The Ordway new era., 1909-08-27

/ selves. In following his directions
they took the right fork of a danger
GUS looking road and went hub deep
| in adobe mud Block and tackle.
which was part OF their equipment
came into play. and the car came out
backward They started around this
and the car was bucking the sand
nobly. although the men often had to
get out to cut sage brush frosn the
way and dig sand from under the
wheels before they could make head
way. Finally the car went down over
the hubs In what proved to be quick
sand. and refused to bulge.
The block and tackle proved OF no
avail. They saw that II was a case
OF camp and wait for relief This was
their first taste OF the bitter OF path
finding. They later found that they
were stranded in a desert 46 miles
from railroad. without food and wa
ter They finally decided that Billy
knipper. the driver and F. Ed. Spoon
er would stay with the car and Nc
Carton and Howard. the guide. would
walk until they found a ranch house
or some other place where they could
get aid. The place where they were
stuck is known as TERRA Blanca. or
White Earth. so called from the sand
composing IT, Here the sand drifted
like snow and they seemed to be in
the midst of great oceans OF sand
The wind heaped the sand through
the wheels of the car like a cyclone,
and as fast as they would dig the
would blow in.
The hardships OF the two men left
with the car were even greater than
those of the relief party. The sun
was broiling hot and they made n
cover. throwing blankets over two
poles lying against the car. Their wa
ter bags were empty and they
squeezed all the water from the radi.
ator of the car. This water they
mixed with some powdered peas and
made a mixture which they called
cold pea soup and which they said
tasted like cough medicine. They
were there for three days subsisting
on this fare with no solid food.
At the close OF the third afternoon
they saw Howard coming over the
sands holding water bottle toward
them. They rushed from their i'm
provised tent with a shout of Joy and
staggered as drunk for the precious
liquid.
The first relief party that was sent
out from FL Paso were unable to lift
the car from its bed of sand. and they
had to return for further assistance.
Six men went out in another car and
by means of $50 feet of rope used as
block and tackle placed around the
relief car they were finally able to lift
the car from the sand. After taking
on supplies they again plunged into
the unknown country.
One time during the last lap the car
slid on the edge of a cliff and hung
there on such fine point that baby
could have dumped it over. 1t was
only by two of the members of the
party springing from the car and
holding to 1t that the car and two of
its occupants were saved. II was
finally swung to safety by block and
tackle and proceeded on its way.
The dangers that these men met in
going through this practically un.
known country would fill book. The
car was met at Tula, 25 miles out of
Mexico City. its final destination, and
escorted into the city with great pomp
and ceremony. President Diaz wei.
coined the pathfinders. Now the car.
followed by large number of others
filled with local motorists. paraded
the streets of the city, which was ban.
ner-fiung with welcoming words. They
were given dinner that night at the
Hotel Geneve and ball on the same
evening. On Sunday the party was
entertained by bull fight of real
Mexican style and the pathfinding
crew was given the honor of carrying
Harper Lee. the greatest American
bull fighter. into and around the ring
several times to be reviewed by Presi.
dent Diaz by his arrangement. He
was present in full uniform.
The car was the object Of great
curiosity, and many of the native
Mexicans, who had been following its
progress through the republic south.
ward, knowing the condition of the
Mexican roads, declared that such a
trip was impossible. This was also
said In the western states through
which the car passed
Motorists say that this is one of the
greatest feats brought to the notice OF
automobiledom in years and will pave
the way for d great automobile indus.
try in the southern republic. The
friendly invasion Of the cars that
cover this course next October will
add to the amiability Of the two great
American republics.