How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

New York: Burr McIntosh Studio, 1905. Photograph mounted to original card, studio blindstamp in lower right corner of photograph; studio imprint in gilt in lower left corner of card; contemporary typed card stapled to verso, "Both Driver and Mechanic Were Killed in this Wreck at Daytona Beach, Fla. 1905. Mechanic was Killed Instantly; Croker Died Shortly Afterward. Car was Built for Richard Croker Jr. of New York City." Chipping and small losses to edges of mount, closed tear in bottom of same.

An early and scarce Daytona Beach auto race photograph, showing the fatal wreckage of Frank H. Croker's (1878-1905) Simplex race car.

At the time of his fatal crash on the afternoon of Saturday, January 21, 1905, Croker was preparing for the Sir Thomas Dewar Trophy race, the top event at the third annual Daytona-Ormond Beach Speed Carnival competitions, held from January 23-28. While practicing the course at Ormand Beach in his 75-horsepower Simplex racecar he attempted to avoid a crash with motorcycle racer Newton Stanley, who was also using the course. Croker's car turned over several times after hitting a sand dune, ejecting Croker, and instantly killing his mechanic, Alexander Raoul, before coming to rest partially in the sea. Croker suffered critical head and body injuries and was taken to the Hotel Ormond, where he was cared for by numerous doctors, but died the following morning.

Croker was the son of Richard Croker, Jr., a one-time coroner in New York City, and leader of Tammany Hall and New York's Democratic Party. At the time of his death, Frank was preparing to compete in 15 races over the week-long Speed Carnival, and had raced the pictured Simplex for the first time the previous October at the Vanderbilt Cup race on Long Island. Over 8,000 people attended his funeral in New York City, including the Mayor, and several people from the Democratic Club and Tammany Hall.