The Lamar register., 1915-09-15
RIDES A WEEK IN A NONSTOP
AUTO
Sensational Feat by S. U. Bergh, a
Fresno, Cal, Newspaper Man

Fresno, Calf, Sept. 8, 19l5.-The
feat of S. U. Bergh, Fresno news
paper man, in occupying almost con-
tinuously for a week, a seat as OBJ
server in a Maxwell stunt" car, is
put forward as bold bid for a worlds
record and a prominent berth in his
tory's hall of fame.
The car was the first of the new
model shipped from Detroit to the
manufacturers representative in Fres-
no. In order to give the general pub
lie and the members of his selling or
ganization in adjoining territory a
view of the car, the dealer determined
to put it on the road. To demon
strate the sturdy quality of the car,
the hood was locked and sealed, and
the run made a nonstop affair, under
observation. The Fresno Herald as
sumed charge of the trial and assigned
Mr.. Bergh, member of its staff, to
see to it that the motor should neither
be stopped nor touched for repair or
adjustment.
Mr.. Bergh fortified himself for the
week by a good sleep and slid into his
seat at the appointed moment-Sat-
urday at noon. For all day Sunday
and until Monday night he asked for
no relief. The Maxwell travelled con-
tinuously. On Monday night he was
relieved for a few hours by news
paper friend, it being expressly stipu-
lated that no supplies were to be in
stalled during Bergh's absence.
Back on the job, Bergh stuck it out
for "a hours more. Now and then he
would catch few moments of rest
but invariably stop would find him
wide awake, ready to check any install
lation of supplies and keeping an eagle
eye on the odometer. Most of his
meals were eaten, with the crew, in
the car and while travelling the roads
of Tulare and Kings county.
On Wednesday Bergh's employer Of
fered him relief from the remainder
of the trip but the observers heart
was in his work.
"Pm feeling fine he declared. Pm
up this seat? Not on your life. I'm
going to be the first man in the world
to ride a week in an automobile"
And so the run proceeded to its
end. The car made repeated visits to
Visalia, Porterville, HanfOrd and 9TH
err neighboring cities. Day and night
over rough roads and over smooth
city pavements and country lanes, the
Maxwell glided tireless and buoyant.
Drivers were changed every four hours
but Bergh rodeson and on lolling at
ease in the deep cushions.
As the end of the week drew nearer,
interest in the combined feat of the
nonstop wonder Car" and the non
sleep "Wonder Observer" steadily
grew. To inform the various news
papers along the route, Bergh secured
a portable typewriter on which he
wrote bulletins Of mileage and supply
consumption.
A big crowd saw the end of the run
and cheered car and Bergh to the echo.
Bergh took the final readings, denot-
ing that the car had run over 1000
miles, averaging better than 26 miles
to the gallon of gasoline, and went
over to the Herald office to turn in
his story. He then bathed, ate a square
meal and went to bed, complaining
petulantly that the mattresses seemed
a bit hard when compared to auto
mobile upholstery. After Ia hours of
unbroken sleep he reused, ate and
took another nap, after which he said
he was ready to start another week
of life on the road.