The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-13
BY G. A. FOSTER.

All the automobile world is agog,
watching. critically the progress of the
six daring contestants who left the
starting point at New York shortly be-
fore noon yesterday in the internal
tional automobile race to Paris via
san Francisco, Alaska and Siberia. 1t
is a race around the world as far as
land extends, a distance of $4,000 miles
over d course strewn with almost in
surmountable obstacles, foes Of ice,
stretches Of quicksand. leading through
climates freezing cold or scorching
warm. and over leagues and leagues
of dense wilderness that white man
may have never trodden.
Is it a physical possibility for the
six sturdy drivers at the wheel to en-
dure such long exposure, to survive
such long periods of hardships and
probably starvation, which seem in
evitable? Is it possible for the six ma
chimes to plough their way over that
long md dreaay course?
Manyg upon considering the passage
through Alaska and Siberia, have pic
tured their minds a few heaps OF
junk buried among the nov and ice
of The far North and a terrible fate
for the drivers, the result of the expe-
dition, but the men in the race are
steeled for the trial, and while blood
flows in their veins and there's a
''honk' left in their machines they will
stick doggedly to their task. For
what? For fame, for the name and
success of the manufacturers they
represent.
There is one American car in the
contest, a Thomas, manned by Mon
tague Roberts and Howard Brinker.
The other contestants are the De Dion
(French), G. Boncier, st. Chaffray,
Captain Hans Hansen and NJ. Autran
Monro-Bloc (French), M. GODDARD, M
Hue and M. Liver; Siznire- Naudin
CFrench), August Pons, M. Deschamps
and M. Berthe; Zust Qtalian), Antonio
Scarfoglio, Emilio Sitori and Henri
Haaga; Protos (German), Lieutenanl
Koeppen, Engineer Hans Knape AND
Engineer Ernest Mans.
Ncwarkers at the Start.
Evidence of the interest and enthusi-
asn centred in the showing Of the
American contestant was plainly shown
at the start yesterday, for not less than
1875 machines, f1uttering the orange and
black banners of the Thomas concern
participated in the parade, accompany
ing the contestants on the first few
miles of their journey, and a more i'm,
~pressive automobile pageant was
witnessed, not even in up~-to-date New
York.
In the parade were five Newark cars
owned by J. X. Hensler, c. G.. Richards
Ernest Berger and the Harry 5. Houp'
agency. Fred Titus, manager of the
local branch of the Thomas concern
was out IN one of the Newark cars, and
another was manned by George 7
Cole and John Prewitt. The Newark
ers, together with a host of American
enthusiasts from New York n other
titles, followed the racers as far as
Tarrytown. N. Y, the place made fa-
nous by the capture of Major Andre
in the Wal of the Revolution, and
there babe the contestants Godspeed.
Following are the main relays in the
race and the distances in miles:
New York to San Francisco by road
1900; San Francisco to Valdez, Alaska,
by boat, $500; Valdez to Nome, Alaska,
by road. 1000; Nome to East Cape, ST.
IBERIA, by boat, $50; East Cape to Paris
by road, 1t,450.
Two Of the French cars In the race
the De Dion and the Monto-Bloc, had
trouble with their engines on the first
stage of the journey and had to lay up
for repairs near Irvington-on-the-Hud-