New-York tribune., 1901-09-10
AN AUTOMOBILE TEST ON LARGE SCAIF
SEpEN11SEpEN MACHINES START FOR BUFFALO-HIL
CLIMBING FEAT NEA PEEKSKILL MOST SEVERE IN HIS
TORY OF THE AUTOMOBILE, WON BY MR BISHOP

The Plaza at Fifty-ninth-st. and Ffth-ave. has
seldom presented animated scene than
it did yesterday when the automobile test
between this city ard Buffalo was started
promptly at s o'clock in the morning. Machines
Of every size description and motive power were
drawn UP in Fifty-eighth-st facing Fifth-ave
as early Z a m. There were motor bicycles
and big and little automobiles, ranging from
2-horsepower affairs 10 machines of 4O-horse-
power Singularly enough there was not a
motor tricycle. in the seventy-seven machines
nor there single quadrcycle
The test is conducted under the auspices of
the Automobile Club of America and is in no
sense race, only given number of miles
will be travelled each day and those who sur
vive the trip the rough roads are not ex-
pected 10 arrive in Buffalo until Saturday. The
racing portion Of the programme will take place
on September 70 on the fine bit of macadam be-
tween Erie and Buffalo. a distance of one hun
dred miles
Thousands of people collected at the starting
point and other thousands watched the process
sion of horseless vehicles all the way to Pough-
keepsie, where the first leg of the long Journey
was finished and where the enthusiasts passed
the night. To-day the will be between
Poughkeepsie and Albany. while on Wednesday
the stop for the night VIII be made at Herki-
mer. which is 242 miles from this city. Thurs
day the survivors will continue TO Syracuse On
Friday the itinerary calls for a run Of frac-
don over eighty-seven miles. the distance be-
tween Syracuse and Rochester. From Rochester
10 Buffalo the distance is sixty-nine and half
niles. which will make the total mileage between
this city and Buffalo little over 464 miles
The machines were started from in front Of
the Automobile Club house 1T intervals OF five
seconds. the machines first in line having
precedence. w. Fl. stearns the starter
and he sent them off with G simple Cor OF
the seventy-seven machines every one started
as soon as their drivers put their hands upon
the levers. except one and the delay in that
case was only few seconds just time enough
10 allow two other machines to pass
The trip through the city Central Bridge
made at an even pace. The Police Depart
ment had sent out twenty-five members of the
bicycle police to see that the automo obists did
not travel through the city at greater speed
than eight miles hour. After passing
the bridge and to Jerome-ave the speed
increased. and of the machines fairly
hummed as they sped along the level country
road their drivers invariably slowing down
when passing through the different towns
their way TO PeekskiIl The machine controlled
by Bradford D. McGregor. who had A c. Bost-
wick companion. was the first to reach
Peekskn. arriving there at 10:ls o'clock. John
H Flagler was the second driver TO reach the
first stopping point at 1870 o'clock A. R.
Shattuck the president of the club, with Dunbar
Wright his guest. arrived seven seconds later.
The others came in twos and threes within the
next half hour. the majority In excellent condi-
ton Oscar Hedstrorn. on motor bicycle. met
with mishap near Ossining, the front fork Of
his bicycle swapping off and throwing him
his face. Three four of the lighter machines
found the hills too much for them and gracefully
retired.
After luncheon, which the dust begrined auto
inobilsts ate with huge appetites, the start
made for what is expected to prove the most
Interesting test of the entire tripthe hill climb
ing contest up Nelson Hill. Many a horse has
baked at this incline. and the hill is SO steep
that few wheelmen have dared to try to
make its summit except by walking. The actual
hill is about half a mile in length and the steep
est grade is about midway, where IL looks to
the naked eye like a 40 per cent grade but is
really less than 20 per cent. On q smooth. mac
adamized road this grade would not frighten
many owners OF automobiles, but Nelson Hill
winds and twists, has stones and powders of
all sizes strewn all the roadway.
One or the other side of the roadway is in
variably higher than it really ought to be-