The Washington times., 1909-09-21

tails. The stranger in their midst would
have had trouble following some of it,
You felt in your bones there were big
doings afoot when daylight came. and
your bones were good prophets. for the
biggest auto event of the year was
about to be consummated.
Although no one was allowed to touch
them after they hsd been sealed by the
technical committee aud although Ma
1or sylvester had furnishes eight police
smen, noted for Drawn and Keen eye
sight. to'xeep watch and ward the driv-
ers and others directly interested il the
cars could not keep themselveu from
hanging around them. Many sSvnge
tribes nave a theory that if you insist
emily wish" for what YOU want you
will get it. and the drivers appeared to
be trying to wish" their pets into
perfect score.
LIKE CLOCKWORK.
The cars were on the second floor Of
the garage, and when the time came to
release them there were about 200 persons
in the premises and more outside. Con-
fusion naturally might have been ex-
pected, but so thoroughly had Referee
Trego laid his plans that the machines
were removed to the street almost as
easily as II 1t were an ordinary pro-
cession
Every car was in a chalk circle. on
which was inscribed it's number for GO
ing down the elevator-and 1t was
against orders 20 move until your num-
Der was reached. The first car was re-
leased at 4:0S a. m, and after that there
was steady procession of them to the
open parking in front or the Munsey
building The lack Of friction in these
details at a time when every nerve was
on a tension spoke well for the entente
which may be expected among the auto
lists on the run.
One Marring Incident.
Only one incident marred this busy
but peaceful scene. As the MathesOn,
No. "a, due to leave at 1872, was coming
down in the elevator. Il I'm some manner
moved and became mixed-up in the run
ming gear of the lifting apparatus. The
gasolene tank of the machine was torn
off, but. by lively skirmishing, a tank
was quickly obtained from another
Matheson and put I'm place OF the one
damaged. As this had nothing what
ever to do with the run, Referee TreEo
agreed to allow the Matheson all the
time IL wanted TO make repairs and
then enter the run. The Matheson left
at 1898. just two hours behind her time
But all those at the garage did not
come to the Munsey building Almost at
the crack o day, or. TO be more exact,
Al 90 a. m, James r. Quirk, chief pilot
hit the pike in the z. NJ. +. pilot car,
driven by DR.. William Stark. Next left
the Autocar truck, another non-contest-
ant, which carried the excess baggage
OF the officials, extra confetti and other
OnoS ano endS enough to give IL load
that Will win the truck a whole bunch
OF laurels II It goes through successfully.
Second Pilot Car.
The second pilot car. a Midland, which
had Travelled 1900 miles on the roads 10
set here for the purpose, left shortly
after the z. NJ. T. IL was driven by D.
{. johnson and contained l. d. Engel.
with large supply OF confetti to scatter
at turns and crossroads
Mr. Engel got busy right away and
the evidences Of his endeavors were Wis
IDLY along the streets from the garage
70 the city limits This confetti is one
OF the most important details of the
run, ana autolsts should arise and call
blessed the man who first thought II nm
as 2 means Of guiding participants in
Referee Trego, Chief Checker Arthur
@ Newmyer, and Harry Ward. the
cfncial press representative, left at $50
In the National car, which had been
provided for the chairman Thev will
not only spy out the land in advance
Of the contestants, but will see that
the checkers are on the job, and Mr.
Trego will adjudicate such differences
and doubts as may arse-
Animated Scene.
Al the Munsey Building the scene
was even more animated than at the
garage. The garage only allowed OBJ
portunities for standing around and
talking, but the wide space in front
OF The Times office gave plenty of on
portunity for running around and talk
ing Everybody had something to say
TO his neighbor, who seldom paid much
attention. because OF his own volubu-
ity. More chaf and banter was 10 be
heard than at a minstrel show Dis
order and complications were non-ex-
istant. for every man knew exactly
where his machine teiOnged and when
he was TO start. but all seemed anxious
TO gossip and kid" before the get
away.
Every variety OF costume was in
sight. Some neat souls persisted IN
wearing clothes that were atIll serv-
iceable for week days, J. not for high
DAYS and holidays. They abhUTed
khaki, they said. BY the time they
have ridden some 800 miles i'm the
dust. over oiled roads and through
gravel. they will wish they had bought
a khaki suit and folded their present
pTetties away 10 open up next season
with
Khaki coats and trousers. blue or
buff shirts, and regulation auto cap
were de rigeur and looked very tour
istic. The more fastidious wore khaki
cut a Ia military, with leather legginSs.
This was indeed most fetching for
fine figure OF a man, but more amusing
than elegant on those without the
proper underpinning.
Interesting Figure.
One Of the interesting figures at the
gathering was Mrs. Frank p Hail,
~ Washington. whose husband entered
his Columbia, driven by Otto jacob,
as a private owner. Mrs. Hall was
right there with the khaki. and was
one Of the most interested ina all the
talk that was flying around. She was
asked II she were going over the whole
route, and replied:
Il certainly am. I have been looking
forward to this run Tor many days.
and you couldn't hoist me out Of this
car with a derrick Don't think for
a minute / cannot stand the long trav-