Iditarod pioneer., 1916-09-30
PASSENGERS ON AUTO-CAR
 HAVE INTERESTING TIME

About fifteen passengers from Flat to Iditarod on the auto-car which left the creek city on Sunday evening last had a most in teresting experience, and one which they will recall with no particular degree of pleasure for some time to come
 Early rlsers on Monday morning last were somewhat startled by observing several per sons moving from the direction of the tram way carrying suit eases and other luggage, giving the appearance of an early morning train arriving at its destination and dis gorgng its passengers after an all night run. They were mostly persons bound for the Outside, and while they had not been trav- cling all night, they had spent the hours between 10 o'clock Sunday night and 7 o'clock Monday morning endeavoring to make the eight-mile journey Like true Alaskans, however, they took the expert ence ood-naturedly, and as one of the un- avoidable incidents to travel in Alaska.
 After leaving Flat everything went well with the auto until within a short distance of the Summit roadhouse, when the engines went peluk Every effort to start it proved unavailng, and 1t was then found that the roundhouse man who has charge of the rolling stock at night haS forgotten the es sental of filling the gasoline tank. Dave Mutchler, who was the engineer, undertook to return to Flat on foot to procure gaso- line, the passengers repairing to Bismarcks roadhouse to await his return with as much comfort as possible under the circumstances. Mynheer Bismarck was awakened to pro vide for his crowd of unexpected guests. T., n;rht oDl cbill,- oD1 arations were made to build fire, when it was discovered that Bismarck's supply of fuel had all been consumed before he re- tired; but as there was plenty of timber in the vicinity of the roadhouse, and an aX having been found the travellers eventually secured enough fuel to build rousing fire with which to thaw out their numbed limbs. Bismarck's limited number of bedrooms was soon filled, and those unable to secure beds picked out soft boards in the vicinity of the stove and prepared to sleep until the ar rivel of Dave Mutcher and the gasoline. But the emergency woodchoppers had not been over enthusiastic at their task, and soon the fire died out When this happened the man who suffered most keenly from the cold would go out and rustic enough fuel to start a blaze which would last until another man awoke in haIf-frozen condition, when the operation was repeated As the car was expected to resume its interrupted trip at any moment the Wood-chOpperS were care ful net to accumulate a SUIT Jus, with the result that all night the slumbers of the travellers were disturbed by the intermittent cutting of wood and kindling of fires Jerry Baker. who often has ''siWa>hed' out in the wilds with the mercury lowering around 50 degrees below zero with nothing but mos quito tent to protect him from the ele ments, declares that he never suffered so much from the cold as he did that night
 When morning dawned the travellers found can of what was declared by Bis marck to be gasoline They filled the tank of the auto and applied the spark, but the engine refused to budge and 1t was then discovered that Bismarck's gasoline was principally trlckllngs from the rain spout.
 About this time Dave Mutchler made his appearance riding mule and carrying can of gasoline and joy regned in the hearts of the travellers It was short lived, how ever, for again the engine refused to op- crate.
 The foresight of Dave in bringing the mule was commended, for that useful ami maj was hitched to the car and by his aid the tired and grouchy bunch was landed in Iditarod in time for breakfast
 Dr. Behla who was one of the passengers, said that his only regret was that the lead ing jeweler of Flat was not with him to enjoy it.