Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-02
CLEAN SHOES SAVE
HARROUN'S PARTY
Maxwell Engineers Have Lucky Escape
From Pinch in Nevada
Not P. o. Robbers.

|, San Francisco, Oct. 2.-Neither Ray
Harroun nor any member Of his tour.
ing party of Maxwell automobile engin.
GERS had set foot on the muddy nigh
way that led them one night into Wash
burn, Nevada. AS result, their shoes
were clean and the former worlds race
champion and famous motor ear de-
signer as well as his party are still at
large and were enabled to finish their
transcontinental trip without being inn
prisoned and possible recipients Of mob
violence. e'
Harroun and his party reached Wash
burn toward evening Of long day s
run through the rain. They secured
rooms at the only hotel in town--a one
story structure-garaged the two Max
well cars they were using in the test
run, and went straight to bed where
they slept the sleep of the typical mo-
tor tourist.
Twenty or thirty feet from the suite
occupied by the Maxwell party stands
the village postofficc, and only va
cant lot lies between. While the en-
gineers slumbered, bandits broke into
the postoffice, blew open the safe, and
escaped with about $500 in cash and
stamps.
Early in the morning, Harroun was
awakened by heavy pounding on his
door which, when opened, disclosed a
burly, whiskered individual on
whose hip rested young cannon and
on whose breast hung brilliant star,
proclaiming him the sheriff Otner
belted and starred miniohs OF the law
followed the sheriff into the room.
They demanded to see the Maxwell
man 3 shoes and these were produced
pair of tan oxfords, clean and of ex'
exceedingly small size. The sheriff
shook his mead and passed on to simil-
arly inspect the footwear of each other
member Of the party.
All save Tom Orr, former race driver
and holder of the world 5 five-mile rec
ord passed muster Mt glance. One
man stayed to watch Orr the others
took his shoes and compared them
with footprints in the mud outside the
postoffice window. Orr's shoes were
large but not hob.nailed; also they were
clear Of mud and actually dusty.
After further inspection by the
sheriff, in which the baggage Of the
party was subjected 10 detailed scrut-
ing, the Maxwell men were allowed TO
leave, eongratulating themselves on
their lucky escape from the only diff
Guilty Of any kind experienced on their
whole trip.
Harroun was greatly pleased with the
result Of mis- test trip In the new Max
wells, across two mountain ranges and
three deserts. Elaborate tests Of the
new cooling system were infallibly sue.
cessfuI. The new Maxwell clutch, run
ming in oil, proved itself complete
success, greatly increasing the comfort
Of tho passengers ard relieving the reai
axle of all sudden strains.
1--WE met and overlook scores Of ears
on the tranecontinental, F." said Har
rout. fMost Of them were getting
along all right, though at Kearney'i
ranch there were five hung up witt
rear system trouble. None Of these
were Maxwels, however Rear system
and clearance difficulties are the one,
which seem commonest IN the rough
country. II Is hard 10 believe that
there are cars in which the flywheel Of
the rear axle housing hang lower thar
the front axle point Of contact, but
there are many Of them. Such ear
have their troubles In the bad land
west Of Salt Lake. +"