1:16:04 1:39:47 1:58:58 2:1S:47 6 White F. Dundee 0:18:02 0:40:28 1:00:00 1:28:37 1:45:53 2:04:25 2:29:59 7 Thomas, Forty W. Gill 0:19:38 0:45:56 1:07:51 1:27:15 1:60:51 2:10:13 5 Oldsmoblle H. Harrison 0:16:06 0:32:16 0:49:05 1:13:21 1:33:41 1:57:10 1 white W. Sllmmon 0:48:18 1:16:22 1:46:43 2:06:04 2:26:18 4 Thomas. Six W. Dodd 0:40:56 1:03:44 1:27:50 2 Cadillac H. Covey 0:24:48 0:43:30 10 Locomobile M. Page 0:16:15 0:32:15 3 Pope-Hartford W. Wallace 0:24:00 8 Stoddard-Dayton S. Christopherson Not taken. first lap was beaten by both the Olds mobile, driven by H. O. Harrison, and the Locomobile, driven by Murray Page. The Locomobile made the best time for a single lap when Page brought his car around the second time In 16 minutes flat. This proved his last trip, for he broke down near Gresham on his third time around. The race between the Oldsmoblle and the Locomobile for the first two laps was one which excited the crowd to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, and when it was learned that the latter machine had become disabled, genuine regret was expressed on all sides. The crowd snowed similar expressions when Howard M. Covey, in his Cadillac, was put out of the race by two bad punc tures. Five Laps of Good Racing. After the elimination of the Loco mobile the race narrowed down to the White Steamers, the Thomas Flyer, the Studebakers and the Oldsmoblle, and for five laps it was a pretty contest. Just after leaving the finish line on the last lap around the course and be ing but five minutes behind the Stude baker through having had to stop for oil, the Oldsmoblle sustained a broken cylinder and had to leave the course near the Russellvllle schoolhouse. This left the field practically clear to thw two Studebaker machines, for the Thomas had retired and the two Whites were somewhat behind, owing to sev eral delays caused by needed repairs to their mechanism. As soon as three machines had finished, word was sent around the course to stop aU the other cars which might have repaired and commenced racing again. About the time this order was Issued the. Thomas car hove in sight and finished nicely, although no time was taken. The performance of each car on each lap of the 100-mlle race Is told in the accompanying table. ANNUAL - MEETING HELD Pentecostal Church of the Xazarene Holding Its Sessions. The annual meeting of the Northwest district assembly of the Penticostal Church of the Nazarene opened in the First Church in Portland, 428 Burnside, last evening, with a rally and reception. fhr i$r 1-1 X?W 432? HARRY BELL. AND THE STUDEBAKER IN WHICH HE WO FIRST The two general superintendents of the church. Dr. P. F. Bresee, of Los Angeles. Cal., and Rev. H. F. Reynolds, of Haver hill, Mass., and the district superintend ent. Rev. H. D. Brown, of Seattle, arrived during the day and ail these, with the pastor. Rev. A. O. Hendricks, made short addresses, dealing with the condition and progress of the church, and the outlook, general and local. The regular session of the assembly opened this forenoon at 9, the first hour being taken up with worship, conducted SHOWING CARS, DRIVERS AND EACH LAP by General Superintendent Reynolds. The business session occupied the next two hours. Fifty-three ministers and dele-, gates had reported up to noon. Many others were in attendance from out of the city. A number of delegates are still ex pected. The afternoon session opened at 2 o'clock with a brief devotional service, conducted by Rev. B. Valjean. pastor at Ashland. The committee on nominations submitted its report, which was adopted as a whole. The committees are as fol lows: Divine worship, missions, orders and recognition of orders, state of church, publishing interests, education, temperance and prohibition, Sunday t -if? ii-f $Xi& -"A' -'." ."' "' NjrUKa It R4 r, . 40,000 Which Assembled V -est; schools, young people's work, resolutions and memoirs, statistics, district advisory board, blank form for incorporation of churches. The session adjourned to 9:30 Friday forenoon. Evangelistic services will be held each evening during the as sembly and there will be services prac tically all day Sunday. More Roses From Roseburg. ROSEBURG, Or.. June 3. (Special.' -Today the second and largest ship- TIME AT THE END OF ment of Roseburg roses was sent to Portland, most of them to be given the Carnival visitors, the remainder to be used in decorating wherever needed. A committee from the Ladles' Auxil iary of the Roseburg Commercial Club is in Portland taking charge of the roses which are shipped fresh from here every day. ' Invoke Anti-Sulcldc Law. SAN FRANCISCO. June 4. A state law which makes attempted suicide a misde meanor, has been invoked against Peter It. M. COVEY, WINNER. 58-MILE IN CADILLAC i IN THE 100-MILE RACE. A. Harvey, a rancher residing near Se attle, who, on Monday, cut his throat while despondent and noi. announces his intention of shooting himself. The Dis trict Attorney will make a test case and if the prosecution is successful, Harvey will be protected from himself by having to serve a term in jail. PAIN'S FIREWORKS TONIGHT Big Spectacle of Vesuvius' Eruption a Great Attraction. Pain's big fireworks spectacle. the "Carnival of Naples and Eruption of Vesuvius," is a gigantic crescendo two hours long. It begins pianissimo with serenades and ends fortissimo ' with skyrockets, and all the interval In which this dynamic Increase . from music to mines is brought about is full of pleasure. The show continues to be a strong attraction at Multno mah field. Twentieth and Washington streets, and large .audiences congregate nightly to see the hundreds of per formers In a beautiful spectacle, to feel the thrill of the realistic earth quake, and to see the terrific eruption of Vesuvius, followed by Pain's $1500 display of fireworks. The season posi tively ends on Saturday night, and the show tonight and Saturday night promises to be replete with attractive features. Tonight's piece-de-resistance will be a thrilling head-on collision of two large railway locomotives. This gigantic device is rendered but once during the entire season. Suing City for Interest. OREGON CITY. Or., June 4. (Special.)- Morris Brothers have instituted suit against the City of Estacada to recover $250 and interest from August 1, 1908. The city was bonded in the sum of $10,000 for a water system and Morris Brothers pur chased the bonds. The Interest fell due and was not paid. RVNABOL'T. to Watch the C IX REACHED IN ROSE FESTIVAL Brightest Day of All the Week in Way of Entertain ment. 40,000 SEE THE RACES Go Ofr Without Hitch and Xo Acci dents Mar the Day Close Call for Racers Two More Days of the Celebration. Continued From Flrirt Pare. from the end of the Montavilla carllne.1 The O. W. P. Company handled about 10, 000. Automobiles carried thousands to the scene. Every auto in the city was en gaged in carrying parties to the reserved area which clustered about the starting and finishing point. To those having autos the course was easily accessible. All who went, whether they went by streetcar or afoot, were repaid by wit nessing the most spectacular and inter esting racing events ever seen here. The course past the grand stand extended for miles. In either direction as straight as a die. allowing the racers to continue their terrific speed without Interruption. A streamer of smoke, attended by a whir ring roar and maybe a fleeting glimpse of a set, determined face was the only impression left by each car as it flashed past the starting-point crowds in the race against time. Some Close Calls for Drivers. When the space-eliminating tests were ended and the announcement was made that no one had been killed there was a great cheer. Fears of an accident were strongly felt by those witnessing the high-power cars flit by like rockets, and the relief was great at the fortunate termination. Of close calls there were a few, but the men of steel nerves who were driving the racing cars kept true to their course, took the dangerous curves with rare skill and kept their heads at all times. Careful Inspection of the ma chines prevented unavoidable accidents through broken or defective mechanism. The first event, a 50-mile race, started almost at the dot of 1, as scheduled. The 100-mlle event was on shortly after 3 o'clock. The races passed a given point on the 14-mile course on an average of every 17 minutes or thereabouts. Spurts of better than a mile a minute were fre quent, however, and these were seen. mainly along the level stretch leading past the starting point, where a total of from S000 to 11,000 were assembled In auto mobiles or on the rickety circus bleachers that served as a grandstand. Soldiers Police Course. Better facilities for policing a long distance racing course were possibly never better afforded than by the detail of 180 members of the Third Oregon Infantry, who patrolled the entire 14 miles. At the risky moments, when the speeding machines were driving by, the guardsmen kept everyone back and per mitted no crossing of the course at dan gerous moments. The patrol likewise did excellent sen-Ice at the turns and crossings. The detail was In command of Major F. S. Baker, who. with a dozen other officers, donated their services to the work. To the work of the infan trymen is largely due the fact that no one was hurt, as spectators showed an Inclination to litter the course at all times and were kept back with difficulty. Never In the history of Portland was there a more representative gathering than was present at the races. Hundreds of antomobiles lined the route of the races and In the Infield back of the Judges' stand there must have been fully 300 cars. Automobile parties had been made up weeks In advance, and while the races were going on lunches were served. Just beyond the judges' stand was a special stand for the Governor. The au tomobile carrying Governor Chamberlain was the last of the machines allowed to pass. The arrival of Governor Cham berlain was greeted with cheering and applause. In the grandstand with him were J. C. Ainsworth. Dr. Andrew C. Smith. Colonel and Mrs. David M. Dunne and Miss Dunne. Mrs. S. B. Vincent, Mrs. O. C. Leiter, Mrs. Monroe Goldstein. Mrs. O. C. Merrick. County Commissioners Barnes and Lightner and a number of others. One hundred thousand is an easy esti mate of the number of people who saw the magnificent floral parade, the most gorgeous floral pageant Portland has ever Exciting Automobile Races known. Ten roses to every spectator la not too great a number to assign to the blooms used In decorating the various features of the procession. Those are not boom figures, but rather the result of an effort to state conservatively and fairly the extent of two important featuree of the demonstration. There are those who will vow both figures u'ndcrrcach the full truth. Painstaking preparation, days of careful planning and hard work, were shown In every detail of the parade. It was perfect In organization, superb in arrangement and unequaled in beauty of decoration. If It was a few minutes late in moving, that was the only flaw. Its success was complete even beyond the dreams of those who did the planning. No end of credit is due to the Individual partici pants for their whole-hearted, enterpris ing and in many instances lavish work. The column moved at 11:15 and threaded its way through the admiring throngs for an hour and a half. It was a specta cle which held the attention of all. and even scores of automobile parties. Intent on getting to the races on time, paused to see the. end of the procession and were late at the races. Roses Everywhere. Not only the thousands of beautiful roses from the rose exposition, but other thousands of fresh flowers from the countless gardens of the city, were used in decorating horses, vehicles and floats. Roses were everywhere. Many vehicles were quilted with roses all of a color. Great banks and clusters of roses were placed at every point consistent with ar tistic effect. This lavish use of flowers failing to eliminate the supply, hundreds of bushels were showered on the crowds from floats and decorated vehicles. An avalanche of blooms was used in the bat tle of roses that bean when the Festival Queen, Flora, passed the reviewing stand on Morrison street on her return at the head of the column from a tour of the business center. The Riverside Driving Club, the Hunt Club, the Junior Hunt Club, the Oregon Agricultural College cadets, the Japanese "cherry blossom' section, the decorated fire apparatus, and the individual partici pants share alike in the praise that must go to those who contributed to the un limited success of the procession. The driving and riding clubs easily eclipsed the showing made by the automobile pa rade of the day preceding. One was compelled to wonder where all the fine horses and showy vehicles came from. Shut your eyes any place and any time downtown and when .you open them again you will see an auto mobile. But not so with fine horse flesh. It is a rare spectacle indeed, except on the boulevards, which the public at large does not frequent. Hence, the surprise at tjie several hun dred head of blooded horses and the 157 fine vehicles that appeared in the column. O. A. C. Cadets Make Hit. " The Oregon Agricultural College ca dets were applauded all along the line for their military bearing. Uniformed in neat olive uniforms, they might have been mistaken for a crack regiment of regulars returning from field service. Every cadet was a fine physical speci men, and they understood the game of marching as only the trained soldier knows It. The two battalions of four companies each made a lasting impres sion by their soldiery appearance. Anti-Japanese feeling has either dis appeared or never was very strong, judging by the enthusiasm with which the Japanese section of the parade was received. The two floats of the Japa nese section were picturesque and at tractive. The cost was defrayed by contributions from the Japanese of the whole Pacific Northwest. The "cherry blossom" feature showed a fine spirit of enterprise, the blossomed tree, which was the center of interest, having been especially imported from the land of Nippon. The floats used were new and at tractive. Much favorable comment has been aroused from the fact that the Festival management has avoided du plicating float features in the parades. One set of floats was used in the Tuesday night pageant. another set yesterday, and still a third lot will be paraded in tonight's turnout. Knst Side Illumination. Fatigued the city must have been when nightfall came, but attendance on the East Side children's parade and street masque carnival was second only to that which saw the floral parade of the forenoon. The West Side has not succeeded In attaining the flood of il lumination which made night brighter than day throughout the Important business districts on tho other side of the Willamette. Children in gay festival attire and every one of them bubbling over with enthusiasm and happiness, was the feature of the, parade. Uncle Sarrfs sturdy fighting men from the flotilla now in port were a second feature which received an ovation. The East Side procession and festivities breathed the essence of festival spirit. Anima tion and enthusiasm was everywhere. There was something about the street festivities which impelled everyone to take part and enjoy the freedom of the thing to the fullest extent. Not until a late hour did East Siders and their guests note It was growing on into the night. Corvallls Sends Roses. CORVALLIS. June 4. Corvallls has been sending roses for the past two or three days to help swell the volume of flowers at the Rose Festival. They are collected and shipped through the Com mercial Club. It Is estimated that the total shipments will exceed 100 pounds.