Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-22
AUTO COVERS 1000
MILES IN 6 WEEKS
R. A. DaIIugge and Party Go from
Los Angeles to Mexico in
Pope-Hartford A
DESERT RUN Is HARD TEST
Many Natives of Adobe Towns
See Automobile for the
First Time
DESERT RUN is HARD TEST

One of the longest trips of the year
was completed last week by B. A. Dali
lugge and party in a 1910 Pope-Hart-
ford touring car. In six weeks time
the party covered 5000 miles over some
of the worst roads to be found any
where. They went through the sage
brush country where there was nothing
more than a burro trail to follow,
crossed railroad bridges. pulled through
the deepest of desert sand and climbed
terrific grades. From the advanced civ
ilization of Los Angeles they went to
the country of old Mexican adobe man.
sions, where life is in its most prim-
itive stage. Many natives saw an au-
tomobile for the first time and at one
small town the entire school gathered
around the machine and refused to
leave, despite the frantic changing of
the bell by an excited teacher.
The party included Mr.. Dallugge and
wife, Mrs. B. Guirado, John D. Cooper
and a 2-year-old boy. Mr.. Dallugge's s
story of the trip was interesting.
"Our route out of Los Angeles" said
Mr. Dallugge, was over the upper San
Bernardino road and over the Cajon
pass. Dropping down to Victorville we
found the going good all the way to
Daggett. From there on stretches of
sand became more frequent and at
down and lug. Our road led us through
Ludlow to The Needles. Reaching the
Colorado river we followed the west
side of the bank to Parker, which is
sixty-five miles from Needles. There
is a primitive ferry at this place, but
in order to save time we went over the
railroad bridge.
The railroad company discourages
this practice and the approach to the
bridge was very steep and dangerous.
At one time the car slid and we found
the front wheels suspended In midair
with the entire weight of the car rest
ing on the fly wheel. When we saw
the condition we felt that our trip was
at an end, but after a little work we
managed to get the car on the track
and found that In spite Of the terrible
strain it was uninjured and ready for
the hard trip before 1t. From Parker
TO Rouse we found thirty-two miles of
sandy, washy country. At one place
we were forced to go down the center
of a sandy wash in order to get under
a low railroad bridge. The top of the
car hit the bridge and 1t was necessary
for the men to dig the sand away un-
der the wheels in order to get the car
"After leaving Bouse we began to
approach the alfalfa district around
Buckeye, Ariz. 1t was certainly
pleasure to get or or the Darren ues-
ert country into this district of green
cry and cool breezes. From BucKeye
+o Phoenix we ran over thirty miles
of sand and rocky. rolling country
From Phoenix to Tucson we found a
fair road and made good time. At
Phoenix we loaded up with supplies to
take into the Altar district. We found
after getting our load on that we had
1900 pounds OF passengers and baggage.
"It is seventy-flve miles from Tucson
TO the Mexican border over fairly good
road. We crossed the line at Sasabe,
where our baggage was searched for
arms and ammunition. Guns are not
nermitted to be taken into the Mexican
district On account Of the Yaqui trou-
bles. Our district was days run INTO
Iexico and after reaching our head
quarters we spent several weeks in
touring through the different districts:
travelling about 1900 miles in Mexico.