The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-12-21
Desert Race
And How Won

passed.
Al no time after leaving san Diego
did we see the lights Of a car ap.
proaching US. Ten miles out of San
Diego we went into the mountains
and for two hours we were climbing
to the summit.
The sensation Of running for sixty
miles over treacherous mountain
roads at the highest possible speed
must be experienced to be apprecla-
ted.
The higher we went the lower tum-
bled the thermometer. Shortly before
daylight we went into freezing temper
ature, and Swanson would rub my
hands, one at time, to keep up the
circulation. They finally became so
numb beat them on the side Of The
seat.
Just as we topepd the summit the
morning sun was shedding its rays
over the Imperial Valley. Before en-
terIng the Devils Canyon we stopped
to eat a sandwich. This early morning
breakfast was rudely cut short, whcn
to our surprise two of the fastest
cars in the race suddenly swooped
down upon US. Before we could get
started the cars were by and on their
way. 1t was impossible to pass a car
in the canyon. The road is Just wide
enough to squeeze through the bould-
ers and at places deep in sand. W.
followed the two leaders into FL
Centre, where they stopped to take
on supplies, Our supplies were
awaiting us at Calexico, a small town
on the Mexican border, and we passed
through FL Centre without stopping
except to register, The National was
also first in time at this point.
Calexico is sixteen miles from Ell.
Centre, and, stopping there, we took
on oil and gasoline. We took hasty
took into the water tank and found
it was still full.
Entering Mexican Territory.
After an eight minutes delay we
crossed an irrigation canal and We're
on Mexican territory Mexicalli is
little Mexican town where we were
received by hundreds of cheering Mex
leans and the Mexican officials. We
were given passports and small
Mexican flag. The flag was tied on
our searchlight bracket. Another
minute was lost while dug out 4
small American flag from our tool
box and tied it on the other side OF
the light,
As we shot out Of Mcxlcalli through
the c. & NJ. Ranch, We could sec the
dust Of an approaching car two miles
back. From here on for forty miles
the dust was like so much flour spread
a foot deep over the road. The dan
gerous part Of this run was the album
dance CT deep chuck holes, hidden By
The dust. We would drop into the
holes with thud. and it was almost
impossible 20 go faster than fifteen
miles an hour for considerable dis
lance.
cocopah was another checking
point where he stopped minute
and half. This is 20 miles from
Los Angeles, and we we're through
At 1915 in the morning.
At Andrade we went back into the
United States. From there into
Yuma We encountered heavy sand,
but no stops were made until we
came 10 the banks OF the Colorado
river, opposite Yuma. When we ap-
preached the Arizona line we we're
greeted by the blowing of whistles
and the cheering OF several thous-
and people, who swarmed like bees
on the railroad bridge across the
Colorado river. Three hundred
yards from the control We stopped
for supplies. taking oil, gasoline and
water. THIS consumed nine min
utes. We then checked in ana were
taken across the river on a fiat
/,