The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-09
Beat Studcbaker Into Richmond,
After Having Broken an Axle
at Westbrook Avenue.
DAMAGE QUICKLY REPAIRED
Machines Struggle All Day in
Mud-Thrilling Effort to
Defeat Rival.

an endurance run from Philadelphia
TO Savannah with the Studebaker car,
was thrown out of gear n. almost the
very moment its competitor was leaS-
ing Ashland under Its own power
Within an hour. however, another axle
had been provided. and at 1920 this
morning Driver Gillette wheeled into
,he Motor Transfer Garage and clever
ly won tho leg to Richmond The route
Ia Portsmouth was furnished by the
Richmond Automobile Association, ana
the party left Immediately for Peters
burg. The Studebaker arrived at 1:2O
o'clock.
Got New Axle Here.
yice-President O'Connor and General
Manager Kline, of the pullman AUTO
Company, We're ten feet ahead OF tHe
Ii took them three minutes 10 iina i
the cause of the trouble. and thousn
they were disheartened, they dld not
wait to weep. Mr.. b. a. Blenner. VINO
ing in White Steamer to meet the
cav hurried into the city with MT,
1Sline. In ten minutes Mr. Blenner nag
lacked up another machine IN ms sal
age, pulled off an aNls, ana Vas on
his way back to Westbrook Avenue.
Word had come in the meantime That
the udebaker, which was pulled INTO
Ashland by four horses. had leit there
at IL o'clock with local pilot 10, 10
lowing the route of the pullman This
made the rush all the greater. put
the crippled car got away before inc
lights OF the rival could pc seen any y.
laughed at all speed limit laws as l.
turned into Broad Street and hnally
slowed down at the Motor Transfer
garage Gillette jumped out and dahc-
ed a can-can.
Short stop Mt Ashland.
Tho Pullman left Fredericksburg OF
Saturday afternoon at . o.cloGh, ~. th
ran into gullies of mIu. taaI n anh last
ened IT. Horses We're pressed INTO ser
vice. and with the aid OF its own pow
err the car lifted itself out. 1t ran tor
a time and then n niIia+ asa and Morton
and Observer Daley decided to rest.
They slept for ten hours in farm
house. and started again yesteTTaaS,
morning. Twenty miles out of Ashland
Inc ~asoIine supply became exhausted;
Another supply was secured and at .
o'clock last night the machine scoots9i
into Ashland, where the party remained
I'd to that time information about
the Studebaker was indefinite, except
that 1t had arrived at f'rederlckSours
at 1925 a. NJ. leaving at LAO DIV
ers Frank and Robert Yeager were
then nearly exhausted 1t was said
frat they We're half -crazed by the trou-
bic and the struggle with the mud mud Nh
kline heard that the Pullman was at
Ashland they caught Gillette over the
telephone. and told him to come on.
Mr.. pittman, of the companys WASH.
car and saw them safely away. With
Mr.. Blenner and a reporter for The
Times Dispatch, the Pullman officials
left Blenner's garage at go. Near
Taylors crossing, two bright lights
suddenly shot around a bend in the
road. As there was no means on the
instant of knowing which car 1t was,
moment. of breathless suspense fol-
Kline caught the voice Of Gillette
singing. Sweet Mamie ORelly.' The
greeting was joyful.
Plunged Into Mud Hole.
There was no time. however, to be
lost, and with the White steamer
loafed. 1t had reached the best pa.
of the road, with an exception here
and there, and as the White kicked
up a whirlwind of dust, it was peaches
and cream to the crew behind, cover
ed from head to foot with mud.
Near Lakeside Mr.. Blenner put on
the high gear and clipped it off at the
rate OF thiGy nilles an hour. with the
Pullman always at his heels. He had
slowed down at the turn into West
brook. The steamer bumped over in
safety. and there were screams to Gill
lette to be careful. Without waiting
Tor the door to open, Mr.. Kline Jumped
pyer the side and ran back to show
Gillette the way. IL was too late, how
ever, for the machine had plunged in.
The steamer was preparing TO cut out
another swift pace when it was noted
that Gillette and Daley We're on the
ground with lantern. In another
moment the discovery of a broken axle
was made.
Scared by Auto Horn.
somebody heard an automobile.
Good heavens! it's the Studebaker."
said one OF the men. Mr.. Blenner
laughed.
said as the headlight flashed into view.
Considering all that was done in the
next hour, the Pullman deserved the
glory. Had it not been for the good
help OF Mr.. Blenner and his desire to
repair the damage, the result might
have been different. He saved the day
In the meantime Mr.. Pittman got the
factory at York, Pa, over the long
hour man was on his way to Rich
Hond with an axle. He may catch thu
machine at Norfolk. Early this morn.
Ing It was plugging away as If moth.
ing had occurred.
Slow Time in the Mud.
The route of the endurance race from
Philadelphia TO Savannah is 1,1S6 miles
Ordinarily, the trip from Fredericks
purS TO llchmond can be made in 81,
hours. Mr.. Blenner having established
that record a year or more ago.
on the way down the Pullman
burned an average OF one gallon of gas,
olene 10 the mile, when sixteen miles
can generally be Travelled on the same
amount. For one thing the race vii
emphasize the importance OF bette,
roads in Virginia, Just as the voyag,
q the American battlefield Will show
the Importance OF the Panama Canal
The automobile was the pioneer 81
good roads in New York and New Eng.
iand' ~ may eventually serve the sam,
purpose in tho South.
lne SsttndebakeT, a thlrty-horse pow
er machine, has had its share of hard
luck since the race started from pm.
adelphia Wednesday morning.
Having issued the challenge Fl wa.
most anxious to win 1t win have ampi,
opportunity Of doing SO after Ieavins
here. Being lighter and following III,
pain OF the Pullman, it had sometime
In It's favor between here and wash.
ington, but it could not get out Of III,
mud as easily as might have been ex
pected.
Protest May Follow.
The fact that Observer i w Eny5