The San Francisco call., 1906-04-16

mobile enthusiasts Of this country, is
at the Palace, having arrived here
from Los Angeles on Friday in his Dar-
racq auto. after a four days adven-
turous trip from the City Of Angels.
Mr.. Nevin is accompanied by his
mother, Mrs J. L Nevin: his sister and
A F. King.
The party started out from Los An
geles for this city Tuesday morning at
10 o'clock The sun was shining
brightly. and the roads for the first
few miles were in fine condition. AS
they approached Ventura, however. the
roads became rough and very muddy.
When they came TO the Ventura River
they found that stream somewhat
swollen. but as there was nothing to
DO but go on they decided to make the
attempt TO pass through.
Nevin put full power on to the ma
chine, and succeeded in getting half
way across the river when the water
sWashed up TO the carbureter, and the
machine came to a sudden standstill
IN the middle Of the creek Nevin wad-
ed out into the stream and tried to ad-
just matters. but IL was no GO" The
quito was there stuck fast in the mud.
The occupants looked around and won
dered how long they would have to
wait there before they could get as
sistance. They knew they were miles
away from the nearest farmhouse.
Suddenly bevy Of lovely girls on
horseback appeared upon the opposite
bank, and TO them the luckless automo-
bilists appealed for help.
Their appeal was not in vain, for two
OF the girls Immediately volunteered to
ride three miles up the road for assist
ance. They soon returned. bringing
with them some road hands with two
sturdy draft horses. A long rope was
made fast TO the auto and after a
great tugging and a pulling the ma
chine and its occupants were hauled
oUT Of the river and landed high and
dry upon the bank
1t required but a short time for
Nevin 10 get the auto into working
order. and he started speeding north,
among the cheers of the girls on horse
back and the shouts OF the rescuiRg
crew.
The tourists sailed along sv7iumincl1-
for a time-that is swimmingly as far
as the muddy roads would permit It
had been their intention TO reach Santa
Barbara before nightfaIl, but when
they We're within about six miles of
that city they ran into q great land
slide This brought the party to an
other dead halt The landslide covered
the road for distance of half q mile.
On one side was a steep mountain cliff,
on the other a deep gulch running down
70 turbulent stream that gushed and
gurgled at the bottom Of the ravine.
All hands got out of the auto and a
counsel was held. II was getting dark
and cold as well. There was no chance
20 turn back and the only thing to do
was 10 try TO make an attempt to get
around the slide. The ladies of the
party proceeded first, and as they went
along helped straighten out a path for
the machine by rolling some of the
heaviest rocks down the bank into the
raVine below.
Nevin then started the machine The
wheels on the left side of the auto
grazed along the very outer edge Of the
roadway, while the right wheels went
humping over the rocky slide OF the
hillside. The wheel fairly crawIed
along. and every minute of the way
Nevin was prepared 70 see the auto
slide down the cliff. and kept himself
In position TO jump should such an
eXigency become necessary. After a
hard hours struggle the machine was
got over the slide and then sped
sayly into Santa Barbara. where they
arrived shortly after p. m.
On Wednesday the run was made
from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo.
During the run they encountered a
great deal of sand and the roads were
muddy. As they approached Los Olivos,
where they lunched, all but one Of the
four cylinders went out of commission.
occasioned by an accident to the com
mutator.
On Thursday the run was made from
San Luis Obispo TO Salinas, and as the
party missed the road twice and had to
cross down a precipitous gulch from
where bridge had been washed away it
TOOK them eleven hours TO make the run
OF $50 miles On Friday they made the
run from Salinas TO this city Between
Salinas and San Jose their tires were
puDctured four times. The run up from
San Jose TO Oakland was made in one
hour and twenty-five minutes. The party
all express themselves as having greatly
enjoyed the trip up, despite the accidents.
This is the fourth machine that has
maoe the trip up from Los Angeles since
the recent storms that have PLAYED such
havoc with roads and bridges in the
southern part Of the State.
Nj Nevin viii leave this morning with
his party for the Grand Canyon Of the
Colorado In Arizona. After a short visit
there Mrs Nevin and daughter will pro-
coed directly TO their home in Pittsh1,rg
and Mr.. Nevin and Mr. King will return =,
10 this city Mr.. Nevin is now having the
tonneau Of his machine taken of. He ex-
poets TO return here on THURSDAY. and
then will start south for Los Angeles on
Friday. He has had the tonneau removed
so as TO tighten. the weight of the ma
chine, as on May ! he will start for a
trip across the continent He intends
making the run direct from Los Angeles
70 New York.
He viii attempt to make a fast trip. and
II possible viii try to reduce the present
record Of forty-eight days between the
Pacific and the Atlantic.
Mr. Nevin bought his machine in Paris
in 1905, and made an extended tour of
Europe with IL at that time. In the fan
OF that year he brought the auto to
America and toured the Eastern States.
Last summer he took the car to Europe
again, and with four OF his classmates