Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-28
SILVER CITY HILL
NOW vANQU|SHED
Frontier Motordom Gets Excited
Over Feat by 1916 Maxwell
Winner in Contest

Ever since the first automobile
came to Silver City, motorists have
bucked the long sand grade of Church
hill, and the town has come out to
sympathize. AS one after the other
failed, the belief grew into being that
the climb simply couldn't be made.
The stigma of being beaten by the
srill thus removed. drivers began see
ing how far up 1t their cars would
run In this competition each new
car brought to Silver City has always
been tried out.
Several months ago Silver City was
startled out of its calm by a challenge
from a dealer in a widely advertised
car. The challenge stated the deal
er's desire to post 500 as soon as any
other competitor would do likewise
The two would then repair to Church
Hill, and the 5000 would pass to the
one that could go farthest up the
grade.
The boldness of the challenge took
Silver City motorists breath away.
Rumor had it that the dealer had
based his wager on a secret trial in
which he had far eXcelled all prior
marks.
A week ago. j. A. Smith bought a
brand new 1916 Maxwell. Smith
drove his car for a few days and those
arating effect that always resulted
when he put his foot on the throttle.
Then, late one afternoon. he dropped
in at the challenger's place of busi
ness, ascertained that the 500 prop
osition still stood, and covered it.
The trial was booked for that even
ing.
Up Church Hill to the stake that
marked the highest climb to date.
plodded Cactus Charles Buckley, ten
double eagles making a merry jingle
in a pants pocket Along the course
Silver City lined up - men, women,
children and Mexicans. Even money
prevailed; the mining element specu-
! lated heavily.
BY agreement the Maxwell was to
make the first trial. Smith took a
long start and tore up the first part of
the incline in second gear. Just be-
fore he hit the sand beds Smith
shifted into first He charged Buck
ley at a lively gait; Cactus Charlie
! leaped into the mesquite, just in time
Then he started in pursuit, yelling
like a demon and losing ground al
every jump. The Maxwell slowed
down at the last sand spot, but carried
through to the harder going nearer
the top, and, at the peak, was actually
gathering speed.
Smith brought his mount to a stand
and backed out of the trail, waving
his stetson to the cheering crowd be-
I low.
The other car essayed the hill ir
first gear from the start and at q
steadier speed. 1t plowed through
the lower stretches of sand in good
shape, also excelled the best perfor-
nance prior to the contest. but be-
gan to move ierllily in the heavy go
ing nearer the end, and stopped with
about 90 feet of sand still to navi-
gate.
The second and third attempts fel
short of the first. An effort to rush
the lower hill on second speed, as the
Maxwell had done, resulted in disas'
ter when, a quick shift into first was
tried. Buckley turned the 5000 over
to Smith, and the Maxwell rolled
majestically down, unquestionec
champion of the grade.
Future contests have not yet beer
proposed. the Maxwell having made
it plain that better than a drawn yer
dict can hardly be expected.