Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-03-20


The next morning We got up 81
O'Clock and We're ready 70 start
Al daylight. We unloaded the other
car. thinking that would help. IL
did little, but II was no fun carry
ing the load through the sand. Be
sides, he didn't have halt In his car
what we ala in ours. He wanted
me to drive as he thought he could
do a better Job Of pushing than !.
But very politely declined. didn't
mind driving our car, but ! don't
like balky cars any better than balky
horses. We had three more miles
to travel in the sand and had travel
ed only two miles since yesterday
noon and now 1t was III o'clock.
We we're running out OF water for
the engines. They had used all
they had and started on our supply.
So AR. Patton told our friend he
wasn't going to stay another night
there. We would go on and If we
got out we would come back with
water. We would run about hair
a mile and then we would have to
fiji up the radiator with water.
while we we're doing that our car
would be sinking. We would dig
out the sand in front Of the wheels
and spread our canvas that we had
brought from home for that pur-
nose. but which we had had no use
of until we struck this stretch OF
sand. It didn't take as long as one
would think as we were only rive
hours working with our car going
the five miles. Each time we stop
ped IL our engine couldn't pull at
first trial we didn't try 1t again with
out laying the canvas. We got out
of the sand about 2 o'clock. Then
we had to travel about seven miles
before we could get water. / bought
a can of baking powder to take the
pIacS of the one l had spilled the
day before. We filled up every
thing with water and then drove
back to the edge Of the sand. stir
red up a batch of biscuits all but
adding the water, sliced off some
bacon. / put these in Mr.. Patton's
pocket. He then strung two water
bags over his shoulders, then start
ed back over the sand. l watched
Mr.. Patton until he disappeared
over the hill. Then stretched the
tent and washed the breakfast
dishes which l dared not wash for
fear of running out of water, got
supper, washed the dishes, put the
children to bed, hunted up the re-
yolver, then, lay down to sleep, just
myself and babies alone in the des-
ert About 10 o'clock was awak-
ened by foot steps. / listened but
they went on by. They had hardly
stopped sounding before / heard
others. This time it was, Hello,
are you asleep" 30, no." 1 answer !.
well we are just about starved"
was the reply. Into the tent crawl
ed three just about as tired mortals
az ever moved. When Mr.. Patton
reached our friends they had only
travelled one-half mile since we leIt
them in the morning. He helped
them until 9 O'Clock when they strip
ped the gears of the car. They had
to abandon the car and walk DacK
to tent. The mammoth wash Will
not bother If the car is not loaded
very heavy. But 100 pounds OF
weight makes a big difference, Dut1
not so much as the driver OF the
car. / haven't driven much since
we left Colorado. The next morning
we all road in our car to the near
est house where our friend secured
four mules to pull him out OF the
wash. Mr.. Patton then pulled him
into Brawley where we stayed
week but we had to bid them good
bye as we could not stay longer.
We are now at Paso Roubles. We
have not spent penny on our en-
CINE, only three punctures and
blow out is all the tire trouble we
have had.
MRS: LEONARD PATTON.
The Pattons are driving a Buick