Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-14
MEEKER TO MOTOR
OYER OREGON TRAIL
Easy Riding "schoonermobile' Will
BE Vehicle Of Famous Old
Pioneer.
is WELL KNOWN IN OMAHA

For the second time Ezra Meekcr Will
make lranscontinental tour on ihc now
nearly lost oregon trail lie made one
trip from coast to coast driving yoke
~ oxen in the years 1910, 1911 and 1912
Ills first trip was from indianapolis TO
Oregon IN 1859 and was an almost indie
scribable series Of hardships and prlya-
tons. lis present trip viii be far DIFF
fercnt Instead of the oEen-drawn
prairie schooner, eramped and uncom-
Portable M cage, creeping and humping
along rlhhoned scar across tho deserts,
tho wilderness. and the snowy Rockies,
10 promised land Of plenty this journey
viii be made IN twelye-cylnder motor
car, equipped properly for such long
distance ana on roads which while IN
many places leaving room for great Inn
proyemont, by comparison are smooth as
paper.
Ezra Meekcr Is Ola now. or ~ he
says, rs years young" but tho IN.
duenched fire Of youth stili burns IN
His veins 10 s. no longer the stalwart
young man with Tho lndomltable pioneer
courage that WAS ready 70 face the
weary march. the contingency of meet
ing snyage Indians. diaease and tho
cravings ~ famine lie II slightly
stopped nov and Bis snow white hair
flows 10 his shoulders but iu spirit. Ut
least. he Ia no older than the s2-year-old
youth N - for he has a mission IN
NE. This Ia 10 lnsull the flower Of
patriotism IN the breast o. each person
with whom he comes IN contact. and 10
fittingiy commemorate with solid
sncomiuna tho work Of tho pioneers in
penetrating tho virgin west, by erecting
stone monuments along the old Oregon
trail,
Recalls First Trip.
Much Of this work has already been BY
Mr. Mesker by driving yoke Of oxen
from tho Atlantic 10 the Pacific, trir
which took twenty-five months, selling
hs books along the route, the proceeds
81 which are donated 10 q self appointed
task. Mr.. Meekor was born n Hunts.
vile, d, December N. 1870 Ills parents
mofed 10 Indiana near tho village Of
string Town. now called indianapolis
when he was oniy n toddling younEstsr
Here he grew 20 manhood following the
usual life ~ the pioneer boy He hunted
and fAhod IN tile district which Ia now
covered with factories and residences
lie was unable 10 secure much school.
Ing ak months WINS the actual time he
attended sehool=but he has always been
voraeons reader and attributes the
ability he posseaFps ~ speaking and writ
Ing the pufest English dlctlon 10 reading
The countrga leading newspapers For 0
time Mr. Meeker worked in the Indian.
apolis Journay printing office az devil
for s. v y Noel
Al the age u II he married and soon
after, With his young wife, set out 10
an unknown destination. yeiicd in the
mysteries Of secret dangers. that led him
after much delay 10 Portland, ore.
When ! decided to make this transcon-
tlnental trip ia an automobile ! com.
nenced looking around for a suitable
car" said Mr. Meoker THE Pathfinder
twln-slx appealed 20 me az tho logical
motor car for the long journey. The
honestly earned reputation IT possesses
for sound mechanical ability, road.
worthiness and long touring casa made
~ AHp RHH Nai AtE Hhf men, ZOO my
early home was very near the site OF the
factory and many a day have hunted
rabbits and coons where tho big Path
finder plant now stretches west OF Whit.
river.
Prairie Schooner BODY.
The car Is n special Job. being stripped
70 the chassis and prairie schooner
body and top built on While there Ia OF
course nothing beautiful about my
schooner-mobile' IN comparison with the
graceful liquid lines OF tho regular car,
/ chose this type because intend to live
IN the ear until the trip is completed.
~ careful planning and minimizing use.
less space. II IL surprising how much a
prairie schooner body viii carry and still
be homeike, indeed.
Il was delayed In indianapolis while
nag latest hook was beng printed. and
left this city April e, starting from
Monument Place. or Governors Circle.
AZ Il was formally called. before the
beautiful monument was even creature
Of dreams. I expect 20 leave the capitol
at Washington. y. c., about the middle
u May. driving by easy stages into tho
heart on tho setting sun on the long trip
overland
Mr Meoker is familiar figure "a
Omaha people, who have seen his oxen