2 Plus 2 Plus 3 Plus 6 is 13

1915

They Give Barney Oldfield Badge 2,236, and He Broke Rod

The number thirteen is not popular with drivers of racing cars, and it was noticed that no car at the Astor cup race bore that number. And thirteen did not appear on the official score board.

Barney Oldfield had badge number 2,236 given to him quite by chance. An hour or so before the race W. Bob Holland of the speedway publicity department was talking to Oldfield, and he noticed the badge number.

"You have a hoodoo number, Barney," he laughingly remarked.

"What's the matter with it?" asked

"Add the figures together," said Holland.

Barney turned the badge up. "Two and two are four and three is seven and six is thirteen," he said slowly. He eyed the badge suspiciously for a moment, shrugged his shoulders, and remarked: "Oh, I'm not superstitious; I guess the badge is all right."

An hour or so later Oldfield completed six laps, twelve miles, in the race for $50,000 in prizes. While negotiating the thirteenth mile the connecting rod of his car broke, and he was out of the race.

—Saturday Blade, Chicago, Dec. 18, 1915, p. 8.

Hoodoo Too Much For Columbus Girl

1910

Shoots Herself After Dining at Table With Thirteen

Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 25 — Miss Mary Hollenback, 18, if she recovers from a bullet wound in her left breast, will probably have more respect for the hoodoo number 13. The Hollenback family held a housewarming at their home on the North Side. Members of the immediate family were present and when the time for dinner came it was found there were 13 present. Mary was the last to seat herself at the table. "I don't care if there are 13 here," said Mary. "I can't believe in luck anyway."

Shortly after the conclusion of the meal Miss Hollenback, while examining a revolver belonging to her brother, accidentally pulled the trigger, the bullet hit a corset stay, was deflected and entered her left breast, inflicting a serious but not necessarily fatal wound.

—The Mansfield News, Mansfield, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1910, p. 2.