6
THE SUNDAY . OREGOMAX, PORTLAND, JUNE 7, 1908
LESSONS OF THE
BIG AUTO RAGES
Frequent Breakdowns Show
- Stock Cars Unadapted to
Long Course.
COMMENTS ON THE ENTRIES
How the Various Machines Stood the
Test of the Hard Course and the
Breakdowns That Compelled
Them to Retire.
Portland's big automobile race meet is
over, and while it was somewhat disap
pointing, owing to the disabling of a num
ber of the entries, the lessons taught,
however, should bs fruitful to a marked
degree.
The fact that it was the first bi auto
mobile race for stock cars ever held on
the Pacific Coast caused the event to cre
ate widespread interest, and representa
tives of nearly every automobile and au
tomobile equipment factory were on hand
to witness the races. In addition, dealers
and auto enthusiasts from all over the
Pacific Coast were present on the day
the races were run. The throngs of spee
' tators assembled along the course were
highly enthusiastic. This, despite the fact
that long waits were in order owing to the
disabling of fully one-half the machines
which started in the races, thereby length
ening the periods when machines would
pass each point at which the spectators
assembled. Had there been more entries,
or if all the machines which started had
kept in the race, the waiting Intervals
would not have been so tedious.
In spite of the failure of most of the
ears entered to fulfill the expectations of
the crowd, the majority of the spectators,
as well as the members of the Portland
Automobile Club, were well pleased with
the events, and hopes are entertained for
a bigger and better meet to be held next
year.
Several lessons were learned In the re
cent races, and should a similar event
take place next year, many more cars will
enter, and incidentally stronger made ma
chines, than the ones participating Thurs
day. Thursday's races demonstrated that
speed records cannot be broken with the
average stock car unless it Is made strong
enough to resist the rough spots over
which it must travel.
The two Studebaker cars whteh took
first and second places in the century
race, and the Cadillac which won the oS
mile event, experienced but little trouble
with their mechanism. One of the Stu
debaker's was compelled to stop for minor
repairs, while the winner went through
without any handicap whatever. The
Cadillac scored In the lesser event with
out the slightest trouble, but the bumping
it received over the rough road In the
first race caused the loosening of several
bolts and its final retirement after mak
ing two slow laps in the second. Covey
experienced trouble with his carburettor
shortly after the start in the 100-mile
event, and his slow time in the first lap
made plainly apparent that the Cadillac
was in distress. This little car had gained
enough glory in the first race, but many
of the admirers of its driver deeply re
gretted his Inability to proceed further
than two laps and a short fraction in the
big race.
Wallace's big six-cylinder Thomas
proved a disappointment in both races.
Shortly after the start It was found to
have, a cracked cylinder and compelled
to retire on that account. The Thomas
Forty was said to have sprung a leak in
its radiator, but in reality lacked a fan;
but there may have been other adjuncts
out of gear, for it did not perform with
anything like what was expected of it.
In fact, every entry in the race made by
Harry L. Keats' establishment met with
misfortune. This despite the fact that his
mechanics had worked heroically the
night before the race to get the cars in
shape for the races. Wallace, Gill and
Dodd. the three men who drove for Keats,
are highly capable men, and were unfor
tunate that their cars werd not in con
dition to stand the strain.
The Locomobile took considerable, glory
in the races by scoring the fastest lap
made in the meet. Unfortunately this
car came to grief shortly after passing
the grandstand on its triumphant journey
made in 16 minutes, and was out of the
race after that time.
Another disappointment, and a more
severe one than any of the others, was
the disabling of the Oldsmobile on the
last lap of the course. . This machine
was put out because the threads of
the bolts holding the gasoline tank
wore loose, releasing the nuts, and
causing the receptacle to fall to the
ground. The tank came loose on the
fifth lap, but Driver Harrison brought
his machine to a stop near the
Gresham turn, and there tied the tank
on as securely as possible with ropes.
These fastenings, however, failed to
hold the tank in place, and after pass
ing the grandstand like a whirlwind
the Olds was placed hors de combat
about one mile beyond. This is the
same machine which sustained the ac
cident on the course on Tuesday night,
and all day Wednesday it had been
decided not to enter the car. but H. O.
Harrison, of Los Angeles, was anxious
to drive in the race, and the machine
was sent in with but little hope of its
lasting more than one lap. It proved
considerable of a surprise to F. L.
UuBroy. the special representative of
the Olds Motor Works of Lansing,
Mich., and to Messrs. Crowe and Gra
ham, the Portland agents of the car,
when It came so close to completing
the 100 miles.
The Klsselkar entered by Fred A.
Bennett, and driven by Dr. C. B.
Brown- in the 58-mile race, came to
grief immediately after the start, and
no effort was made to repair the car
and get it on the track again. This
car was figured as a strong factor
In the short-distance event, but like
the majority of the other cars, became
disabled, and had to leave tho course.
The next disastrous failure was to
the Stoddard-Dayton entry. This car
had previously made such a splendid
showing in the tryout tests that it was
figured as a formidable competitor in
both races. Unfortunately, it failed
to make a single lap. breaking down
shortly after the start of each race.
H. A. Burgess, the local agent of chis
car, was considerably disappointed at
the inability of the Stoddard-Dayton
to. continue, for he had figured on cap
turing at least one of the cups offered
tor the race.
The cars that make the best showing
among the disabled bunch are the
White Steamers, for despite frequent
stops necessitated to replenish ex
hausted water tanks, caused by leaks,
two of these entries succeeded In
gaining a place In the races, one in
the first event and one in the second.
All of the entries were regular stock
cars, stripped in the agencies for the oc
casion. Some of them had arrived in
Portland but a few days before the races
and were not sufficiently tried out over
the course, but In spite of this, it seems
that the average stock car, while amply
strong enough to accommodate short
distance spins at high speed. Is lacking
in strength and endurance for such stren-
SOME INTERESTING VIEWS TAKEN
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uous driving as 58 miles and 100 miles over
country roads. What Is needed in road
races is specially built cars for the pur
pose, and as a suggestion, It would be
wise to furnish an additional race of a
shorter ' distance for cars of the stock
variety.
Thursday's events were exceedingly well
conducted by the Portland Automobile
Club, and for an organization which ex
perienced its first test in such an event,
considerable credit is due the members
of its committee for the energy and
ability displayed by them.
Especial thanks of the members of the
press of Portland is extended to E. L.
DeCamp and John B. Kelly for their
kindness s.nd consideration in extending
the use of their cars for the accommo
dation of the representatives of the dif
ferent dailies of this city at tha auto
races.
The Portland automobile races attracted
widespread interest throughout the coun
try, and let us hope for a bigger and
greater event next year.
CMt-Chat ol Sporting
World
STAKE-HOLDERS of campaign bets
announce that they will settle all
bets on Monday. This will be gladsome
news to the holders of winning tickets.
Those who bet on the losers can have the
satisfaction of standing around and
watching their money brush by.
A big fat man with a contagious laugh
had lots of fun with the fans who wers
pulling for Portland in Friday's game.
Any time either team mada a hit he
would yell "Take 'lm out." The gang
began to roast him until they got next
that he, was kidding them.
Any old tlmo you think 'Ruby Robert
Fitzslmmons passed up a chance to get
a right hook on a bit of your Uncle
Sam's lithographs just think again. Fltz
pulled down J100 for officiating at yes
terday's game. Now the question is,
Was he worth the price as a drawing
card?
A ball player recently fell heir to half
a million dollars, and announced that
just because he had a few paltry dollars
In the bank he was not going to quit
the game. The next thing he did was to
demand an increase of salary because he
was a drawing card.
Slgnorinetta. the 100 to 1 shot that won
the English Derby, is the first filly to
win the great classic since 1SS2. Then
It was won by Shotover.
Racing at Emeryville closed yesterday.
President .Williams gave the lovers of
horso racing just 180 days of racing. It
was by all odds the longest race meet
ing in the history of the American turf.
An Indiana woman was acquitted of
murder the other day on the ground that
she mistook the man she killed for her
husband. We naturally expect that a lot
of Indiana ball players will be wondering
if they in any way resemble the woman's
husband.
The next time Portland holds an elec
tion, what's the matter with making the
candidates declare themselves as to how
they stand on race suicide and Sunday
baseball? Then if they gig back, we can
Invoke the recall.
Getaway Day at Oakland.
OAKLAND, June 6. Getaway day re
sults: First race, six furlongs Aunt Polly
won. J. W. O'Neill second, May Amelia
third: time. 1:13 1-5.
Mile and sixteenth, Day Star won
Bauble second, Eckcrsall third; time,
1:47.
Mile and sixteenth Stoney Lee won.
Sea Lad second, Rubinon third; time,
1:47 1-5.
Mile and sixteenth. Presidio Handi
cap Boggs won, Johnny Lyons sec
ond. Cadiohon third; time, 1:4.5 8-J.
Mile and 20 yards Black Mate won.
High Gun second, L. C. Ackerly third;
time, 1:41 1-5.
-. . . i
IBM GOES SOOH '
TO HOTTER CLIME
California Sunshine Expected
to Take Stiffness From
the Beavers.
GAMBLING UNDER THE BAN
JtrSe McCredie Has Plain-Clothes
Man to Head Off Big Beta on
Grounds Evil of Base
ball Betting.
BT WILL G. MAC RAE.
One more week of baseball and Port
land will take a hike down South, and
let's hope that the team gets away from
the gloom and chilly weather that has
marked its opening six weeks at home.
Just now the team is In a bad way, for
not only has the pitching staff been
knocked galley west by the long-drawn-out
spell of rainy and chilly weather, but
almost every man on the team is suf
fering from sore muscles or bad colds.
With this handicap, and with pitchers
that were forced to work when their
arms were as stiff and lifeless as boards,
the team has played winning ball.
Yet, in spite of this, some of the cranks
arc howling their heads off. Because
Manager McCredie's crew dropped two
straight games to Los Angeles, the erabs
began to rail. In all the crabbing there
Is reams of balm, for the wall of the
team "going to pieces" comes from a cer
tain lot of baseball bugs who have been
making It a business to gamble on the
games. Ever since the game was played
there has always been more or less wag
ering on the outcome, but the bets were
made between man and man, and it was
not until this season that gambling on
the games became a mania. J. Cal
Ewing, president of the league, served
notice on some of the people who were
wagering on the game that he would not
tolerate it on the grounds, and gave
warning that if it was not stopped, he
would appeal directly to the city offi
cials. This step was not taken because
the gambling mania had developed
to the dangerous point, but the habit may
as wet! be stopped now and save any pos
sible chances of scandal.
Even Reached Handbook Stage.
There Is no harm in making a small
bet on any game or any kind of sport,
but when the betting becomes a busi
ness, it is time to cry a halt. At one
time gambling on the games was winked
at in San Francisco. There even was a
time when a handbook was made, open
ing underneath the grandstand. This
flourished until the gamblers, not satis
fled to take an even break, set out to
bribe the pitchers. As luck would have
it the crooks picked on the wrong man,
Jimmy Whalen. They wanted Whaien to
throw the game and the bawling out he
gave the thieves, resulted in driving them
out of the grounds. Since Cal Ewing be
came president he has broken up gam
bling and only the other day he had a
man thrown out of the grounds that was
caught golug through the crowd making
bets. Ban Johnson, president of the
American, is another baseball magnate
that has put the lid on gambling. In or
der to break up gamblers and put them
out of business. President Johnson ap
pealed direct to the Mayor of Detroit.
Judge W. W. McCredie has taken pre
AT AUTOMOBILE
cautions to head off the spread of Uib
craze on the local grounds. He has emr
ployed a plain-clothes man who moves
around the grandstand and through the
bleachers keeping an eye open for Mr.
Gambler, who goes out of his way look
ing for a chance to make a bet. So far
those who make it a point to bet big
money on the games, have confined their
operations to the down-town districts. If
they ever attempt to operate on the
grounds, there will be troublesome times
ahead. Anyway, it's time to break up the
business, for now, while only short money
is being bet. there is a chance that some
body whose conscience is not straight
will try to get to ne of the players.
It is because the game has been kept
clean of the gambling spirit that it is
held In such high esteem by the American
public. Let's keep it there. This is a
tip to those who ought to be wise.
Weather Hit Locals Hard.
Portland's crippled condition comes at
a time when It looked as if we had a
chance to wind up the home series and go
south on the top of the heap. It will
certainly help Los Angeles to stay where
she is. The sudden retrograde movement
of Oakland has also been a mighty fine
thing for the Seals, for they have had a
chance to retrieve some of the kicks back
wards that they got in their last" series
here. This is the luck of the game, how
ever, and it is the very thing that keeps
the fans going. With anything like a
break in the weather, nothing on earth
could have kept the team from being
the leaders, for once it got going, it never
would have been stopped. Some of the
fans were inclined to take it out on
Manager McCredie because he pitched Ote
Archer, Combs &
Winters Go.
306 OAK STREET
Opposite Entrance to New Com
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Automobile Accessories
The Store of Class and Quality
Everything for the Automobile,
nd Motor Boat
Agents tor Fisk Aulo Tires
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Tire Trouble Is Over
Manufacturers and Importers of Fina Fish
ing Tackle and Sporting Goods Spe
cialties for tha Trade Only
CATALOGUE on APPLICATION
18-FT. MOTOR BOAT &
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B Three 30-ft. cabin launches JJ
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ROAD RACES ON GRESH AM COURSE
Johnson. This was not done because
Manager Mac wanted to, but because he
was forced into it. His pitching staff is
shot all to pieces, yet some of the bugs
think that McCredie should have had a
reserve of bushera on tap. Keen critics
who saw the game Johnson pitched say
Covey
5v5ss &y cwm jsrsrrv
- r- w
that with any kind of support, the score
would have been lots closer. Dolly Gray
wasn't allowing our swatsnien much of a
chance to connect with his delivery, and
that also gave the game a lop-sided look.
Johnson, if he were worked regularly in
the box, would turn up about as nifty a
Model G. 25 H. P. $2000
Winner 50-mile road race, June 4, in the remarkable
time of 1 hour, 13 minutes and 20 seconds, averaging
47 8-10 miles per hour; 18 minutes, 35 seconds slowest
lap; 18 minutes, 5 seconds fastest lap pretty consist
ent running. This car was a regular stock car in every
way, with the exception that extra provision was made
for lubricating oil; body was on and no gears were
changed, all that's being said to the contrary notwith
standing. I was laughed at for putting the little Cadil
lac in against all the supposed seventy-mile-an-hour
cars, but those who laughed did not know the Cadillac
as I did nor as they do now. It was simply a case of
show them.
HOWARD M. COVEY
-FOR-
Motor Car Co.
16th and Alder, Portland,
! xlahster as there Is In the league, so the
crabs can howl if they want to.
Team Takes on Oakland xt.
There will be one satisfaction In the
closing week, and perhaps after all there
is a chance to reach the top. This week
we wind up with Oakland, and unless
the Athenians take a brace we will have
easy, picking while the S'als and Los An
geles are fighting It out. By this time,
also, Garrett, Pinnance, Pernoll. Groom
and Klnsella may be off the sick list. If
they are Oakland will do well if it takes
one out of the series. Groom pitched a
swell game Friday, showing that he has
about recovered. He was steady, allow
ing only two passes and fanning out
seven. With any kind of luck breakir-S
for the home talent we would have baaten
Hosp. for he was a trifle wild. Kir.sslla
won his game when he was so ill that
ho could hardly draw on his glove. Sev
eral times McCredle had Pernoll and
Bloomfltrld warming up, fearing that thff
big fellow would have to retire. It wa3
cheer gameness that made him stick it
out.
Bloomfleld Feels Cut Vp.
I feel sorry for Billy Bloomfteld. Billy
has bfen a victim of the weather also.
Had we have enjoyed our usual fire
Spring weather. Bloomfield would have
rounded to. All the little fellow needs is
to get his control back, and a few real
hot days would have undoubtedly accom
plished this. He feels his failure to get
back his control very keenly, and he said
tho other day:
"I'd be willing to work all Summer for
nothing If I could get control. Why, I'm
so bad that I'm afraid to throw a ball
een In practice. I can't understand it,
and am about broken-hearted."
HALF DAY'S CATCH 77 FISH
Two Marshfleld Men Hold Season
Record for Coos.
MARSHFIELD. Or.. June 6. The best
fishing record of the season for the Coos
Bay country has been made by Otto
Schoetter. manager of the Western
Tnion office, and Harry W. Skinner, un
til lately purser of the steamer Alliance
and now agent for the California & Ore
gon Coa3t Steamship Company at Marsh
field. The two fishermen took a week-end
outing at Ten Mile Lakes and in one aft
ernoon spent In casting the fly captured
77 trout ranging in size from one-half to
three pounds. This is the best catch of
the season to date.
A number of Coos Bay people have
built Summer cabins on Ten Mile Lakes
and many others have purchased land
with the view of erecting houses.
Fight in Los Angeles July 4.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 6. Acting for
Jim Jeffries' Los Angeles fight club,
Baron Long, who arrived in San Fran
cisco yesterckay, signed up Packy Mac
Farlane and Fred Dick Welch to box 25
rounds In Los Angeles on the afternoon
of the Fourth of July. Both men agree
to weigh 133 pounds at 9 o'clock on the)
morning of tha fight. Jim Jeffries is sei
lected as the referee.
Mexico to Aid Irrigation.
CITY OF MEXICO. June 6. Minister
of Finance Ltmantour's hill providing
for an appropriation of $26,000,000 for the
Initiation of Irrigation works throughout
the republic, was passed by the Senate
yesterday. That portion of the bill pro
viding for the establishment of a re
discount bank was amended so that
the bill now calls for the establish
ment of as many of thee banks as
may be needed In the aiding of farm
ers. Congress took a further step in the
protective tariff policy by raising the
Import duty on Iron and steel 1 per
cent per kilo (about 2 1-5 pounds)
yesterday.
Tans! Tans! Tana! at Rosenthal's.
Or.
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