Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-13
AutOistSt Start
On Long Trip.

New York. Feb. 1.-THE six automo-
biles contesting in the New York TO Paris
race started from Times square. AL
day. cheercd ty several thousand people.
Accompanied by more than 800 motors
of all descriptions the racing machines
made their way up Broadway and River
side drive to the city limits. where they
turned north on the road to Albany. From
that CITY the route to San Francisco.
which Is the objective point of the first
stage of the trip, lies across New York
state to Buffalo, thence through Cleve-
land and Toledo to Chicago. Omaha.
Cheyenne, Ogden, Reno. Goldfield. San
Luis Obispo and San Francisco Mayor
Mcclellan was to have given the word
to start, but was delayed and Colgate
Hoyt of the Automobile Club of America
took his place.
All traffic In the peighborhood of Times
square was stopped half hour before the
start. Automobiles clogged the intersect-
ing streets and lined the route for many
block up Broadway. A band in the off,
cial grand stand played the anthems OF
tie nations as the cars lined up for the
start. A pistol shot sent the contestants
away amid the cheering of the people and
the hoarse hooting of hundreds Of auto
mobile horns.
The contesting cars are the uueerest
lot OF looking machines ever designed for
motor purposes. With their heavy equip
ment of stores and camp utensils several
of them were modern representation
Of the old prairie schooner. One resem-
hled a hook and ladder truck with long
running boards on either side, equipped
with axes. slovels, ropes and 4 dozen
other articles.
Three French cars, one German, one
Italian and orc American started in the
race. Three men constituted the crews
of tie foreign machines, but there were
only two in the American car. The French
cars were stecred by G.. Bourcier st. Chat
fray. NJ. GODDARD ard NJ. Pors: the Ger
man car by Lieut.. Kocppen of the Prus-
sian army: the Italian car by Antonio
ScarfoGlio. and the American car by
Montague Roberts. All of the machines
carried the flag of their own nation and
that of the United States.
. From six to nire months. it is believed,
will be consumed in the race. All the
drivers are confident of reaching their
Alaska and Siberia. Steamers will trans
port the machines from San Francisco
to Valdez, Alaska, ard from Nome to
East Cape, Siberia, across Eehring strait.
Poughkeepsie, y. Y, Feb. 12.-Of
the six automobiles entered in the
New York to Paris race. which start
cd from New York today, DeDion and
Zust cars passed through this CITY
early this afternoon, to make Albany
before night. The Protes fGerman) car
arrived at $50 tonight and will not
leave until morning. The Moto-R Bloc
and Sizaire- Naudin (French) cars are
somewhere between this city and
Peeksklll and have not been reported
up to a late hour tonight. The Thomas
tAmerican) car was the first to ar
rive here. making the trip from New
York in three hours and So minutes.
Philadelphia. Feb. I2.-The three French
auto,nobilists who lef New York 3ester-
day on Journey from New York to Paris
via Behring strait, arrived here at A. NJ.
today They reported that they broke
down last evening about % miles north
OF this city and their delay in arriving
here was due 10 the breakdown.