The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-12
LONG RIDE IN AUTO.
C. H. Gaunt, Assistant General
Manager of Santa Fe Returns.
Enjoyed a Spin of Eleven Hun
dred Miles.
IN THE SAND HILLS.
PI0ughs Through Nebraska
DISTINCTIONS to Bridgeport.
Miring i'm a Cattail Swamp the
Only Delay.
IN THE SAND HILLS

Mr.. c.. H. Gaunt assistant general
manager of the Santa Fe railroad, has
just returned from a 1850 mile auto
mobile trip from Topeka to Bridge
port, Neb, and return. The trip was
taken purely a vacation trip and
outing, and although a good time was
anticipated before the start, it did not
in any way compare with the actual
experience. Mr.. Gaunt was accom-
panied on the trip by his son Harry.
On Sunday morning. June the 18th,
at o'clock Mr.. Gaunt and his son
Harry climbed into the machine, a
Smith surrey with the rear seat re-
moved and started for the nearest
road to the westward. They knew that
In attempting to make a short cut
through Nebraska, from the Platte
river, as was intended, was an unheard
of feat for an automobile. 1t was to
be through the sand hills and rough.
partially settled country in western
Nebraska, but that did not spoil the
prospect. The vacation was to be had
and driving the machine far as
Bridgeport, Neb.. and taking the train
to Helena, Mont, for two weeks fish,
ing would be just about as much as
could be expected.
The first days ride was through st.
Marys and then on to the northward
to Frankfort, where they stopped for
the night The days run was only Is
miles. but was through the hilly part
of northern Kansas, surrounding the
valley of the Blue river. The days
run would have been longer even then,
but for misdirection in regard to the
country between Emmett and Onaga.
The next morning the two men sped
on northward through Marysville.
Hanover, through Hollenberg and on
to Fairbury, Neb. At Fairbury Mr..
GaunG met a banker friend who was
going on westward. and accompanied
him. The bankers name was L. w.
Goodrich, and he had an Olds racer.
The next twenty miles was run at a
fearful pace. Mr.. Gaunt hung to
the rear tire OF the machine ahead and
have passed Goodrich but for the sake
of courtesy. Alexandria was reached
that night, where a stop was made
after a run of ninety miles for the
day.
The next morning the rain was pour
ing down in torrents and it was too
muddy to go at all, however, a little
later on in the day start was made,
although it was nothing more. They
reached Belvidere, a distance of only
ten miles from Evlexander, and remain
ed there until the weather had cleared
up somewhat and the roads dried out.
But they made up for the delay when
they did finally start. They made
Hastings before night. The next day
they ran on through Kearney, Neb., to
the Platte river. up along the Union
Pacific railway through Elm creek, Ov-
erton, Lexington, Cozad, across to the
south side of the river and then up to
North Platte for the night. That day
the machine covered a distance of TIA
miles, in a running time of 1011 hours.
On the next day, they cut loose from
the main beaten trail and made across
the prairies. This was done against
the best advice, on account of the bad
condition of the roads, and only a
marked trail that was in bad state of
repair. Nevertheless the attempt was
Of the fTanGC0nfinanfal MT made
to Lodgepole, where the beaten track
of the transcontinental aetoiste made
travel a little easier. The worst OF the
journey was not over, however, because
the great sand hills OF Nebraska lay be-
tween them and Dalton where they
wanted to stay that night. The at
tempt was made and after a hard pull
the machine got through and Dalton
was reached.
Bridgeport was to be the next stop
for them, but the way was the worst
yet. 1t was over hills of sand, through
draws. fording bitches used for irriga-
tion purposes, and the mud holes on
every hand, but Bridgeport was reach
ed and the distance covered that day
had been 1873 miles.
At Bridgeport. another banker friend
of Mr.. Gaunts by the name of John
Wehn, advised him not to try to go any
further. The roads were such as to
and SO the machine was put into the
garage and left. The only repairs that
had been made on the trip so far, had
to be made at Bridgeport. The rear
tires, which had been put on new the
day before the start was made from
Topeka had worn entirely through. al
though no puncture had been sustained,
and in fact no puncture took place dur
ing the entire trip.
The next two weeks were spent in
fishing in the Black Foot country in
Montant beyond Helena. The vacation
we only half complete when that was
through and the fun only half over when
the fishing trip was over.
The return trip from Bridgeport to To-
peka was begun at noon on July z. That
day the distance covered was "a miles.
The next day they tried new road and
in crossing a cat tail swamp on a soft
fill. the first catastrophe of the entire |
trip was encountered. The road was
wet, and the swamp had no bottom. |
The result was that the auto sank to |
the axle and then some. 1t was going
on down all the time. too. One team
that was hitched to the machine failed |
to stir 1t. even though the drivers were |
buzzing around and sending the mud |
flying everywhere. The second team, |
however, landed the machine on SOLE |
ground and after each grinning farmer |
had closed his fist on a five from MT |
Gaunt the spin was made to Gothenberg
for the night. July was the record |
day of the entire trip; 221 and Ito miles
during the daylight is the record. and |
II is q good one This included several |
stops. 1t was on this day that the only
casualties took place. One dog tried to |
stop the auto but didn't. and a chicken |
met a similar fate. Those were the only
fatalities, although one wagon tongue /
was in the repair shop when last heard |
from. 1t was also one of the same DAVIS
accidents. But that was all
The next night Mr. Guant and Harry |
were going to be in Topeka If the law |
would allow. II was long pull. but !
II everything held out it could be done /
MarysviIle was the stop for dinner and |
st Marys for supper. and at 7:1o the /