The evening Republican., 1902-05-12
FAST AUTO
PASSES THROUGH

The automobile owned by Willis
Sharpe Kilmer, of Binghamton, N.
Y, which is one of the fastest in
the world, was in this city yester-
day. Mr.. Kilmer is the son of a
prominent patent medicine manu-
facture and his hobby is automobil-
ing. He passed through the streets
of Wilmington SO fast yesterday
that the police had to warn him
about his illegal spurts.
Mr.. Kilmer and party are on a
coaching and automobiling' journey
from Philadelphia to Washington.
They arrived in Wilmington shortly
before noon yesterday and stopped
at the Clayton House for luncheon.
Mr.. Kilmer was accompanied in the
automobile in the trip from Phila-
delphia by c. A. Hickey, and a
French Chauffeur. In the coaching
party were Mrs. P. P. Dunan and
Miss E. E. Ford, of Baltimore, Col.
David Lewis, &. Shaw, Miss A. G.
Ayses, c. B. Harmon and Walter o.
Moore all of Philadelphia.
Mr. Kilmer and Mr.. Hickey COW
cred the 80 miles between Philadel-
phia and this city in 78 minutes.
The machine is Of the latest type
of the French speed car, as perfect
ed by the celebrated Pannhard. Un-
like the American type, the motive
power is arranged in the front end,
directly in front of the chaffeur.
The engine develops 40 horse power
and is of the gasoline explosive
type. The auto is guaranteed to at
tain 70 miles an hour on a level
stretch of road.
On Saturday the machine travers-
ed 1 miles in 16 minutes, and made
G6 miles over rough roads between
Hackettstown and Princeton, N. j.,
in two hours and % minutes.
Mr.. Ki1mer took some of the party
for short spin along Market street
and Delaware avenue in the after
noon. The machine spurted along
the streets at rate of about 20
miles an hour.
Chief of Police Black noticed the
high speed, and instructed Captain
Evans to admOnish Mr.. kilmer
about the speed regulations in Will
miIgton.
The coaching party left the Clay
ton House at 4 o'clock, with blare
of trumpets, their destination being
Newark, II miles distant, where
they hoped to arrive at o'clock.
Mr.. Hickey and the Chauffeur started
at $40 o'clock.
Absecon, n. j., May 1.-THE
residents of this place are building
a fort to protect their lives and
property from the whirlwind auto
Willis Sharpe Kilmer,
from Binghamton, N. Y. The good
people have read of Kilmer's pub
lished threats to smash all records
between Camden and Atlantic City.
and send warning that if he attempts |
to rush through this place, he will |
have to storm fort or jump his |
machine over into the fields on eth |
81 side of the road.
The fort is in the nature of
heavy swinging structure, and red
lights of warning will be flashed a
nile up the road whenever an auto
mobile sorcher is seen approaching.
The Jerseymen of this section are
thoroughly aroused and are deter
mined to hold in check the million
lire ''scorchers' who care less for a
inc than they do for the rights of
|erseymen.
The recent record breaking run OF
Charles NJ. Schwab, the steel mag
late, so alarme ed the roadside resi-.
|ents that 2law was passed limiting
he speed of automobiles to te miles
n hour. But their stories Of the
'rcen Demon, OF the man from Bin
'hamton, have so aroused the pop
lace that it has been determined to
esort to more effective measures
han fines.
The patrol at Hammontown will
sleDhone the instant the machine
asses there, and If it reaches the
of this town ahead Of tine
he driver will be first warned by
cd danger signals, and then il he
oes not heed the barrier will be low.
red. 1t is calculated that the barrier
ill either halt the machine or il the
river persists in bucking it, wreck
le auto.
Willis Sharpe Kilmer and Party,
ho are on a Goa ching and auIom o.
ling trip from Philadelphia to Was
lngton arrived in Newark early last
'ening. The party stopped over
ight at the Washington House.
After dark several of the party
'ok skim around the town and
used Il great deal Of excitement.
being dark the lamps on the front
lrt OF the automobile were lighted.
The horses Of Newark were not
SC to such sight, and did not take
ndly to the big flyer. A horse own. I
by Arthur Draper became badly
ightcned fell down aud broke the J
afts and harness. Several other
rises also became scared at the
tOuUUie,