Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-01-15
A CHANCE OF LUCK
Story Of a Man Who Yearned to
Own an Automobile.
HIS CHANCE CAME AT LAST,
Rwas Wholly Unexpected and Under
Il Peculiar CIRCUMSTANCES, but ting, Car,
a@seauty, Was His Very own-srhen
Came the saddening Climax.

Came the saddening Climax. D
The fierce Joy a poor. man feels
when hE has at ast3yained possession
; OF an auto he has crayed is sometimes
a delusion and a snare. i know, for
have experienced said Joy.
=. Anything is likely to happen TO a
United States marine oa his travels
around aAd about this old earth Of
ours, and it so fell out at the Frisco
fire that i became sole owner of
$4,000 touring car for. exactly thirty
seven minutes. Rudolph Spreckels,
the millionaire sugar reflner. gave 1t.
to me, aud | don't remember whether.
i thanked him for 1t or.~not. i hope
not. :: -
was ~ duty at the United. States
marine barracks on Mare island at the
time of the earthquake and fire at San
Francisco. and when We got word Of
the affair we marines made record
breaking dash In n torpedo boat de.
stroxer to the scene of the disaster.
Near the corner of. Van Ness. avenue
aud Bush street. at the foot Of La
fayette square; stood the million dollar
home. of Rudolph Spreckels. Some of
the marines entered in the course of
duty, while went to. the rear and:
into the garage There IN the garage;
nat on his back unGsr the prettiest
car you ever laid eyes on. was Rudolph
Spreckels, yainly. endeayoring to un-
loea the rear wheel gearing of she ma
chine Something had locked the rear.
wheels and had put the car out of
commission.
I tried as best i could to assist Mr.
Spreckels but /. wasn't of much use
: considering I'm no. mechanieian. Then
he ald 7 together tried to shove .he
car through the door of tee garage,
but halfway: through 1t stuck, and Mr.
Spreckels became somewhat discour-
aged The fire was nearing bis. home
rapidly, and, s.s there was no time 10
lose ne cIasped my hand feryentiy and
said. "'rhe car is yours. my boy, If you
can save It." Then he made of for
the heights of Lafayette square And
safety.
For a moment / stood -transfxed
with the wonder' of 1t sll, for l. could
scarcely realize that The beautiful car
was all my own, 10 do with as
pleased And then l came out Of my
dream aHd gazed at the crippled car
stuck fast IN the doorway,
Down the street maddenet people
We're burrying to Lafayette square
dragging their belongings with them.
but their shrlll cries OF terror and ap-
prehension found scarce an ans wering
echo In my heart. | had troubles Of
my own just then Six thousand dol
larS of my money. was tied up In that
door. and 10 save It l. realized that
must act quickly. IL would take at
least twenty men to shove that cxr
TO the heights of Lafayette square
and safety aud / knew that / could
look for no assistance from the half
craEeG people WHO we're scurrying TO
that vantage point. My marine com
paniona HAD gone farther down the
street on their errands Of merciful
duty, and l could not look to them for
help. But could not save the car by
gazing around helplessly. and / map
ped out a plan Of action j..
was wearing big IS al my
side, and must have been a. wou'er>
full figure 10 tie onlookers as, with
brandished pistol, Joined the mob
on the street. shouting wildly as ran,
"a horsey. Il horse-me kingdom for
horse"
My purpose was 20 Impress into my
service any automobiles or horse |.
might find and SO drag my beauty
six to Lafayette square. But there
was nothing doing l rushed wildly
0p and down the street, but the mad
deGed throng paid not the slightest
heed to me. Nor could a single horse
or auto he seen anywhere. The ire
had almost reached Bush and Van
Ness streets; and i knew that had
but one change Perhaps in I.afayette
square was. some .persov who had
brought his valuables there by aid OF
horse or auto power and l might be
aole to borrow the means OF propul-
sion for few minutes Borrow
Heavensl :. with that six shooter in.
my starboard mitt, borrow was a
mighty poor word The automobile
and fire MANIA was ON me. s:4d i was
not. responsible r.
So, Mere sy heeled. I assembled to:
Lafayette square. Arrived there.
locked down upon the tragic. sceno re.
leg. The IRE had reached@yan Ness
avenue, and as l looked the tiled root.
ing Of the Spreckels home fell in, Civ.
: ing-vent to zforked danes that shot In
and out llke:serpents tongues. A few
minutes later the tillng on:the Spreckels
garage gave WY. and my beauty six,
hay crushed and buried in=the mass OF
wreckage.
could look no longer HeGTtsick and
weary, wendell my way through the
crowd gathered In Lafayette square,
Then started down the hill I'm quest
Of my comrades. 49, :: = -
No. inGSeGS you never. realize what
life really means until yos have watch
ell the only automobile y5u ever owned
burn UP exactly thirty-seven. minutes