New-York tribune., 1908-03-16
AUTO TRIALS IN WILDS.
Florida Endurance Trip Hard on
Drivers and Reporters.
IBv re,erraph TO The tribune. |


Palm Reach Fla March 15.-"Senator'' William
J. Morgan. of New York. the promoter of the
Jacksonville to- Miami endurance race last week
distance Of 81 miles. is here for the motor boat
races, which begin Tuesday. He is already
making plans for the proposed race from New YORK
to Cuba by way OF Miami next winter.
The fact that two cars out of four starters
reached Miami goes to show that the run Is not
difficult reports indicate, if the official guide
book is closely followed. The third car was put
out of the running % miles before Miami was
reached owing to broken axle
Nevertheless the route led over a course that
offered almost every kind of obstacle for a contest
of its kind and the highest praise is deserving OF
the 10 horsepower Cadillac driven by DR. w N St'n-
son. of Jacksonville. which came in first In the
actual running time Of 80 hours and Is minutes.
The drivers of the had to travel over miles
and miles of deep sand, through swamps and fords.
dodge dangerous hidden stumps In the road and go
through prairies where the dried palmetto leaves
higher than the tonneaus of the cars and hid
the narrow path for most of the way For stretch-
of fifty miles the journey was through barren
places without even hut in sight In the villages
along the route the deepest interest was SHOWN
1t is generally said that the run Will be a sooo
thing for Florida, it will stir up more entht-
sasn for good roads The worst parts of the trip
were from Jacksonville to st. Augustine, dis
of 37.4 miles. and from Fort PIERCE 10 ram
Beach. a distance of 61S miles. The most oeiiSht-
full part of the run was from Ormond to Rock
followed for good part of the trip. and for me
first os miles after leaving Ormond the route was
a fine shell road. The last ts-s miles ironi
Palm Beach Miami were also over the best con-
tinuous stretch of hard roads OF the enre Journey
Two fords near Jupiter gave the party OF news
nanar men one a reporter for The Tribune. an eX-
rerepce that they will probably remember for
years Instead of driving through the middle o.
the lake where though the surface or the fnuo "h9
soft +he botton was firm Wheeler. the driver of the
{bec below
its hubs in mud. For three hours. until Darkness
called a halt the passengers worked. heavy rain
storm in the night made the pleasures or nome
more appreciated by those in the party who were
compelled to camp out. The cfug-chus OF tlaude
Nolan's machine was welcome music the following
morning He had been delayed by running his
car into the first day. and had driven day
and night in d effort TO catch the leaders
With the aid of Nolan. his guide and rnachinist
and the of crude block and tackle, the Peer
less car. after two hours Of hard work was nnahy
dragged the road The three hard bolleo eggs
all the food re1na ming when the car sank in the
mud and which saved for breakfast, were
contributed to the Nolan party.
Earlier in the oay the Peerless party came across
.IlIv" Tucker q Seminole Indian. in the woods
To his keen delight he was invited 10 take MS H's'
automobile ride.
.Bi1Iy' with heav- gun and camping outfit,
vas on three days journey 70 his tribe. His first
question in getting into the car vas how nuch
would II cost Wheeler asked for OF the featfl-
ers he carried, but BILLY reminded him fhat ne
had promised 10 carry him without pay further
on A stop was made hut the only one seen IN
many miles The occupants had gone our and had
left the doors open. Therefore no permission was
found necessary to have luncheon there, and the
household utensils proved q great convenience
Billy" enjoyed part OF the luncheon. On tne
following day the Peerless twice burned out It's
hearings on the way from Palm Beach tn Miami,
and the finishing roin. was not reached unth a;s'
o'clock on Sunday morning