The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-12


The news which reached New York
recently Of the crossing Of the Andes
by an automobile recorded a victory
OF priority in contest which had been
going on for months between motor
ears and aeroplanes. 1t was in a dual
way an American victory. The car
which made the difficult and perilOus
| journey was an American roadster run
by an American, Mr.. JOHNSON MARTIN.
Not only did he get ahead Of the flying
men who were trying simultaneously
to sail over the great mountains. but
he also scored against sundry European
drivers with French and German cars
who had tried and failed to make the
crossing in the preceding five years.
The fiiers even yet remain bafiied by
the winds and air pockets Of the uppe-
Andean attitudes. As the antipOdean
winter is now fastening its grim hold
upon the sierras of Chile and Argen-
tina. 1t IL highly improbable that they
will make any further attempt until
next November or December. One Of
the most enterprising Of them. JORGE
NrwBERY, was killed March l in at
tempting the exploit from Mendoza on
into an air hollow. turned turtle and
fell. Lieutenant JIMINEz LAsTRA, who
few with him. was seriously injured.
Two aspirants remain in the field,
CLoDoMIRo FiGUERoA. who Is trying to
fy from the Chilean to the Argentina
side. and TEoDORo FELs. who is headed
from Argentina toward Chile. The
flight Is mere trife as respects dis
lance. 1t Is just 143 miles between
Los Andes in Chile and Mendoza In
Argentina and couple Of hours should
suffice for 1t. But the course lies
through or over the Uspallata Pass,
which reaches the height Of 12,5OO feet.
with Ac0ncagua. 23,302 feet, towering
over it, and fierce gales that continually
sweep over the rocky submits create
perils and difficulties such as aeroplanes
have nowhere else encountered.
FIGUEROA, after long study. decided
most favorable conditions. Three times
last December he made essays, but
each time was unable to make Roadway
against the gale. In the last attempt
he reached height of 1880 feet and
then had to descend. as he could make
no progress. For the time being he
had TO own himself defeated, but the
people Of Chile raised at once sub
scriptiOn to buy him an aeroplane Of
100 horsepower, with which he will
try again.
NEwBERy. who had many fine flights
to his credit, including a height record
of 14,436 feet. attacking the pass from
the opposite direction, had no better
fortune. FELs, too, failed, and he de-
clared that the crossing could only be
made by ascending TO a height Of $500
meters or 14,764 feet. To enable him
to try his fortune the people OF Argen-
tina have guaranteed 100000 pesos
for the purchase of high powered
machine. No doubt the conquest Of
the Uspallata Pass by the air route Is
only a question Of time. Such feats.
once man resolves upon them, are
pretty sure to be accomplished
In the meantime the automobile has
achieved very real victory, which,
however. rather reminds one Of the
victory over the hare by the tortoise
In the fable. MIR. MARTIN consumed
nearly two months In making the en-
tire journey Of SsS miles from Buenos
Ayres to Santiago de- Chile. Two
weeks were spent In negotiating the
Uspallata Pass itself. The road Is a
mere mule track. and on the Chilean
side It Is Of dizzy steepness. II winds
through the mountain gorges with
turns and twists 10 make the heart OF
the motorfst NJ the steering wheel al