The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-09

was only few hours behind the Protos.
In fact they caught the Protos on the
eastern shore OF Lake Baikal. I'll luck
was theirs again. for. as they came
upon Koeppen and his crew, they found
the German machine loaded for the trip
across the lake, while Il lacked just
four minutes OF the time OF departure,
and they were forced to wait twenty
four hours for a boat. IN spite OF this
they csme into Irkutsk. on the western
shore. two hours after the Protos had
left, and started again nine hours be-
hind the Germans.
Catches Protos At Tomsk.
The Thomas made exceptionally good
time from observation-disclosures Il Irkutsk,
arriving on June q, making 20 miles
in forty-eight hours, and cutting down
the Protos lead from two days 70 two
hours. The necessity OF waiting for gsso-
| Iene coca stoned another delay, which
| increased the Protos' lead TO nine hours
The German Protos, however, arrived at
| Kansk, half way between Vladivostok
and Moscow. and 5s5 miles west OF 1rk
utsk. on June a. with the Thomas
about 100 miles behind.
The Thomas left ITkutsk &c p. m.
on Sunday. June p, and after race
unequaIed in the history Of AUTOMOBILE
ing. overlook the Protos at Tomsk.
Ferry Sinks With Machine.
The American cars trip was full of
misadventures and numerous delays
from Irkutsk The ferry between two
villages sank with the car. and many
hours were lost in extricating the ma
chine.
Leaving Tomsk the Protos again got
away in the lead. and owing 10 long de-
| lays in obtaining gasolene, the Thomas
was again compelled 20 follow, but by
superhuman endurance. caught aIIu
passed the Protos just before reaching
Kansk. on June 80 The flying Ger
mans were oyertaken after . most dis
couraE ing che Sc; the Thomas getting
away from Tomsk fifteen hours after
them. reaching Kansk at p m on
Monday. June 30. struggling tnfougn
twenty miles Of fog and mud after
short rest OF FIVE hours.
Leaving Omsk on Wednesday at
D. m the Thomas ran thirty miles to
the Irish river. which il crossed sue
cessfulIy It then encountered a swamp
a mile wide, the road showing only oe-
casionally above the water.
The road in places had been covered
with straw to prevent wagons IroId
sinking The ferrymen warned Schus-
ter OF the depth OF the swamp be-
meath, but he persisted in refusing TO
be stopped by any obstacle, and pro-
| ceeded.
Break Down In Siberian Swamp.
The car SET out and was almost across
when the rear wheel broke through. the
straw, striking a log and sinking 20
the hub. The Thomas began 10 emp
into the swamp and schuster opene-i
wide the throttle to get the machine
back into the road The strain, how
ever. was too great and cracked two
teeth OF the driving gear. leaving the
car unable to run. With the assistance
Of the local blacksmith they. however,
repaired the gear so that the car could
proceed at slow speed, arriving I'm
Obansk on Thursday, July g.
obansk is many miles OF the e OF
the Trans-Siberian railway, W, n the
car was supposed to follow, and congtd-
erably to the north OF the railroad The
car Travelled about 763 miles at an av-
eTaee of about 80 miles a day since
leaving Marienovka. The German Pro-
tos was left considerably behind on the
road between Omsk and Obansk Leav-
ing Obansk. the car raced on TO Viatka.
where it was delayed FIVE days through
the breaking OF the gear which had been
repaired at Omsk. The Thomas at vi
atka was about 500 miles east OF St
Petersburg and the Protos at Kasan.
about LOO miles from St. Petersburg.
porfes In prSs;a
The two cars left the main line Of the
railroad shortly after leavin~ Obansk,
reaching Ekaterinburg. to the south Of
the railroad. just before crossing the
Siberian line, both thus picking out the
same point to cross the UraI Mountains
into Europe, but taking a different route
from that tirae on. the Thomas head
ing north through Perm. where It pick
ed up the northern branch Of the I'M
periaI Russian railroads. going direct to
st. Petersburg, while the German
chose the more southern route. going
through Mini Novgorod to Moscow and
thence to st. Petersburg, placing the
Thomas at Viatka slightly IN the lead
of the Protos at Kazan. in tho race 10
st. Petersburg. The fact that all the
contestants were 10 check in MOSCOW.
necessitated the Thomas making a long
detour 10 the south TO check through
Moscow. thereby losing three days.
On Tuesday. July p. the Thomas ar
rived at Moscow at 4 a. m. and left In
pursuit of the flying Germans one hour
later. The car had lost several days on
the road. losing its way through inabil-
ity to make the Russians understand
the sign language, and though the Ger
man l>rotos had left St Petersburg for
Berlin, schuster was hopeful of over
taking It before il reached Paris. and
gave little heed to the almost broken
down condition of the men with him,
but with an energy that brooked no OBJ