Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-01
BY ED. MORIARTY

AS Ralph Hamlins Franklin touring
car rolled UP Main street yesterday
morning and came to a standstill a
the finish cf the endurance route
around the kite" officials commenced
the long and tedious task of recording
final results entaied in the most sue
cessful endurance run of the automo
bile world.
Directed in mastery manner by those
In charge, Los Angeles automoblists
concluded two days journey which
involved every delight that may come
to the owner of a horseless machine
Reveling in the beauties of countless
scenic wonders, thrilling with the sense
of power that throbbed beneath them
In the hidden motors, experiencing the
delight of perfect mechanical effect and
then again encountering the pangs that
come with an obstinate refusal to ac-
cede to every demand made on the
chug wagons, local enthusiasts pos
sess a store of "reminiscences in keep
ing with such an affair as was brought
to a regretful end yesterday after
noon.
The endurance committee met last
night to begin work upon the officials
results which may not be ready before
Tuesday. Absolutely nothing of an
official nature has as yet been issued
and records appearing before final de-
cision has been made are to be ac-
cepted as unofficial The judges de-
clared last night that they would not
discontinue their labors until every
question had been decided.
The order of arrival had no bearing
upon the official Judgment.
The Franklins, the arrival of which
marked an initial stage of activity
around the official stand, reached Sew
enteenth and Main streets at Ills a.
M, having started from Riverside at
7:01 O'Clock
The first question which greeted the
Franklin passengers concerned the
whereabouts of Leon T. Shelter, who
as the pathfinder was known to have
left Riverside in advance of the Ham
lin car.
REQ Is Wrecked
With an axle smashed, lying in a gull
ley five miles north of Santa Ana, is the
REQ runabout, numbered one in the
list of one hundred and ten machines.
Travelling at terrific rate along the
road which stretches between Santa
Ana and Anaheim, Mr.. Shelter was
fairly eating the mileage.
Approaching a culvert the flying ma
chine leaped forward only to come in
contact with a loose board. The car
flew into the air and crashed to the
right of the road. AS the axle gave
way, the body of the REQ followed
suit, resulting in a general wreckage
Escaping without the semblance of
injury, Mr.. Shelter and his observer,
who had clung to their seats, cranked
themselves and under full foot power
arrived at Santa Ana with a perfect
record. The twain reached Los Angeles
via the first train which passed.
Ralph Hamlin, who followed, secured
the sack of confetti and acted as scout
for the remainder of the run.
Probably never before in the history
on the Glenwood hotel at Riverside was
such an early morning throng served
as that which gathered in the dining
room yesterday morning. The officials
had issued stringent orders that all par
ties should be ready to start on sched-
uled time and there was hurry and
scurry among the five hundred motor
lists who taxed the capacity of the
hostelry.
Nothing was to be heard but an end
less rendition Of experiences which had
occurred the day previous. The initial
stage was Travelled over and over dur
ing the morning meal, and practically
every incident which characterized the
run from Los Angeles to Riverside was
recited by some one or other.
Those who had reached the control
without a bad mark having been reg
istered' were on edge with expectations
that the final days run would result in
clear record for the entire tour
Start From Riverside
Promptly at 7:O1 the first car got
away and for nearly two hours a steady
stream of machines stole from the en-
closure and whirled along on the home- |
ward journey. Each observer was as
signed to different car than the one
in which he had Travelled from Los
Angeles.
With a knowledge that the most diff |
slower speed was maintained than that |
which marked the previous day. The |
smooth, dustless roads over which the |
cars whirled Friday gave way to face
begriming and rough highways.
Santa Ana canyon was the interest
ing point that all looked forward to |
with various degrees of Anticipation.
The perfect score drivers anxiously
awaited the moment when they should |
take the first hill which rises just af-
ter the entrance to the canyon is
rel.ched.
Beautiful In the extreme is the back
ground that lies to the right of bare
walls along which the painting ma
chimes travelled. Below lies the Santa
Ana river Deu, hedged between with
4 perfect mass Of foliage.
BY reason of the slower speed that
was maintained fifteen or twenty cars
Al times bounded in line toward the
which lay behind sharp
curve. In one instance ten machines
we're forced to crawl past an unfor-
Iunate party OF REQ occupants In car
No. IL, whose power went glimmerlng
rs the machine neared the top Of the
grade.
For a moment II appeared as though
/ general stall would ensue but ere
he following machines were forced TO
halt the obstinate REQ was backed