Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-10-12
COACH TRIAL A FAILURE
Van ierbiIt Could Not Break the
New York-PhiIadelphia Record.
BLAMEs IT ON POOR ROADS
palN Arrived at The Holland Ho1 2, New
York, al 1872 O'Clock This Morning
Three Hours ana Two Minutes

New YosE. Get i0.--Young Alfred
&. Vanderbilt made miserable failure
Of his attempt to break the coaching
record from New York to Philadelphia
and back. The coaching party arrived
at the Holland House, the destination,
at 1872 o'clock this morning, which
was hours and minutes behind the
scheduled time.
The members of the party were
unanimous in blaming the failure on
the condition of the roads. Mr.. Hyde
said they had been greatly hindered
on the trip from Trenton to Philadel-
phia and return by the poor roads in
Pennsylvania, particularly between
Trenton and Bristol. The New Jersey
roads. he said, were very much better
although they were not the equal of
the French roads. Mr.. Hewlett also
said that the Pennsylvania roads were
vey poor and that this accounted for
being behind schedule time.
Accompanied by jones II. Hyde and
Morris e Hewlett, Mr.. Vanderbilt left
the Holland House at 5.55 O'Clock
yesterday morning. He expected to
be back at 1890 o'clock last night af-
ter drive of nearly 200 miles. The
millionaires made the trip for fun,
but they all put in the hardest days
work of their lives trying to break
record. All three took turns in driv-
ing. Each one drove four horses
about SIS miles at smart clip. The
-. - Ixt,, 10, t,,1r
were as sore as defeated pugilist's
after hard battle. For over 20 hours
they were under q constant strain
which even the enthusiastic receptions
they met at Philadelphia and at Tren-
ton failed to make any easier. Over
eight hours of the journey was made
after nightfall Mr.. Vanderbilt did the
major part of the night driving, and
in this his automobiling experience
stood him in good stead.
Seventy-two horses were used in the
trial. Over little more than half of
these were trained to four-in-hand
work and were practically green. 1t
was figured that at each point min
ute would be lost in changing horses
and more than this was lost, the driv-
ers say this morning.
1t is safe to say that the millionaires
will not soon forget the reception
which met them when they drove up
in front of the Hotel Bellevue at Phila-
delphia yesterday afternoon at 3.21
o'clock, which was then SO minutes
behind time. Both sides of Broad
street were packed with an enthusiast
tic throng and fully 10000 PEOPLE
cheered the party
SO dense was the crowd that when
Mr. Hewlett got upon the coach to
turn it around the police were almost
compelled to use their clubs to clear
a passage. Under the skillful whip of
Mr. Hewlett the turn was made as
sdaintily as woman turns in a waltz
step A great floral horseshoe of
pinks, roses and violets from Larry
Mccormick was handed up and slowed
away Grooms ran about overlooking
buckles and straps to see that all was |
well. AT 1927, six minutes after ar
rival, Mr.. Vanderbilt picked up the
russell reins, the others of the party
clambered aboard Vanderbilt cried
stand aside, please!" swung his
whip over the tanks of the leaders.
and the return race against time was
begun
The end of the race was most ex-
citing. At Jersey City the Pennsyl
eaasa railroad had placed a special
ferryboat at the disposal of Mr.. Van
derbilt, The party dashed down Elk
change place going at full speed, and
into the ferry house without drawing
rein. The pace was not even slack
enea to make the turn into the gang
way leading to the boat, and it was
not until the wheels hit the decks
of the boat that the leaders were
checked.
Mr., Vanderbilt did not seem dis
heartened at ais failure, and said this
morning that he would keep on trying
for the record until he had succeeded
a.. c,,, a 9 hf,, o. ~