TOLL OF SPEED

Evening Star, Issue 22465, 9 October 1936, Page 1

TOLL OF SPEED

CAR IN FLAMES DUKE OF GRAFTON'S FATE flung from 11is racing car into a. trail ot blazing petrol after a crash in the recent Limerick international Grand Prix, the 22-ycar-old Duke of Grafton tried in vain to walk to a stretcher. His clothing teas burned off, and he was suffering agony, but he remarked to rescuers, “ I am all right. 1 am not too bird.” A few hours later ho died in hospital, and the story of his heroism was told at the inquest at Limerick. Mr C. O’Donnell, of Limerick, a road marshal, related that the duke’s car, when rounding a bend. leaped into the air. It skidded wildly and crashed into a wall. Immediately the car became enveloped in llames, which rose dOft, and ran for 50yds. Mr Albert Bennet, another road marshal, described how he found the duke lying 4ft from the car, surrounded by flames, and with his clothing burned off. Ho extinguished the fire. The duke was conscious, and remarked, “ 1 am all right. 1 am not too bad.” He then tried to walk to a stretcher, but failed to do so. The Rev. B. Ennis told the coroner he was standing at the corner of Sexton street and saw the duke’s car go over a bump on the road while taking a turn. The vehicle went into a skid and the driver mad© frantic efforts to keep it on the road. Ho failed, and the back of the car hit the wall.

Dr W. O’Sullivan explained that the duke was suffering Irom extensive burns about the body and legs, but was conscious. Death was clue to shock and heart failure, following extensive burns from petrol. CAUSE OE FIRE. Mr S. Robinson, chief engineer of the Irish Motor Racing Club, who examined the duke’s ear immediately after the accident, stated that he formed the conclusion that the back of the car, containing the petrol tank, struck the wall first. The petrol spilled on to the red-hot exhaust pipe, and this, in his opinion, caused the lire. The car would bo enveloped in flames. He had examined the car before the race and found it in perfect condition. Recording a verdict of “ accidental death,” the coroner, Mr J. H. M'Neice, remarked that the duke was a great sportsman, who, despite the severe pain lie was suffering, never offered a word of complaint. His loss at such an early age would he severely felt. The coffin containing the body was taken to Dublin, on the way to England by the night mail boat, immediately after the inquest. The duke’s mother, Viscountess Ipswich, and her’ husband. Major Gavin Hnme-Gore, travelled back with the remains. .FATHER’S TRAGIC DEATH. John Charles William Fitzßoy, ninth Duke of Grafton, descendant of Charles 11., was the son of the lato Viscount Ipswich, and succeeded to the title in 1930, when he was 15, on the death of his grandfather. He was a cousin of Captain Fitzßoy, Speaker of the House of Commons. The duke’s father was killed in a hying accident in the last y-ear of the war. Educated at Harrow and Cambridge the duke had always had a passion for speed. Six years ago lie was slightly injured when a new motor cycle ho was riding skidded. He was a member of the Cambridge Gliding Club, and last December passed his tests as a glider pilot. In March last ho took part in his first big race at Brooklands, and also entered his 2J- litre Alfa Romeo for two of the mountain handicaps there. The duke is succeeded by Captain Charles Alfred Euston Fitzßoy, eldest son of the Rev. Lord Charles Edward Fitzßoy, fourth son of the seventh duke. The new duke is 41.