The Somerset reporter., 1906-07-26
Glidden Tourists Pass Through
Town

Early yesterday morning large tour
Ing car passed through town leaving be-
hind it trail of yellow confetti leading
down Madison ST., across the two
bridges, turning at the Wooden Mil, and
from there down the river road to
Waterville This was the advance
guard of the Third Annual Tour of the
American Automobile Association, and
was laying out the route for about
seventy cars which were to leave Jack
man at : o'clock on their way TO Water
Vile OF this number about thirty of
the cars are In the contest for the Gid
den Cup and are running under strict
regulations as given In last weeks RE
PORTER while the remainder of the
cars although following the same route,
run as they please.
Shortly after 10 o'clock the first
patrol car, which none of the contest.
ants for the trophy were allowed to pass
on the roa, d pulled up at the entrance of
the first bridge, the location designated
in the guide book of the Association as
the place for the Skowhegan Checking
station. After looking the place over
the two officials decided that on account
of the sharp turn before reaching the
bridge it was best to establish the stat
ion at the lower end of Madison ST., in
order that the drivers of the contrasting
cars might see the flag of the checker
in plenty of time to stop before crossing
it.
During the next hour several of the
cars that were simply touring passed
through town, and about II the regular
checker arrived at the station in the 90
b. p Packard racer owned by George
W. Beach, President of the Automobile
Club of Hartford, Conn. He immediate
ly nailed large black and white check
ed flag to nearby telephone pole, and
sent the first patrol car along towards
Waterville.
The first of the cars entered for the
Glidden Trophy, car No /, As h. p,
Appleton, owned by n. Il. Van Sicklen
of Chicago arrived at the checking
station at II 20 with 40 minutes to spare
on the run from Bingham. Special men
ton must be made of this car as it is
Que of the four cars in the contest for
the Glidden trophy owned by private
party, and the only one among the con-
testants that is not driven by pro-
fessional chauffeur. 1t has been the
leading car on each days run. and up to
date has maintained a perfect score.
The car is occupied by Mr.. and Mrs.
Van Sicklen. his son who drives the car,
the tiancee of the latter and her sister.
Soon after the arrival of this car, the
great machines followed one another at
intervals of several minutes apart, pre-
senting a picturesque sight as they
came rolling down Madison street, each
one stopping a few feet behind its pre-
decessor, until at noon there was line
reaching from the checking station to
the Bethany Baptist church. On the
arrival of each car, every driver was i'm
mediately on the ground inspecting his
car to the minutest detail, filling gaso-
line tanks, oiling up, to have everything
in the best of running order when the
time should come for them to check in.
Almost invariably one of the occupants
would make dash for nearby restau
rant, returning laden down with sand
wches and coffee.
Every one of nearly dozen drivers
interviewed by representative of the
Jackmsn down, praised our Maine
roads in a most enthusiastic manner,
stating that in all the 1900 miles that
they had driven over since leaving But
falo they had encountered nothing,
which for good roads and beautiful
scenery, could compare with the TO mile
stretch from Jackman here through the
wilds of Maine. At Jackman the party,
with the exception of few who were
fortunate enough to procure hotel &C
com mod ations, passed the night in
tents, but as the night was warm and
pleasant they suffered no great incon-
venience from their camping experience
rather enjoying the novelty.
Just before noon the engine was
started on Mr., Van Sicklen's car and the
car drew up to the starting flag, where
it waited with engines running, to check
in. Just as the noon whistle blew, the
starter gave the word, the driver threw
in his clutches, and in few seconds the
car was whizzed out of sight across the
bridge on the run to waterville. At
intervals of two minutes apart the con
testants were started. and by half past
one, all of SO cars remaining in the con
test had checked in, and were on their
road to Waterville There were 10 cars
to leave Jackman with clean sc ores, and
Is of them checked in at the Skowhe
gan station promptly on time, the un.
fortunate car being a Cleve land owned
by w. II. Owen, which lost two points
on the road down on account of six
punctures.
1t is said the vslue of machines and
outfit aggregates about $500, 900, putting
the fixtures very conserVatvely. The
entire line, starting as they are required,