Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-30
LOST ON BURNING HOT SANDS
Trials Of Auto in Route Of Flag to
Flag Contest.
COLD PEA SOUP AND COFFEE
Crew stalled for Two Days with
Nothing 20 Drink but Rusty
Water Taken from the
Radiator.
COLD PEA SOUP AND COFFEE

ToRREON. Mexico, May 27.-No pre-
vious mud bucking, sand wadins or stump
buckling tests can compare with the re-
cent trial of the little Chalmers-Detroit
car in the sands of old Mexico. This car
has already covered 5000 miles in endur-
ance runs. The party Of the Pathfinders
who are blazing the way for the Flag
to Flag contest for the wahlgreen trophy
have now made 1856 miles Of the way from
Denver to the City of Mexico.
When the explorers reached Torreon
can they had covered AS miles over the
Mexican border. They are now making
the longest and hardest lap Of the trip
over 1900 miles of Mexican desert. They
stopped over here one day to employ
guides for the remainder Of the journey.
The way into El Paso was practically
easy going. with the exception Of one
days hard driving. Since then their path
has not been strewn with roses and it's
significance to the members of the party
as a pleasure trip has paled on the vista
of the sandy Mexican desert. The plucky
little car fought through driving sand
storms, often sinking to the hubs. The
men repeatedly had to get out Of the car
to cut sage brush from the roads which
had never been traversed by an automo-
bile.
TIL trip from Denver to FL Paso had
many pleasant features. Shooting was fine
and men dropped prairie game from the
car seats. The scenery was an added
pleasure as the mountain tops were always
visible. The crew left Denver with flying
banners and with the good word Of the
governor of the state and the populace.
The course was over level plains. which
the car covered NJ a Uncomfortable ,lt,
walked FOrty-sIx Miles.
The thrilling experiences of the trip be-
gan after the car left FL Paso. One hun
dred and twelve miles out the car stuck
hopelessly in the desert sands and the
block and tackle, which the car carried for
emergency purposes. was unable to pull
the car out. Being forty-six miles from the
railroad IL was necessary for them to camp
there and two of the men walked back to
the railroad a distance of over forty-six
miles to catch a Mexican Central train
into FL Paso.
This arduous feat was accomplished by
w. E. McCarton of Denver and James
Howard, a guide from Ell Paso. William
Knipper and F. Ed Spooner, whom they
left with the car, were in even worse straits
than those who had gone for assistance.
Tho lived two dnvs on cold pea soup and
coffee made from rusty water from the
radiator. Every other supply was gone.
The party reached here after making its
record run-156 miles in thirteen hours.
During the last 1856 miles they were repeat
edly lost ,as the trail was indistinct.
The little car, carrying the flags OF two
countries and with it's bedraggled oceu-
pants, was a SOURCE of much curiosity and
comment among the native Mexicans. A
large percent OF these had never before
seen an automobile.
President Diaz is making plans TO par
tlcipate In the welcome of the City OF Mex
leo to the pathfinders. The message from
Governor Shafroth of Colorado to the Mex
lean people will be received with
A number of social affairs also have been
ranged and they will be the guests OF
the city while there.