Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-26

(Staff Correspondent of The JournalD
NEW YORK, Oct. 25.-With the cheers
of a crowd of enthusiastic spectators ring
ing in their ears, the 81 entrants in The
Atlanta Journal-New York Herald good
roads tour rolled out of Herald square
today on the first leg of their ten-days'S
trip to Atlanta.
The start scheduled for a quarter to 10
O'Clock, was made on the minute, Fred
Wagner. who has been official starter at
some of the most prominent automobile
race meets in the country. firing the gun
Just as the last of the line of escort cars
reached Herald square from Columbus
circle, which was the assembling point o.
the honorary escorts.
Long before the hour set for the be-
ginning of the tour the sidewalks around
the Herald building were damned with
a great throng of curious and interested
citizens, ready TO see the cars sent on In
the first and most novel tour ever at
tempted in the interests Of good roads FOR
automobiles. Altogether there were 81
cars entered in the run, but with the
seven official oars and the 20 lined UP in
the escort squadron, the line as it left
the Herald building was an imposing
one.
TWO WOMEN ARE CHEERED.
Mrs. John Cuneo, in a Rainier car, and
Miss Mildred B. Schwalbach. in Loco
mobile received a great send-off as they
wheeled their cars into line behind the es-
cort squadron. Although in the official
squad, and therefore non-contesting, both
of these women will drive throughout the
entire tour to Atlanta. They are the onl5
women who will make the entire trip.
At 8 O'Clock the cars in the escort squad
ron began to assemble in Columbus circle
and rs had gathered there by $50, when
the officials of the New York Automobile
Trades association, which furnished the
escort cars, gave the signal which start
ed the run to the Herald building.
They reached the building promptly at
GAS and as they swept by, the cars en-
tered In the tour dropped into line be-
hind them The official cars, headed by
35-horsepower Mitchell, in charge OF Frank
n Zirbies. led the line of entrants It is
this car that will act as pace maker on
the long trip to Atlanta. The referee and
Judges cars followed. Then came the
two press cars. with their fair drivers.
Mrs. Cuneo and Miss Schwalbach, at the
steering wheels.
Prior to the start the official cars had
taken their places in 18th street, between
Broadway and Sixth avenue, backed up
against the northerly curb. The 81 con-
testing cars, representing 80 makes, were
lined up in numerical order in two parai-
lei columns in Sixth avenue, the lines
extending up to S6th street and around the
Herald building on the east side of Broad
way.
POLICE HEAD COLUMN.
A squad of police headed the escort col
umn and accompanied the cars down to
the Battery and from there to Totem
Vile. Staten Island. The police were UNI
der the command of Inspector Boettler, of
the traffic squad, who saw to 1t that the
tourists we're given the right OF way on
the trip downtown.
Cheering crowds we're assembled all
along the line Of march, which extended
from the Herald building down Broadway
to oath street, Fifth avenue, to Washing
ton square, to Fourth street, to Broad
way. to Bowling Green, to state street
and thence to South Ferry.
At the Battery the escorts oade rare
well to the contesting cars which were Ter
ried across to Staten Island. Once off
the ferry. the speedometers were set at
zero and with the aid OF the official route
book and the large yellow and black signs
that have been placed along the entire
route to Atlanta, the tourists began their
first days run in earnest.
The Richmond County Automobile club