Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-01
FLANDERS CAR
IN BIC DESERT
viii Go on Journey To Mark a
Roadway and Save
Human Lives.

To lessen the dangers of the great
American desert and it's annual toll OF
human life is the mission on which a
Flanders 30" motor car has begun an
aIl-summer trip from Pasadena. Cal.
At its wheel is Lou Weston Beck. for
mer prospector. but now philanthropist,
who has dedicated his life to the chart
ing and posting of the indefinite trails
which traverse the great inter-moun-
cain region and the indication to tray
elers. by plain and effective means, of
spots where water may be obtained.
Mr. Becl1s mission has been made
possible by generous citizens Of Pasa-
dena, acquainted with his work, who
have subscribed the sum necessary to
purchase the car. Mr.. Beck has chris
tened it the "Chuckwalla Flanders 90 .
in honor of the famous bloated lizard
which is the only creature able to live
in many parts of the terrible waste.
An annual tribute of % victims, it is
estimated, is exacted each year by the
grim region which lies Immediately east
of the coast range. Practically all of
these are prospectors who. ignorant of
the nature of the country, leave civil
cation with a scant supply Of water and
fail to find more. Months, perhaps years,
after their bones are found, plucked
clean by the vultures under the stray
Cling shade of some mesquite bush,
where their miserable fate had finally
overtaken them. Desert rats" they are
dubbed by those in the towns bordering
on the vast expanse.
To penetrate the desert in a motor
car has been tried several times, but
with uniform failure. Two years ago. a
party of seven in a high-powered car
attempted the trip. Two weeks later a
searching party came upon the car, ap-
parcntly abandoned Closer approach,
however. showed black huddle be-
Meath the car TO the horror of the
searching party, this was found to be a
pile of corpses. Nearby was a poisoned
spring from which all had apparently
drank
Mr. Beck knows the desert better, in
all probability, than any living man.
He expects to post his signs in a way
that will not only direct the rats" to
good water. but will also warn them
away from that which is bad
The "Chuckwalla Flanders 90" will
penetrate this summer as far as the
notorious Death Valley" and will be
the first motor car to essay this arid
region. Its itinerary has been arranged
TO cover about 500 miles. touching the
railroad once to take on a second sup
ply of gasoline and oil. Mr. Beck hopes
to continue his work until the entire
desert is as well charted as man
Travelled highway In the completion
of his task he is trying to enlist the
services of the United States govern
ment. which, by installing large signs
on buttes and mountain tops, could full
fill purpose very similar to that per
formed by the lighthouse and life saw
ing departments on the coasts and Great
Lakes
In his work Mr.. Beck will be greatly
helped by Rufus a big red dog Of
mixed breeding. in which St. Bernard
blood is apparently dominant. Rufus"
goes into the desert with canteen
strapped to each side, and shod with
buckskin nearly to the knee as a pro-
lection against the hot sand, thorns and
deadly sidewinders.
Rufus" has a record Of saving a
round dozen lives. He has uncanny
ability to find men lost in the desert,
and has on three occasions located a
lost trail. which enabled his master to
return safely, after hope had been aban-
doned.