The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-21

effect that the roads between mere and
Philadelphia are rutty and that there
viii be much tire trouble before the ma
chimes pull into the city of Brotherly
Love for their first nights rest
Element of Unless"
But at least one car found at the very
beginning that reliability runs do have
one element OF speed in them. While
the pace is not a snails gait, neither is
il supposed to be a race to get there"
unless, there was just this element Of
unless" in at least one car that tried
to leave en- time from the Munsey
Building. but didn't. Which does not
mean 10 say that IL did not report at
the Baltimore News building, the first
checking station, on time, for it did,
despite many more ''unlesseS' en- route.
The car was the Winton Six, entered by
George F. Whiting, Of Baltimore, and
driven by y. r. latham. assisted by
". p. Tillotson, sent down from the
factory in Cleveland.
Held up by the elevator accident at
the garage. II was one Of the last cars
TO leave and on the short run to the
Munsey Building it was noticed that the
engine was not working with the Gus
tomarY precision. Nothing was done
about il. however. until big policeman
called NO 20 90 to the starting point
No. %, the WintOn, refused to move. A
minute passed and the big policeman
said Times up" and passed on TO the
next in order.
The hood was quickly laid back and
rapid survey gave the impression that
there was carburettor trouble. A little
adjustment was made and finally the
Dig car gllded gracefully to the line,
was motioned on and away il went. For
awhile everything went merrily except
TO the practiced ear OF the mechanician,
who would not be satisfied. Shortly
after the city line was crossed there
were several sharp explosions and the
engine died"
Trouble Found
once more the hood was thrown back,
this time on both sides, and Il was
found that the entire trouble centered
on a rubber gasket in the water line
that had blown out. An old pieces OF
rubber tire was used for material. the
pattern was hastily drawn upon II, and,
sitting on the road beside the car. the
mechanician worked with nimble fin
gers. welding penknife. making new
gasket
A friendly resident near by was in
weighed into bringing a couple Of buck
cts OF water TO refill the radiator, and,
with the loss n twenty minutes the
Winton shot ahead again Fifteen min
utes were reeled of absolutely last in
line.
The road was eaten up so RAPIDLY
that the little schoolhOuses, at the door
OF which the children had gathered to
see the cars. seemed like a long row OF
cottages. Laurel turned out en- masse
10 give a fleeing welcome and farewell
10 the tourists. Soon after the halfway
point was passed the new gasket blew
out and the Winton people were fairly
tearing tEeiT hair. BY a haDpV thought
the tube was finally wrapped with tire
tape, which formed a joint water tight
enough to Withstand the pressure, and
after that 1t was plain sailing. But
every other car was a long wav ahead
by that time. The News building had
TO be reached I'm exactly thirty-fve min
utes ard eighteen miles had 20 be COW
cred. some of IL over the worst kind OF
ruts, and the very end through Balti-
more's streets.