Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-05-06
CARS Pass
THROUGH Town

That large proportion of our citi-
zens feel keen interest in automobil-
ing in general and the long endurance
run being made under the auspices of
the Harrisburg Motor Club in particu-
lar was we'll demonstrated by the large
and eager crowd that for several hours
yesterday stood at the intersection of
Mill and Bloom streets waiting for the
contesting cars to pass through Dan
Vile.
About noon 'press carr forming
the van Of the long and scattered pro-
cession reached town. stopping at the
City hotel for a short time. 1t was a
six cylinder Il. r. Thomas car and
contained five men. The car took in a
supply of gasoline at Will G. Browns
and proceeded on its way toward
Wilkes-Barre. During the next hour
some four or five other press cars roll
ed through town. Some of these came
in over the State highway, while 9TH
ers, which Left the procession at Sun
bury, came up the river road.
About 1 80 p m. the pilot car reach
ed town, making its way without any
loss of time up Bloom street in the
direction of Wilkes Barre. At points
along the course confetti was thrown
out of the car to serve as guide for
the automobiles making the endurance
run.
Real interest, however, centered in
the contesting cars, the first one of
which made its appearance about AZ
O'Clock. During the next hour and a
quarter eight cars passed through
town. With one exception-the car
which arrived shortly after 3 O'Clock
all passed through town at a mod
crate rate Of speed. The car forming
the exception came very near paying
dearly for it's indiscretion.
BY phone the waiting and excited
crowd learned that the car had
left WsshingtonvilIe. Just twenty-five
minutes after leaving Washingtonville
the car came flying in North MIL
street. Near the intersection OF Center
street the unsuspecting autoists struck
the gutter with its accompanying
hump in the paving, which came with
in au ace of throwing the men out aud
caused the driver to practically lose
control of his car, which without any
diminution Of speed veered to the
right barely escaping the curb in front
OF Murray's block. The car in max
ing the turn up Bloom street swung
out over the paving opposite Cleav-
er's store, nearly running down a half
a dozen spectators. Before the driver
succeeded in gaining control OF the
car it got down into the gutter along
side the First National bank, escaping
the curb by less than six inches.
The whole affair was mu-t spectaan.
lar When the car W mt over the buu,p
in the paving the men bounced up
above the car at least two feet The
big crowd yelled loudly and scampered
for cover, but. as before stated, sever
al persons came near being struck. The
close call did not dampen the euthusi-
asm of the automobilists, who dashed
mp Bloom street at the same rapid rate
at which they entered the town.
Que of the contesting cars ran out
of gasoline and was obliged to stop
short in front Of the armory +. P.
johnson came to the rescue with his
automobile making record run up to
will G. Browns for supply of gas
oline. The car was delayed only a few
minutes.
The cars and men alike looked as If
they had encountered bad roads The
machines were covered with mud.
while the mems clothing bore a thick
coat Of the same substance.
-Four cars winding up the procession
passed through town about 3 O'Clock,
making ~ in all that belonged to the
run.
The pilot car broke down at the
Twin Hills above Grovania. 1t receiv-
ed assistance from the Moxie car of
this city and was enabled to proceed
on its way.