A MOTOR CYCLE HORROR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 162, 26 November 1912, Page 6

A MOTOR CYCLE HORROR.

RACING AT 92 MILES AX HOUR. TRACK OF DEATH. The most terrible disaster in the annals of motor-cycle racing occurred at Newark, New Jersey, when "Cyclone Eddie" ITasha lost control of his machine while going at 92 miles an hour, and dashed among the spectators, killing six and maiming and injuring 2fl more.

Ilasha was smashed into a pulp against an iron post, but his machine, the wheels still spinning, rebounded on to the track in the path if another racer,, dohn Albright, who wns thrown from his cycle and killed. The fatal race was No. 13 on the list. It was over a distance of four miles, and six competitors had.entered. Ilasha had been unfortunate in some of the previous contests, and just before race Xo. 13 started he smilingly remarked, "I'll have to ride my head oft to win this race." The accident occurred at the moment when the excitement of the spectator* iras raised to the highest pitch owing to the tremendous speed shown by Ilasha and Albright, both record makers in motor-cycling. The track, which is in circular form, curves up at the sides, and the disaster was the result of an attempt on the part of Hasha to pass Albright on the up-side of the curve, just opposite, the grandstand, during the third lap.

Hasha, who was going at an estimated speed of ninety-two miles, began to overhaul Albright and to pass on his right side. He was racing up the.curve to pass his competitor, and was spen to bend down as if to adjust part of the mechanism, when he suddenly shot |up the banking towards the grandstand.

The spectators were standing in their seats cheering and urging; him on when suddenly the machine, in. full flight, leaped the flight harrier and dashed among the spectators, ploughing its way over bodies of dozens of people. WIFE JUST ESCAPES. .

Hasha was hurled by the imeptus from his saddle' and thrown "over the heads of the spectators who sat in. the iu'st rows, lie fell'iniihedia-telyln front of the seat which his wife, horrorstricken at the speed, had a moment before vacated, and he was instantly killed by impact with an iron post. The machine, after knocking down and killing and injuring spectators, rebounded, and dashing down-the curved bank; ing, struck the machine ridden" by Albright. The rider, shot'over his handlebars like a bullet from a gun, fell unconscious on to the track, 30ft -away. He died ou the way to the hospital, i Mrs. Albright witnessed Hasha's machine roll down the track, and saw her husband rushing to meet it, -arid, with a piercing scream, whichr. star/tied the/, speil-bound crowd, she fainted.. Many of the spectators had the presence' of mind to throw themselves ilat, and thus escaped more serious injuries, i The accident was over in a few seconds. With the realisation -of what had occur-1 red, the motor-drome became a pandemoniuin. Hysterical shrieks, ; shouts, ] and curses mingled with the groans of] the injured, as the mass of fighting men and women scrambled for and many were knocked down and trampled uader foot. There was a'hurried call for ambulances, and the dead l and dying were rushed to the Hospitals.-' Those most seriously hurt' were operatied upon immediately, and'some of thdni Were not expected to outlive the day.' ' '

The impression in New' Jersey is that motor cycle racing is destihed-xo follow motor car racing to the limbo "of forbidden sport. Just at present it is a national craze, and the leading exponents are as well known arid' as 'much" discussed as popular boxers. It is realised that a man risks a great deal'more in the motor-drome race tlia-ix' the' pugilist in the prize-ring. ,:: ' '' SPEED-MADNESS DENOUNCED. The county coroner says that there will be no inquest.: . ..What '.happened took place in full view of 3000 spectators. There was nothing, hidden or sus-' picious about it, and there ulid .not seem to be any reason to c,ens,ure; anyone. He could only hope that ,th,e speed-mad-ness which had taken hold,of.the country would be broken , and that these speed events would be.cut down or wiped out.

The track at Newark,measures o.niy a quarter of a mile in circumference, and was only opened on July, 5,- . .It ,is one of the many saucer' tracks which -have recently been built in the United, States to meet the demands.'.of.' the .American public for spcctatcular . rajces, In, the State 3 an average crqwdtfor, an.import: ant meeting is 60,000. ~ ■:, .;,,; ~,

Eddie Hasha, famous < in- .two .continents by reason of his brilliant riding, had the world's record:; .on, a /single track to his credit, having- accomplished a speed of nearly ninety-six, miles an hour on a saucer track■ iiiiAjiierjca. .. On July 29, on the track where, he met his death, Hasha.set up,-ne'w records for one and six miles, doing the.former distance in 38 2-osecs., • and - the latter in 4min 4 1-uscc. On the following day he beat his own six mites • .record,. by doing the distance in 4min dead—a speed of ninety miles an hour.. .• '■■'. ' i -

John Albright,- although not so well known as Hasha in England, was famous in America, and had recently scored some remarkable victories.; ■