Curious Letter - Fisher Correspondence

This is a copy of an original letter dated May 1, 1939 and written by Harry D. Hartley of 4051 Washington Boulevard, Indianapolis. This gentleman was researching the location of three antique stop watches imported from Switzerland by Carl Fisher, Frank Wheeler and a Milton O. Reeves. The letter is a curiosity in that I question its factual accuracy. Among its claims is that Fisher, Wheeler and Reeves staged an auto race on an Indiana horse track in 1894 as a benefit to a Mrs. Webb, the caregiver for a group of orphaned children. The meet was reported to be a strong success, with some 11 automobiles competeing. Ticket receipts exceeded the fund raising goal for Mrs. Webb and the three men celebrated by ordering handmade $1,000 stopwatches from Switzerland.
 
All of this information is suspect. First, I am not convinced that Fisher and Wheeler even knew each other at this point. While it is true that Fisher, who was 20 in 1894, had owned a successful bicycle shop in Indianapolis since he was 17, he did not become seriously involved with automobiles until 1900. There is no evidence that Wheeler was a part of the Indianapolis scene until 1901. Prior to that time, he had spent most of his time in Iowa and California. Granted, Wheeler and Fisher did eventually partner as co-founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Arthur Newby and James Allison - but that didn't happen until 1908 when they bought the site for the track. Finally, the automoble as at best a nascent technology in 1894. There was a "race" in France that year, and that country was the world leader in automotive technology at the time. The idea that eleven automobiles could have gathered in Indiana at that early date stretches credulity. However, a central point of the letter is the claim that Reeves of Columbus, Indiana, had built an automobile during 1892-93.
 
One point of interest: When this letter was written, Carl Fisher was deathly ill and would pass away less than three months later on July 15, 1939.
 
Aside from all that background, the letter is a curiosity and if anyone knows anything about this story or the undoubtedly marvelous stopwatches, please comment.