The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-12-15

as we found in Mexico. On this Cal
Ifornia highway the bad places wouI
i end after few miles. while in Mexico
they continued for forty miles with
otu break
/ In climbing the Torrey Pines grad,
this side OF San Diego we received on
first fright. Here IS a sharp ascent
with a couple Of sudden turns near thu
top. We were making good speed III
the hin when suddenly we heard
mighty roar. / was startled. but Fl
Swanson. my faithful mechanic, 4
whom much credit is due, glance;
overhead and then shouted in my ear
Go ahead, alright" At that time
didn't know whether the mountain hat
been struck by lightning or the insur
rectos had opened fire. At San Diego
1 learned that dozen young fellows
had stationed themselves on the top oi
the hill and were giving the cars a
send-oR with shotguns.
Encounter Mountain Hazards.
The National was eleventh car to
leave Los Angeles and third into San
Diego. Our time to the southern city
was three hours and twenty-one min
utes. This gave US the first prize.
a cash purse Of $1,000. and it was
with our enthusiasm running high,
but with GENERALIZATION of the fight
before us. that We pulled out for the
mountains and desert.
Within thirty miles of. San Diego we
passed the two cars ahead of us, and
knew then we were in. first running
position and undoubtedly also, in time.
One Of the cars which we passed had
been turned over at bad curve, but
was on all four wheels when we
passed.
AT no time after leaving San Diego
did we see the lights of car APP
preaching us. Ten miles out of San
Diego we went into the mountains,
and for two hours I'VE 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 apprecia-
ted.
The higher we went the lower tum-
blcd the thermometer. Shortly before
daylight we went into freezing temper
azure, and Swanson would rub my
hands, one at a time, to keep up the
circulation. They finally became so
numb 1 beat them on the side of the
seat.
Just as we topepd the summit the
morning sun was shedding it's 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 when
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. We
followed the two leaders into FL
Centric, where they stopped to take
on supplies. Our supplies were
awaiting US at CaIexico, small town
on the Mexican border, and we passed
through FL Centric without stopping
except to register. The National was
also first in time at this point.
Calexico Is sixteen miles from El
Centric. and. stopping there, we took
on oil and gasoline. We took hasty
took into the water tank and found
1t was still full.
Entering Mexican Territory.
After an eight minutes delay we
crossed an irrigation canal and were
on Mexican territory. Mexicalli is a
little Mexican town where we We're
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 searchltght bracket. Another
minute was lost while dug out 4
small American flag from our tool
box and tied it on the other side or
tho light.
AS we shot out of MexicallI through !
the c. & NJ. Ranch. we could see the
dust Of an approaching car two miles
back. From hero on for forty miles
the dust was like so much flour spread
a foot deep over the road. The dam
gerous part of this run was the album
dance of deep chuck holes, hidden by
the dust. We would drop into the
holes with a thud, and 1t was almost