PROBE IS STARTED BY CORONER KOONS TO DECIDE CAUSES

County Official Says He Will Begin Speedway Investigation This Morning.

NO ONE IS BEING BLAMED

Drivers Declare No Real Fault Can Be Found With Track.

MADE SLIPPERY BY OIL

O'Donnell Tells of Difficulty in Making Turns Late in the Race.

Coroner Claude H. Koons announced last night that he will make an investigation into the causes of the accidents at the speedway yesterday.

The investigation will begin this morning and will be directed mainly towards discovering whatever truth is in the reports that the cars were allowed to go upon the track with a plank, swollen by the recent rains, sticking above the restof the floor of the track. It was this plank, the coroner was told last night, that caused the blow-out of the tire in Joe Cooper's machine, which resulted in the fatal plunge over the top of the saucer.

Coroner Not Notified.

"The law requires that the bodies should not be removed until I am notified," the coroner said last night. "Of course I could hardly ask that the bodies be left upon the track but I was not informed at all of the accidents until 9 o'clock tonight -- hours after they had occurred. I was then told that Cooper's body was had been taken to E.E. Samuels' undertaking parlors at 565 Seventh street without any authorization for such action by me."

"I visited the Samuels institution and found it had been moved. Later I found the body had been taken to Lilly Brothers' morgue at 549 Sixth avenue. It took me more than an hour to find this out."

Did Not Attend.

"I did not attend the races as I had been asked not to by the officials of the company. I was at the Sunday matinee two weeks ago and was told that if the drivers would learn that the coroner was in attendance they would probably consider his presence a hoodoo and refuse to race."

"I was later informed by J.C. Myer, living in the 300 block on Thirty-fifth street, that when the race began there was a plank in the speedway floor near the north end of the grandstand, which was raised above the others, due, probably, to the recent rains. It was this plank, my informant said, that caused the blow-out to Cooper's machine, which was the cause of the car plunging over the top of the saucer and causing Cooper's death."

To Make Inquiry Today.

"I will find out early this morning what truth there is in this report. If I find it to be correct I shall base my investigation upon it. Otherwise I shall find out why the management did not inform me of the accidents as they are supposed to under the law. I was at home from 4 o'clock in the afternoon until I was notified at 9 o'clock. I stayed at home so that I could be easily reached should an accident occur."

"I have learned of nothing yet that appears to show negligence or poor construction of the speedway that had anything to do with the second accident, which caused Keeler's death. I was informed of Keeler's death shortly after it occurred, as I was already working on the other case."

Drivers Praise Track.

No blame was placed on the track or its construction for the accidents which marred the opening of the Des Moines Speedway yesterday afternoon by any of the drivers. The only suggestion for bettering the track was made by Eddie O'Donnell, who said that at the turns he found the saucer narrow at times.

"Let me congratulate you, Jack." were Ralph De Palma's first words on getting out of his car at the finish of the 300 miles. He walked towards John L. Prince, president of the Speedway company, with his hands outstretched, "It's one of the best and safest tracks I ever raced over."

"I found nothing at all wrong with the track except at the turns," said O'Donnell. "A few more feet might have made it safer, but neither of the accidents was caused by the track construction. The track did get slippery from the oil towards the finish -- almost as slippery as the Indianaplois track in the 500 mile race. For that reason it was discretion to slow up on making the turns where I thought the track was a little narrow.

Saw Tire Weakening.

"Of course Cooper went over before the track was oily and his tire was enrirely responsible. I was following him and noticed the treads of the tire fly off about two laps before the crash came. I expected him to pull into the pits, but he seemed to be willing to chance it with the tire worn. When I noticed that I thought it wasn't the safest place for me just behind him, so I speeded ahead. A little later I saw where someone had gone through the railing. I watched for Cooper on the next few laps and saw almost everyone else, so I decided Joe must have been the one who had had the accident. Then it was confirmed at the pit."

"I knew before the race began that the railings around the top of the track would not keep a machine from plunging over, as the management believed. I have gone through steel railroad rails used in such positions, and I was sure that wooden one would not hold."

Says Boards Warped.

"I believe the condition of the track was responsible for Cooper's death," said R.A. Bennett, of Sioux City, owner of the "White Six", which finished seventh in the race. "The boards in the speedway seemed to have been warped, making a high place at the point where Cooper plunged over. I noticed when the racers passed here there was a considerable jar. When the machine struck this high place, the drivers sometimes were raised off their seats. It is very likely Cooper lost control of his car when he struck this defect."

Dr. J.J. Flannery, who attended Chandler and Keeler, also declared that he believed the recent rains had warped the track. "I noticed when the cars passed over certain places in the speedway they seemed to strike high places. It looked to me as if there were bumps in the track. My attention was called to this particularly in watching De Palma circle the speedway. There were times when he seemed almost to be lifted from his seat."

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