The Washington times., 1915-08-23
HIS BUS De LUXE
IS DEEP IN DITCH
"Gypsy Van" OFF For Pacific
Exposition, But Gets Only
Short Way on Trip.

I BRIARCLIFF. N. Y, Aug. 23.-Roland
R. Conklin s. motor land yacht. carrying
him and his family. to San Francisco.
got into a ditch two miles north OF
here and stayed there all night. A
dozen horses couldn't pull 1t back on
the road, and so the eight members OF
the automobiling party were taken IN
two rescue cars to >Briarclin Lodge Tor
the night, although, Mr.. Conklin started
from New York with the announce
ment that all Of the sleeping during the
trip would be done in the bus-no
hotels: .o,
me gypsy van as Hs,,Is Its SISanywaad SMnGr aas
when the chauffeur turned TO the sloee .
of the road to allow another car 70
pass. The edges OF the roau %ere SSio se
and as the van left, isft the sna marc intn 'u the
road the front Wheels "eh' N"'o ''ie
soft earth and water.
The chauffeurs effort to get the car
out on the road again resulted IN tetI
wheel sinking into the ditch; then ootn
front and rear WneGs be he sank car With body
twenty-one feet long and seven ana d
half feet wide. and with its EXTENSIVE
roof garden might turn over. nj. ~, NVnn 70.
lin and the othors in the car got OUT as
quickly AS they could.
Horses Go To Aid.
Word came to the village of the gypsy
vans plight. and half dozen Teams
went to the rescue. but they were un-
able to haul the van out OF Its rut.
Then 1t was decided that the motorists
should put up at Briarclin Lodge Wnllc
the work Of getting the bus on ITS feet
again should 90 forward with the as
Speed did not enter into the calcu!a-
tions when the Gypsy VAN was de-
signed. Conklin's idea was to provide
a car that would have every comIort
and convenience Of private fui!nan II
country road. And su comparatively
small motor Of 60-horsepower was in
stalled. geared for power and not speed.
canvas strips are In readiness for going
| over sand. and there Is also In the kit
a winch which can be operated by the
motor strong enough to pull the car
out of q mud hole or ditch.
Is Fl Feet In Length.
The body Of this land yacht Is
mounted on a truck chassis. Of the
motor omnibus type. with such changes
and additions as were necessary to
meet the varied calls upon It, The in
side dimensions Of the body are twenty
one feet In length. seven and one-half
feet wide and six and one-half feet
hlPn. II 10 QlVlOeQ lnto IuTco cornpart.
. ments. and on top there 10 full-sized
deck. fitted with a big folding eather
top and Jiffe side curtains. The body
has forty-four good-sized windows. fit
| ted with glass sash. shades. and copper
wire screens. Screen doors are provided
in addition to the regular doors at both
| entrances. Each entrance has folding
steps. operating automatically with the
doors.
The forward compartment. five feet
l,, 1a~n ntotn hA uh hAA al
controlling levers. drivers seat and
gasolene tank. 1t also has two berths
for the crew which raise into the
ceiling when not In ns~ The front
entrance leads from the right side into
the drivers compartment. The other
entrance Is at the back and opens into
the rear compartment which is six feet
In length and Is finished In white en-
amel. A shower bath and folding lava
tory are provided. The icebox, which
holds 100 pounds OF Ice. and an electric
range with two burners, q broiler and
an oven. and cupboards and shelves
for provisions. dishes and cooking uten-
sils and a sink with running water are
all included In the equipment of this
compartment. There are two large tanks
on the upper deck and both hot ana colo
water are available. Hot water can be
obtained from either the radiator or
en- electric heater
The center compartment Is ten feet in
length and contains a luxurious couch
convertible into a bed. two separa ts
upholstered armchairs, also convertible
into bed, and four berths which raise
up into the ceiling when not IN use.