The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-09
PERILOUS TRIP FOR AUTOETS.
STORM IN CATSkILLS MAKES EN-
DURANGO CONTEST A HARDSHIP.
Only One-Tiiird Of the starters Complete
the los Miles Run-One Car De-
strSyed by Fire-Hail. Rain and Wind
Ada to the TribuiatiOns Of Contestants.

Add to the TribuiatiOns Of Contestants.
BINoHAMToN. N. Y. Oct. The second
day Of the automobile endurance contest
from New York to Pittsburg witnessed what
the most experienced automobiles declare
to be the most extraordinary achievement
In the way of endurance ever accomplished
anywhere. The day brought suffering to
all engaged in the run and 1t brought deep
woe to many who hoped to do great things.
+ The run for the day was one Of i05 z miles.
from Pine Hill to Binghamton, through some
of the highest and widest parts OF the Cats
kill Mountains. where good roads are I'M
known. The last straw was added by
heavy hail rain and wind storm. This made
the negotiation of the distance feat as great
as some that have passed into history.
The conditions can best be characterized
by quoting Fred Nickerson. who ran one
OF the pilot cars He said that he has
travelled through the Rocky Mountains in
December, January and February. but never
knew of such hard going there as he saw
to-day. In spite of these conditions. ten
had reached here by 10 o'clock Tonight
OF these nine were touring cars and one
runabout.
The cars then in were: No. s. Webb Jay
White; No. 40. d. J. Wurgis, Oldsmobile;
No. u, c. l.. Shppy. Arrow; No. 10. G. W.
No. 2, Bert Holcopb. Columbia; No. IS. F. B.
Stearns. Stearns: No SO. A. L. Riker. Loco
mobile; No. 4. George s. Waite. White. In
Mr.. Riker's car Mrs. Riker. the only woman
in the rum had ridden at his side these two
days 1t was day Of accidents and tribula-
tions. the two pilot cars that scatter the
confetti scent being the only ones not late at
the night control.
The worst mishap reported 10 the burning
of a franklin car near Delhi IL IL not known
whether Il. L.. Winter. John Wilkinson or
WI II; Bex was the operator, The e. car =
The commonest story Of mishap was that OF
being stuck in ditch. The car Of NJ n:
Winters had to be pulled out Of ditch BY
recently made record over these roads.
was dragged out of another gully by fellow
Tie car of F. B. stearns came in with
the front axle bent, These things hap
pened to the cars that have finished, but
the fate Of those stu out is unknown Many
fears entertained here for the safety OF
the men, for the day, has been a perilous
o Iesb jay w shs nearS sH' Whs
he left Pine Hill. No. 49, F.. 7, Fetch, arrived
at lO45.
ing after they had stood in an open field all
night in heavy rain. Two OF the three
cars that were, still out when last nights
F. L. Thomas, in the Fredonia that ran into
l.. L. Whitman on Wednesday morning. ar
rived at ll30 o'clock.
and that caused his delay. {. a., Gather.
in Fredonia, got in at I:I7 o'clock this morn
ing Being later than m mic 1ro ne %Ss
till O'Clock, this morning. A damaged
connecting rod caused Gathers delay, The
third car missing last night, the, Holly OF
IN The " troubles Of the day began before half
the had da ne Re roe
was over succession OF submits. The
dirt mountain roads said by the natives TO
be BECAME not SSn psd deu but
chimes 81 the biggest horse power. decliyties
and big pools we're not the worst features
% r The machines Machines skidded from side to side
them could be, regained. As the road often
along Lag % arG9 OF Weps
# pas sss said to
have required horses to drag them out. The
farmers helped TO push machipes up many
OF the hills
The weather and roads were so bad that
the automobilsts were not bothered by meet
ing horses The kindness Of the farmers
was surprising; They seem to have been
converted TO the motor car ana han u az
remarked to THE Sun man that The coming
OF the automobile means the coming of good
roads
All those that were in the severe endurance
run of 1901 to Buffalo. when it rained most
of the week. agree that this is much more
severe task The Gn hG p0 stch mo and
J., L; Whitman say that what they enc9 nnl-
SS eS YorE. When i stormed during their
biz journey they did not have to go on
In the morning. when some OF In; the car. cars
darker, the wind increased to gale and
possible to see The roSd During g tn this st, storm
the side OF the road. and he sought shelter
under a porch. Unadilla. siyty-two miles
from Pine HILL was the appointed place for
AZ o'clock only fifteen of the hir:y-three
cars had arrived there The i rst car 70 get to
nadlla was ina, Of ,be1 D. steaTns OF CIeo
The car in which the New York newspaper
men are travelling had passed twenty con,
the various hills were seen the stones with
which the wheels of cars had been blocked
to keep them from running backward, and
where cars had skidded into the gully on
the roadsides.
soon after leaving Pine Hill. and during the
first twenty miles ofSthe day four cars out OF
the twenty-four that started ahead OF the
newspaper mems car were found stalled
by engine gear or tire troubles. The mud
got into every working part, The manu-
faCturers and others in the run are COM
plaining with show of justice that the con-
test is not "A reasonable one because no car
would ever be called upon to travel 100 miles
a day over such roads and in such weather,
II certainly was unreasonable to ask that
it should he done without any stops being
made The spirit OF esignation set in yes
terdny and the competitors did not strnin 80
l.,,I and taE u a n
stop II was seen that no one would make
n perfect score and il became motto TO DO
the best you can and don't worry,
The observers on the cars we're allowed to
20 indoors to eat to-day The roads from
here to Buffalo are better than those passed
over, and from Buffalo to Cleveland the going
il fine From there to Pittsburg more roads
ms bad as those Of the Catsklls will be en-
countered Although the run rs now very