The Ordway new era., 1909-08-27

Standing on the steps of the state
capitol at Denver. Gov. Shafroth OF
Colorado smiled and waved his hand
to scout car that was quickly speed
Ing away from the capital bearing the
flags OF Old Mexico and the United
States and followed by a dozen we'll
nlled cars.
This was the final farewell TO the
car and its crew OF four men who
were going to make a trip from Den.
yer to Mexico City. a distance OF al.
most 2.400 miles. the greater part Of
which was unexpiored.
The trip was being taken to map a
route between Denver and the Mexl-
can capital over which an endurance
contest will be run next October.
George A. Wahlgreen. leading citi-
zen of Denver. last fall offered a
handsome trophy to the car that
would cover this distance with the
best endurance record.
Four men undertook this trip In a
3O-horsepower car. which had already
quite full experience. For the past
80 days this car has been driving
through Old Mexico and the men have
been having strange experiences In
country where automobiles have never
been before and the American never
before set his foot. This path was
laid over miles and miles of sandy
desert wastes and rock strewn plains
and parched sands. They Travelled for
n ttrfth ha gfstEt
ter, a human face or even a human
abode. At nights they slept by the
side of their car. with revolvers in
hand. and were sung to sleep by the
wall of the coyotes. which broke the
awful stiffness of a semi-tropical des.
ert. The party consisted of Billy
Knipper, an experienced driver OF
racing cars: F. Ed. Spooner. newspa.
per man: w. E. McCarton of Denver
and James H. Howard. a guide.
This party left Denver May l and
arrived in Mexico City June at mid
day. The trip from Denver to El
Paso. the last stop this side of the
Mexican border. was full of pleasant
driving, soon to be forgotten when
the car got into the unexplored coun.
try. The trip was made literally
along mountain tops. The car start.
ed at an altitude of 5.173 feet above
sea level and ended in Mexico City.
which is 5000 feet above sea level. At
no time was the route below $500
feet.
In every town they stopped at they
met lively reception.
~. The pathfinders took on a great
coat of tan during the eight days of
travelling over the mountains and des.
erts.
The party spent one day of rest in
Ell Paso and this time was spent in
generally overhauling the car and get
ting additional supplies for a dash
into a country in which they did not
know when they would meet man
again. The crew found here that the
trip of the American car into Mexico
was being accepted as of much greater
moment than they had anticipated.
They were informed that down in
Mexico. all along the line, prepara-
tions were being made to receive the
tourists and extend every courtesy.
They left FL Paso with light hearts.
not knowing that it was theirs to re-
turn again.
1t was here, though, that they had
some tried difficulties in getting
through the customs on May 13, but
finally the car was passed and the
members received their passports car.
rying the additional rights of ex.
p1orers.
They passed the Mexican burros
drawing wood and water and the Mex.
lean drivers were found to be yery
apathetic. Inquiries of these Mexi-
cans by Interpreter James Howard
led to plenty of replies. One said It
was dos cigarros" to Guadaloupe.
meaning that two cigarettes would be-
smoked during the distance. Others
used leagues as measurements, others
used kilometers.
It was proven that the guide which
they had taken on at Ell Paso knew
little more about the roads, or pre-
tended to know less, than they them