The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-11
SPORTING NEWS
A New York Auto Makes q Re-
markabIe Trip.
Over Three Thousand Miles
Without a Break.
HELD UP AT ONE TIME.
Highway man Took a Shot at the
Flying Machine.
Grand Run From New York to
st. Louis and Return.
HELD UP AT ONE TIME.

New York. Aug. If. a. La Roche
driving a Is horse power car, reached
the Automobile club at 1883 a. IN. Five
minutes later he stopped the engine.
which had been running without eessa-
ton for 10 days and ? hours. During
this time Mr.. La Roche and Lieutenant
A lie Blanc. its engineers, had driven
the car to st. Louis and back. covering
s.S14 miles.
The. outward-bound journey started
on July 25 at 9.44 a. m. in conjunction
with the great St. Louis tour. The
route taken was by way of Albany
Buffalo. Cleveland and Chicago. St
Louis was reached at midnight on Sun
day, July 81 After a three days rest
the journey was resumed by way of the
national highway to Wheeling, w. Va.
and thence to P1ttsburg, and then Phil
a0elphia to this city. -
The run was officially sanctioned by
the A. A. A. H. H. Everett and Norris
NJ. Mason. as official observers, were
with the car every minute OF the time,
resting or running, and certify that the
motor never stopped once
Mr. La Roche reached Philadelphia at
o'clock at night. Twelve cars, bear
ing members of the Automobile club OF
Philadelphia, escorted him out of town
at midnight and Is miles on his way.
In the car with him were Lee Strauss,
and H H. Everett, of this city, and ).
S. Shaw of Philadelphia.
They reached Perth Arnboy at 2:30 a
m and waited for two car loads of New
Workers. to meet them They crossed
TO Tottenville in special ferry boat,
so that the motor might be kept run
ming.
with American flags, and behind foated
the tri-color banner of France Both
flags and banner had been given to Mr..
La Roche by the French commissioner
at b.
As the motor was stopped a hearty
cheer was given the nonstop, record
breaking car and its driver Mr. La Roche
then registered at the club
During the long Journey, wnich inctuueo
rocks and through Sand and mud. the
only breakage was leaf of a spring.
Only three p4nctures TO the tires We're en-
had to be renewed once
Mr.. La Roche drove fully three-fifths of
Lieut. lie Blanc. slept In the tonneau
about one-hfth of the way; At other times
they took their rest In sleeping cars or
hasty maps at hotels
There were two narrow escapes from
countered bank OF red clay. from which
they slipped and were Obliged to. reach
IN. S-oad again by laying a track of fence
At another point in Ohio they backed
into a grass coveFeds xeH, so that the car
they used fence rails as tracks, running
the rear hubs on them and so reaching
solid ground once more
Three miles out ofsaFoledo they were
held up by a highNayman- a lantern
was swung across the road and as they
slowed up the man jumped in front and
let them look down the two barrels OF a
shotgun. While Norris Mason parleysd
with the man and fUmbIed with his mon
ey La Roche threw on full power The
car leaped forward. The man jumped TO
one side and escaped,ubut fired a shot
after them without effect,
The cyclometer went out Of commission
at the Columbia Fishing club on Staten |
island this morning. At this point 1t reg
istered 3 800 miles. The distance from the |
fishing club to the Automobile club is Il
miles. roughly estimated. The official /
cyclometer readings with the correct dis |
lance added will appear in the report of
the official observers to the A A A.
The best previous nonstop record is /
credited to D. NJ Weigel. who scored FL
01T miles early in June of this year