The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 12

12 THE IXDIAXAPOLIS SUXDAY STAR, MAY 31, 1931. i Crowd Estimated at 1650 Watches END OF FIRST LAP AS SEEN FROM AIR. Fill mi CAR i WHEEL KILIS BOY Stands, Boxes, field I 1 I I 1 II I 4sJ- v'' ty. ty TZ vy-w j-wT yr A 't Race from Grand A rushing stream of humanity, alternately agog with excitement and drooping with weariness, again took ita place with the international race at the Speedway as a spectacle yea-terday. Mora than one hundred and sixty-five thousand persons from all sections of the continent were estimated to have jammed through the turnstiles and automobile passageways to demonstrate that Americans never let a depression pinch their pleasures.

There was only one alight difference between the throng that milled about the grounds yesterday and those which have left their heel prints in the sod and cinders in years gone by. As the bombs began to fire at one-miaute intervals at 9 JO o'clock, there was none of the) usual hectic running to reach the stands, paddock and inner track. in time for the start. Baco Delayed Isa Hears. A steady drizzle was falling and the speed fans know by now that when a track is wet there Isn't any racing therefore there was no hurry to be there when the clock hands pointed to 10.

The thousands of last-minute arrivals leisurely ambled to their reservations, if any, and waited good naturedly during the two hours which the race was delayed by the ill nature of the weather man. The uniformed guards bad their easiest half hour as the race got under way, for every one was holding his point of vantage and craning his neck. Then the usual restlessness created a general moving about, while guards said, "Sorry, buddy, but you can't go through here." Sometimes pity didn't say it that pleasantly. Although official figures were lacking last night as to actual attendance, threatening weather and delay in the start of the race failed to leas-en attendance or dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds. Larger Than Last Tear.

Speedway officials eatimated during the afternoon' that the crowd was equal to. if not greater than, that which witnessed the running of the 1830 classic, when more than one hundred and sjxty thousand persona attended. The grand stands provided their usual coKM-nu spectacle with the brightly-hued attire. of the feminine Every year iervice it better Shoots Over Wall After Arnold's Crackup Several Drivers Hurt. CONCLCDED FBOM TKGT OXE.

hospital in the Speedway graunds, where physicians worked about two hours in a desperate effort to save his l.fe. He failed to rally after a blood transfusion and died in the Citv hospital, where he was removed latfr. He suffered a fractured skull, Internal injuries and other fractures, aivordin? to Dr. William A. Doep-pcrf, superintendent of the City hospital.

Arnold's Hip Fractured. Arnold suffered a fracture of the hip, severe burns about th bak and possible internal injuries. Other drivers and mechanics who wpie injured follow: Spider Matlock, Arnold's mechanic, dislocated shoulder, painful burns and bruises. Anthony Gulotta. drivar.

27 years old of Los Angeles, Cat, cuts and bruise. Paul Riscigno, On'a'ta's riding mechanic, bruises. Luther Johnson, years old, of South Bend, driver, possible internal Injuries, cuts and oruises. William H. Richards, Johnson's riding mechanic, wrenched back, sprains and bruises.

Kreddie Winnai, 27 years old of Philadelphia, driver, spina injuries, burns about the legs. Clyde Dobyns, Winnai's mechanic, left leg torn, cuts and bruises. Wilbur Shaw, driver, bruises. Walter Hannowsky, Shaw's mechanic. had lacerations, bruises about legs.

William Cummings. 24 years old, af Indianapolis, cuts and bruises. Harry Butcher. 35 years old. of Wilmington, diiver, lacerations and bruises.

Joe Russo, 29 years old, of Indianapolis, driver, cuts, bruises about the risht thigh. P.ill Kiser, riding mechanic for Russo, minor Injuries. Rav Yeager, Butcher's riding mechanic, minor Injuries. Hurt In First l'rark-Vp. Russo was injured In the first major crack-up of the race when his car skidded on the treacherous northwest curve in an effort to avoid striking Butcher.

Butcher's car went over the retaining wall and was wrecked. Russo was commended for his work in preventing a major wreck by H. R. Allen, chief surgeon the Speedway. "I want to commend Russo for gallantry and for being a real good aport," Dr.

Allen wrote in his official report of the mishap. Shaw and his mechanic were Injured et the 165-mile mark when his car skidded while roundinr the northeast curve. Shaw's car crashed over the retaining wall and was wrecked. Dave Evans, in his Diesel oil-burner, narrowly missed Shaw's rarer as it shot over the wall. Goes Over Wall.

Tony Gulotta'a Hunt Special, In third place, went over the wall at the northwest lurn near the same spot where Arnold and Richards smashed up. The speeding car tore away a large section of eight-Inch concrete wall. Cummings wss Injured In the last fifty miles of the race when his car kidded and a wheel broke. He was driving Deacon Litz's car. Fred Winnai and his mechanician also were hurt early in the rare when their car darted over the north, east turn and pinned them in the wreckage.

Winnai, who was close behind Shsw, attempted to slow down after Shaw's car had hurdled the same wall, but he lost control. Shaw was driving Phil Pardee's car. Pardee turned the racer over to Shaw soon after the start of ihv race because he aaid It was unmanageable. Treated at Hospital. Other persons treated at the emergency hospital and their injuries were Jack Goldbery of Gary, scalp Injuries suffered in resisting an officer; Al Goldbery, his brother, bruises; A.

C. Pillburry of Los Angeles, member of the Speedway contest board, sprained ankle; Buddy Boles, 453 East Tenth street, mechanic, lacerated finger; J. Chambers of Columbus. mechanic, burns about the hsnds; Mrs. Elo Schock, Rush-ville, R.

R. 9. minor injuries; George Rarkin of Philadelphia, minor Injuries; Joseph Thiesing, R. R. 7.

Indianapolis, wrist injuries; Albert Smith of Pottstown, mechanic, burns about the right arm; Wilbur race fans. Society turned out in all its glory, and rich and poor alike rubbed elbows while they paid homage to their speed god. State officials, leaders in the financial world, city fathers and state and local politicians were seen in the grand stands and the infield presented its usual crowded picture of automobiles packed fender to fender. Unlike former years airplanes were absent from the infield. Speedway rules this year' prohibiting the landing of aircraft on the reservation.

While the crowds were awaiting the starting flag, aerial stunts were performed by numerous aviators to thrill the spectators, and the Detroit News autogiro flew over 'the track, attracting the attention of the crowds. Crowd Awaits Decision. Eddie V. Rickenbacker, wartime ace and president of the Speedway Corporation, waa the center of eyes preceding the race, while the spectators anxiously awaited the decision as to whether the race would be run on Memorial day or rain would fore postponement until tomorrow. W.

D. Edenburn. official representative of the contest board of the A. A. with his checkered coat, which rivaled the checkered flag that meant victory to Louis Schneider, and T.

E. Pop My era. general manager of the Speedway, were busy about the track all day. The crowds in the grand stands represented the citizenry of most states of the Union. From Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky.

Michigan. New Jersey, Wisconsin they trekked to Indianapolis for the running of the annual speed event Mingling inconspicuously with the crowds were a number of nationally known leaders in the automobile industry. These included Harvey Fire atone, president of the Firestone Tire Company; L. P. Fisher, presU dent of the Cadillac Company; C.

P. vice president of General Motors: Vincent Bendix, president of the Bendix Corporation: Thomas P. Henry, president of the American Automobile Association, and W. G. Bryant, president of the Detroit Auto Club, all of whom were guests of the Speedway management Other notable visitors included Edsel Ford of the Ford Motor Car Company, Maj.

Gen. Conget Pratt, commandant of Wilbur Wright field at Dayton, Gar Wood, noted motor, ooai racer, ana Jimmie Doo-little, former "crack" army flier. but now in a new field of quality I wtve said, "The and the price re STRAUSS SAYS- This photograph was taken by K. M. Murphy, passenger la a Curtiss-Wrlght Flying Service plane flown by Capt.

H. Weir Cook, the company's Indiana manager, at the end of the first lap in the 500-mlle Indianapolis Motor Speedway IV.ce. It can be discerned that the racing ran are still rather closely grouped. Capt. Cook said his plane was about one thousand feet up when the photograph was taken.

The camera waa pointed northwest to include the straightaway and the grand stands as well as a large ortlon of the infield. CIELEBRAYDN TOE YH BIRTHPAy IF "Just a Tough Break," Says Arnold Describing Crash That Cost Victory Driving Champion, Through Puffi From Cigarette, Thankt "Lucky Start" He Eicaped Flaming Car, A 3 CARD MONTE GAME COSTLY TO OPERATOR John Stevens of Terra Haute came here yesterday "to make a little money" at three-card monte. But while he waa manipulating the cards at 3 o'clock yesterday morning near the Speedway gates, Sergt. John Eisenhut and squad arrived. The policemen were in plain clothes.

They observed Stevens playing the game on a soap box and making beta with persons in the crowd. Stevens was arrested on charges of operating a gaming device and vagrancy and $75 in cash and three cards were confiscated, "There was more oil on the track than there had been in all of the last six races," Gulotta asserted. "I hit the turn at a good clip. When my car got away from me, I thought it was nothing. Then just like that it bounded over the wall." 1- Dollans of Bedford, appendicitis attack; Mrs.

Emil Hajck of St. Louis, knee Injuries; Helen Bornemar, 1617 Wilcox street, scalp injuries caused from flying glass from a broken windshield; S. B. Packer, 248 Central avenue, left wrist cut on barbed wire fence; Frank McCoy, 2626 North Illinois street, heart attack; Raymond Witt of Columbus, minor injuries; Miss Helen Brown of Clinton, ptomaine poisoning; Bill Denver of Audubon, relief driver, left eye injured; Alice Moran j)f Columbus, sprained ankle. Others Hurt.

Raymond Dunberg of Evansville, hand cut on barbed wire fence; H. F. Miller of Evansville, hand cut on fence R. C. Pierson, 5505 Washington boulevard, toe injuries; James McDonald, 1805 Montcalm street, mechanic, tight hand burned; Sid Foster, 227 West Washington street, right knee cut; Edgar Hearne of Madison, Speedway guard, finger cut Paul E.

Steele, 2101 North New Jersey street, lip cut on barbed wire fence. Survivor! of the Brink boy, In addition to his parents, are three brothers and two sisters. They are Richard Brink, Harvey Brink Charles Brink, Lavonne Brink and Betty Jnne Brink. Funeral arrangement a have not been made. Th boy had lived In Speedway alt his life.

POLICE GET SAD NEWS FOR VISITORS AT RACE Indianapolis police yesterday were asked to locate, because of illness or death In their families, three visitors who came here for the 500-mile automobile race. The sister of a man named Johnson, who is accompanying Vern Sinclair of Hartlnes. has died at her home. Johnson is believed to be stopping at a tourist camp. Relatives of Mrs.

Elsie Peterson of St. Joseph, reported that her mother was injured critically ii an accident. Mrs. Peterson is believed stopping at a hotel here. Mrs.

Earl J. Kane, 630 West Chester street, Washington. askaJ that her husband be located and informed thst their two uiildren are seriously ill of diphtheria. Kane is an automobile accessory salesman. in the pits was Fred Duesenberg, veteran Indianapolis automotive engineer and race manager.

Mr. Duesenberg has managed a Duesenberg team since 1912. He hasn't nniiued one since that year. In the pits he is as calm as if he were aitting at a drafting board. Stop-watch in hand, i he keeps a mental record of what is going on out on the During the last hundred miles of the race he signals his drivers on almost every lap.

This year he hud his blackboard and three large colored cloths one red, another white and the third blue. "Well," said Mr. Duesenberg when Jimmy Gleason came In sixth, completing the Duesenberg showing for the day, "I guess that ends it for me." He has announced Uhat he will not participate actively in racing again. "I suppose, though, I'll dub around with somebody, I've been at this racing business so long, you know," he added. There was a pathetic note of regret In his voice.

Mr. Duesenberg said he thought the race might have been different if the rain hadn't interfered. "Some of the cars changed their places while the yellow flag was out, and they weren't supposed to." One driver. Phil Shafcr driving a Shafer Eight, was reprimanded by A. A.

officials for passing another car while the yellow Hag was flying. The yellow Bag is the signal that the track is dangerous and that drivers should slow down and maintain their positions. Guards who watched the pits were kept busy excluding persons who had no business there. Some of the subterfuges for gaining admittance to the forbidden territory were ludicrous. There was one chap who had obtained a photographer's pass somewhere.

This would admit him to the pits. To carry out the idea nrom- inently displayed tiny ve3t-pocket earners. It a big a the photographer's pass, which he wore on his coat lapel. Rabbits9 Feet, Lucky Sevens, Snakeoil Just So Much Bologna to Louie Meyer Give 'Em the Gun, You'll Get There All Right, Barring Old Man Jinx, Sayt 1-2-3-4 Driver, Rabbits' feet, lucky sevens, snakeoil and -so forth to the contrary, automobile racing is Just so much pushing on the accelerator and keeping between the fences to Louie Meyer, A. A.

A. champion of 1928 and 1929, who, as relief driver, yesterday brought his own entry, the Jadson Special, from fifteenth to fourth place in a rollicking, strictly characteristic Meyer speed exhibition. At the Meyer camp while prepara-1 about 130 miles an hour and one of tions for the race were going on, the superstitions and beliefs of the crew formed an interesting cross-section of the preliminaries. Dislikes 1 as Number. Riley Brett, old-time racing figure who designed and built the Sampson Sixteen in which Meyer started the race, naa a reeling" tne car wouldn't get any place when Speedway officials handed them No.

7 for their entry No. 7 as a prescription is bad medicine in Riley's opinion and if any one had been seen parking his child or fiancee in the driver's seat well, take it from Riley, they'd have a new engineer or they'd never get in the race. That's worse than walking under a ladder and Brett says he haa aeen the worst happen too often after such apparently unimportant performances. But you can't talk with Wilton Crow, Meyers riding mechanic, about anything that brings good luck, unless it's rabbit's feet. Before he started East from the coast a month or two ago with the Meyer-Brett duo, Crow says, his mother fcave him the good luck omen to carry in the race and if there's nothing to the notion Crow will aak why both he and Meyer didn't meet physical disaster when their car kissed the cement retaining wall when Meyer hurtled into a turn -doing DON'T FORGET THE PIT CREW! Speedy Work by Mechanics Gets Driven on and Off Track in Nothing Flat.

BY DONOVAN A. Tt'BK. "Just a tough break, that's all." With these words Billy Arnold dismissed his crackup at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday that cost him victory and the gold and glory that goes to the winner of the speed classic. The 29-year-old Chicago champion of the race tracks was Injured seriously when his Miller-Hart Special was in collision with a car driven by Luther Johnson on the oil-soaked southwest turn of his 162d lap. Had 4 Lap Lead.

Arnold was leading the race by a four-lap margin, well on his way to his second consecutive victory at the Indianapolis track when his trim white racer was struck by the Johnson car. The American driving champion turned philosopher as he lay propped up in an ambulance entering tha emergency hospital. Soothing his painful Injuries with abrupt putts from a cigarette, he told about his successful brush with death. He told about watching his expensive race car go up in smoke in one breath and "thanking his lucky stars" in the next that he wai thrown clear a moment oeiora burst, into flames. Thinks of Mother.

Still puffing away on his cigarette, Arnold was removed to the X-ray room at the hospital. He admitted later that he smoked to allay fears of his mother concerning his injuries. Mrs. Arnold was at tha hospital gale when the ambulance rolled up. Spider Matlock of Los Angeles, Arnold's riding mechanician in the 110-mile-an-hour dash against death, described the accident that cost them the $20,000 first prize money, while lying on a hospital cot nursing a dislocated shtuldcr.

"The Richards Special smashed into us as we were tsking the northwest turn at about one hundred and ten miles an hour, one or our wheels buckled, we skidded along the curve for a few seconds and then went over the inside fence. It all happened very quickly," Matlock said. The mechanic blamed the oil-soaked bricks for the smashup. Lucky to Be Alive. "The track was so soaked with oil that it was almost impossible to control the car on the turns at any speed.

We were lucky to get out alive," he commented. Anthony Gulotta, driver of the Hunt Special in third place, who went over the outside retaining wall at the same spot a few minutes later, also declared that the heavy coating of oil on the bricks was responsible for the accidents in the last half of the race. M'NAMEE AT "MIKE" FOR 500-MILE RACE For the benefit of those who were unable to attend tha 500-mile race yesterday, the last hour of the classic speed event was broadcast over the WEAF network of the National Broadcasting Company under the auspices of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. The broadcast was originally scheduled to go on the air at 2:15 o'clock, but due to rain and a wet track it was not heard until 4:15 o'clock. Graham McNamee, NBC's ace sports announcer, presided at the microphone and Introduced Harvey S.

Firestone vice president of the sponsoring company, who spoke on business conditions and the quality of his organisation's tires. In the oast the broadcast, In addition to that of the NBC network, also has been sponsored by local newspapers over WFBM and WKBF. This year the newspapers were prohibited from broadcasting the event. WKBF, however, wss linked to the NBC system for the broadcast jes-tarda? -r mains tlit taine'and it was a fact. This ytar its such an inspiring (act that we state specifically that these new Service Oxfords are now in the $8 class in leathers and construction in Fashion! in fit.

and in comfort. his front wheels slipped on a ba nana peel or something, resulting in a lot of spinning and considerable damage to the car. Omen Not Bo Hot to Him. Brett, however, couldn't figure much luck out of it, as he had had the car ready for the pole position and for the race and was anticipating several days of easy sailing with victory aforethought. There's nothing lucky about an extra week's work, day and night, but that's racing, says Riley.

But Louie? Ach, Louie A race is a race and you can't make anything else out of it. He came here in 128 listed as unemployed; the day before the race he and Alden Sampson, his backer, got a car and he won the race: the next year he nearly won, but came in second; last year, bad luck kept on his trail and he came In third, and yesterday well, for the benefit of you folks who didn't know who was spinning that No. 21 around the turns, learn about Relief Driver Louis Meyer. He came in fourth. Four startajt four finishes 1, 2, 3, 4 just like that, Just give 'em the gun that's all.

If they've got the stuff and Old Man Jinx doesn't get you, you'll get there all right, rabbits' feet, lucky sevens, snake oil and so forth to the con trary; just give 'em the gun, says iouie I 8 51 41 31.. I 81 71101 61 9 84f Spcl. 8 61 3 4 2 2-1 1 ..10 910 8...... 8 7 .1. .1.

.1. .1. .1. .1. .10 I 31 710 0 7 61 .6, 6 4 366J2j2J (10! Ji Sj.Sj 21 2 Si JJ.6J 6 IJ.

"BIG TEN" LEADERS IN RACE. The following chart shows the drivers and ears in the 500-mile race who were among the ten leaders at the various fifty-mile sta tions of the long grind Ntw advance lasts for fall and for prtstnt wtaringl For strotf, busi-ntss for univtrsity and sports. BY RALPH I. BROOKS. Loui3 Schneider won the race, but Don't forget the pit crew.

Even 8chneider's brilliant driving would have been futile if he hadn't been backed by an efficient crew of mechanics. Tire changes so quick that ycu couldn't time them ithout a stop watch: refilling the gas tank In nearly nothing flat those are two important things the pit crew does. Then there are spark plugs to he manged, minor mechanical difficulties to be overcome, and all in the tatting of an eye. One driver we won't mention his name caught his pit crew unawares when 'he needed a tire change. He pulled up to his pits.

Imagine the chagrin of the workers there. There T-as wild gesticulating, quick orders. A jack was grabbed by two frantic men each pulling in an opposite direction. The driver made a gesture of may and pulled back onto the track. After two more laps he returned to his pits.

Needless to say that tire really was changed. And how! The driver finished in the money. The crew manager Is a member of the pit team. While the driver takes th applause and the glory and much of the credit of winning or placing In the money, he would be helpless without the crew manager. As the driver roars round the track he can't have much of an idea how the race is going, or just what his position is.

or just how he ought to drive. The crew manager supplies all this information. He keeps his drivers posted through a system of code signals. They either are printed slumbers, telling the position, or other information the driver ought to have. 4 Races are won, or loft, in the pits, barring, of course, unavoidable occurrences such as wrecks or mechanical breakdowns.

"One of the most picturesque figures No. -Driver and Car. iaiSlii3 Is a a i 1 Arnold, Miller Harts 1) 11 1 1 1 a Cantlon, Harry Miller Special 7 3 Cummings, Empire State8pcl 2 2 2.. 4 Snowberger, llussell 8 6 8j 7 SI 5 9 8 7 Sj 5j Special fij 4 3 8 7 4 4) 3.. 16 Brisko, Brlako-Atklnson D'.

CIaalo)GInlV i Comptrt After; All Thcro 17 Gardner, Nutmeg State Special. 9... IS a Difference 19 Hepburn, Miller Special 21 Stevens, Jadson Special 2 3 Schneider, Bowes Seal Fast 25 Triplett, Buckeye Special 27 C. Miller, Marr Special. 28 Bergere, Elco-Royale Special.

31 Bost, Empire State Special 33 Gleason, Duesenberg Special. Models of dignity or the ''dossier" types in favor with the young fellows. Special ''Doctor Arch" Oxfords of Kangarool 34 Frame, Duesenberg 36 Stubblefleld, Jones-Miller Sped" a' Gulotta. Hunt Special 67 Johnson, Blcharda Special.