The San Francisco call., 1906-10-22
BY e. e. I.Etona1,edieu.

6H f<- f<s l-IEOf11T11S0lSG
To break the automobile record be-
tween here and Los Angeles Tony
Nichols started for the third time at
Frank. The start was made from a
garage on this side of the bay.
The second attempt. made Saturday
night, came TO a sudden ending at
Belmont Nichols had started promptly
al 10 p. m. Bob Fowler was on the
front seat, while in the tonneau were
Herbert Smith and 4. Harris, the tire
men. They cut out a killing pace
from the start and made splendid time
to a point below Belmont when the
engine refused TO work. The distance
had been covered in fifty minutes.
Taking the engine apart, 1t was
found that the two-to-one gear on the
crank shaft that works the cam shaft
had broken in two. This was a most
peculiar accident, as the gear has
hardly any strain on il at all The
work that il has to do person could
accomplish with his fingers. This gear
was made Of bronze.
As soon as the nature of the trouble
was ascertained Tony r'hiked" back
10 Belmont and called up the Office.
In the meantime the watchers in the
ONCE were figuring that the car must
be almost TO GilrOy- While they were
discussing about where the car should
be a call came from ,siIroy, asking if
the car was coming through. Gilroy
Was told 10 be on the watch. The tele-
phone had hardly been hung up when
Tony came in on the line and told of
his troubles and there was a hustling
around headquarters TO get him an
other part Not one was carried in
stock. The only one that could be Sc
cured was on another car. AS soon as
the necessary part Of the gear was
taken out a party jumped into a wait
ing automobile and started for the
scene of the accident.
Donald McCord and The Call repre-
sentative made up the relief party
They took McCord's little twelve-horse-
power Franklin and started for Bel
mont
WILD NIGHT RIDE.
This began one Of the widest rides
that has ever been taken. 1t was 1:45
a. m, and there was hardly person on
the streets and no vehicles. Every
thing went smoothly until well out on
Mission street, when one of the rear
tires was punctured and the next sec
Ond the rims that held the tire went
in every direction. After hunting If
teen minutes only two Of them were
found. and it was decided to return to
headquarters for another car. 1t was
fierce riding home on the rim of one of
the wheels. but chances were taken,
and IN q very short time the two were
out on the road again with another car
trying to make up the lost time. Ruts
bumps and every other obstacle were
taken at top speed. A speed Of over
thirty hve miles was hit up and held
the whole distance.
CAMPED By THE ROAD.
After leaving the Fourteen-mile
House the next place to appear was
Burlingame. then came san Mateo and
then Belmont It was known that the
record breakers" were but a short dis
tance out OF town. Suddenly. Just
ahead, a little light appeared. and be-
fore those carrying first aid TO in
5ured" realized it they were abreast of
IT, Tony and the others were found
waiting the arrival of the gear They
had made fire, around which all the
-drones' clustered while the crew of
the racing car worked putting on the
new gear. After the gear had been put
in place fl was found that the casing
would not TT, and IL had to be taken
TO a power-house near by, where. luck
lily, lathe was found and a slight
trimming made
In the meantime the others around
the campfire discovered Tony's lunch
basket, which ne had put aboard before
he started. passing milkman was
lAuNcto 10 sell a Dlg can OF milk. which,
with Tony's lunch basket, supplied
quite a meal When the crew returned
from the pOwer-house they found all
hands had dropped OF for q few winks
Of sleep. About this time the nrst
streak Of dawn commenced to appear
in the east. and by the time the cap
was fitted il was daylight
Then came the return ride home II
was too early for any one to be up. so
il was clear driving all the way. The
cars were put TO their fullest capacity
OF speed. IL was a beautiful ride as the
sun came up over the hills
II was too late in the day tost1-x~ 10
make another start, but last night al 10
o'clock the car was sent away aeafu