Evening journal., 1908-05-18
AUTOS HAD GREAT
RUN THROUGH MUD
Frank |. COnnabIe Carries Off
iOnOrS in First Road
ability Contest
PHILADELPHIA WAS SECOND

Covered with mud from tire to top,
automobiles which participated in the
first roadability run given by the Del
aware Automobile Association, trailed
into town on Saturday afternoon after
run of 44S miles rom this city TO
Kennett Square, West Chester and re-
turn. Frank L. Connable. who drove
Franklin car. won't the event. his
time being three hours and twenty
niEe minutes, the exact time set by
the judges He was presented with a
handsome silver loving cup as a trophy
Of his victory.
Tho race was not to the fee tb,ut 10
the automobile that whose time in
negotiating the course was nearest to
the time set by the committee. This
time was based on a strict adherence
to the speed laws Of Delaware and
Pennsylvania. with an allowance to do
Justice to cars not possessing high
speed capabilities. Thus. while j. r.
Richardson's car made the fastest time
over the course. Mr.. Connable won be-
cause his car covered the course in the
time secretly set by the committee,
even though II was 62 minutes slower
than Richardson's time.
II. S. Lane. Of Philadelphia, won
second place with his Thomas run
about. covering the distance in three
hours and twenty-eight minutes. while
third place was taken by Robert S.
iGloverin a Maxwell touring car. his
time being three hours and thirty-four
minutes
Won Through Accident.
There were thirty-four entries and
all but two of this number finished.
Although the roads were not in the
best of cosdition. and bad mud holes
were found at frequent intervals along
the route. not an accident of moment
occurred to mar the race.
The winning Of the cup by Mr.. Con-
nable was virtually bv accident, as
when he was coming down the Concord
pike and upon approaching the first
toll gate he struck another car that
had stopped to deliver check to the
toll gate keeper. and the hood was
knocked off his car. In adjusting the
hood Mr.. Connable last several minutes.
This caused a delay of several minutes.
He had to finish with me hood off his
machine and the motor Of his car ex-
posed.
Mr. Lane was next closest 10 the
straight time set by the judges on the
straight run. With the exception OF
the breaking Of a chain along the West
Chester pike. Mr.. Glover in his Maxwell
car drove a beautiful race. He could
have made better time possibly, but
stopped for several minutes in Kennett
Square. West Chester and again Just
north of the toll gate above the Boule-
ward. believing that he was ahead Of
time
The run was started from the Court
House at POI o'clock and the cars fin
ished between three and five o'clock
at the same point. A far as Prices
| Corner the roads were found to be
good. but from there to the Lancas ster
pike they were in miserable condition.
After leaving the Lancaster pike and
all the way TO Kennett Square they did
not improve. Around Wooddale, Mt.
Cuba and Ashland several ba dhllls
were encountered. but they were over
come with but little difficulty. From
Kennett Square through West Chester,
and into Wilmington the course was
good.
Tho first car IN at the finish was the
Franklin. driven by William Stanisr
He left at 12Oi o'clock and returned
at 2.5S o'clock. making the circuit in
2.49.
Fastest Time.
The distinction of covering the course
in the shortest time went to the Nit
chell car of J. r. Richardson. driven
by Elmer Fisher. and carrying three
passengers. It went around the course
in 2 hours and 27 minutes. starting at
1885 and finishing at 302. The leg Of
the course from West Chester to Will
mington was made in "a minutes.
This car had an accident near the
tollgate on McKee's Hill. 1t struck an
other car and a rear tire was torn COM
pletel yoff. The Mitchell finished on
the rim, as the driver and occupants
refused to stop for repairs, as they
were so near the finish line.
The second car to arrive was the
Franklin touring car of John B. Bird
It left at 1902 o'clock, being one Of the
first to start, and finished at 3 O'clock
making the circuit In 2.2S.
Mrs. Eugene z. dupont was the only
woman contestant, she having entered
her Franklin runabout She started at
1928 o'clock and was driving the car
herself, but at Pennsylvania avenue
and Broome street chain on the gear.
ing borke, and the car was rendered
helpless Mrs. dupont was not daunt-
ed however and, waiting until her
husbands Thomas runabout came
along she got into it and went over
the course with him. Mr.. DUPONT made
the run in 2.4S.
DR.. John c. Fahey entered his Max
well and besides the doctor there was
DR.. Pyle and DR.. Fahey's son as pas
sengers. The extra weight was heavy
on the springs. and one Of them broke
in going over a rut. This did not in
terfere with the autos running, and