Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-06-30
UNDER THREE FLAGS
Paul BfuSks Making the Trip with
a islander 20"

~
MsSsrs. George Meinzinger and Paul
Bruske are on a long auto ride from Que
bee to Mexico City for the purpose of test
ing the endurance of FLANDERS No 20
Under Three Flags" They have accomp-
lished more than half of the journy
through the mud of Canada, the sands
and level stretches in the United States.
They have climbed mountains, forded
rivers and crossed bridges of tressel work
and so far have met with no mishaps.
The staunch Car facing all difficulties
and surrounding all Obstacles. Here is
wnat they did on June 2lst, the longest
day in the year:
THAT part of the trip found them in
the center of the rugged State Of Mis-
souri,, travelling road covered with
boulders seemed with deep ruts and brist-
ling with stumps. They had done 70
miles of this going and had been climb
ing series of prodigious hills without
corresponding declines, when almost
without warning they came out on the
top of a precipice overlooking the Gas.
conade Rapids which doomed along be-
low them fully 400 feet.
Meinzinger locked his footbrake, shut
off his engine, took firm hold on his
emergency broke and started down a
winding sort of trail both passengers
fairly certain that it would come to q
case of jump into tree top along the
cliff. Slowly and steadily the car slid
along, the brakes holding nobly. Twice
the declivity was so steep that the car
seemed to veritably stand on end.
Locked wheels would not stop her COM
pletely but they checked her just enough
to guide her to the bottom in safety.
But there was no wagon bridge across
the Gasconade. Inquiry developed the
fact that there was none within a days
journey. The ferry boat had been
wrecked in a recent freshet. The rail.
road bridge alone remained. The right
of way belonged to three stock trains
from the west. The operator allowed
that there might be enough time be-
tween the first and second sections of the
instalment to enable the car to run the
bridge in the opposite direction, The
conductor of a detained west bounnd
freight train volunteered to cross the
river and flag any train that might inter
rupt the cars progress across, The mo-
ment the first stocktrain passed, the
Flanders "20" bounced upon the ties one
wheel between the tracks the other out.
side. Across the bridge she bumped her
way at the rate eff 20 miles an hour, her
crew listening for warning whistle,
Meinzinger intent at the wheel, Bruske
with pieceof timber with which to en-
able the car to jump the rails if it be-
came necessary before the road crossing
at Jerome was reached. Far ahead flag
in hand stood the conductor.
The bridge was reached in safety, the
long tressle was also crossed and the car
was approaching tina safety zone when
the coming train whistled for the bridge.
Meinzeinger slowed down, Bruske
jumped out and tossed his timber next
the rail, the car bounded out exactly at
the roadway and the fagman had
barely time to furl his bunting when the
big freight train Numbered past at 40
miles an hour, so close that the wind
fiuttered the three flags on the Flanders
"20' as if gale was blowing.
1t was the first time an automobile had
ever visited Arlington. OF course it was
in the circumstances the greatest posi-
BILE attraction to the people. 1t marks
out Arlington as directly on the shortest
route between Quebec and Mexico,
Nor did this feat conclude the days
performance. From Jerome the fl t
station weet of the Gasconade, TO Dixon,
was continuous climb, the car assembled
grades on road over which no wagon
had travelled for six weeks and where
even the natives never go except on &C.
cassions of dire necessity.