The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-16
Most Remarkable Test Ever
Given Successfully Stood and
All Records Smashed BY
Light Weight Six.

In a drive from Tia Juana. Mexico,
to Vancouver, b. c., rot merely the
motor, but the car itself was kept
running continuously. On the sworn
word of the two official observers
and the three other members OF the
crew. the wheels of the car never
ones-not even for the flash of a
secoud-stopped moving.
The distance was 1850 miles; the
time consumed. five and one half
DAYS. The party which made this re-
markahle run, no less of an endur-
ance test for the men than the car,
was composed of c. II. Hunter, Los
Angeles, manager of the Chandler
Motor Car Co. OF California, who
relief driver; Al Waddell automobile
editor of the Los Angeles Times;
Joseph waddell. photographer for
the Universal Film Corporation: and
Jack Grimm, publicity man for the
California Chandler Company. The
Messrs waddell acted as official OBJ
servers.
No other man or group of men ever
set out on test which offered such
seeming certainty OF defeat. Even
a puncture would have defeated their
The car ran into Vancouver with
Mexican air in all four tires. And
Mexican water in it's radiator. Let's
not forget that No water was add
ed during the entire trip. Gasoline
and oil were supplied with the car
moving slowly. What little sleep the
men had was snatched In short maps
in the car. They ate in the car. No
other event in western motordom has
ever aroused such interest.
But how were they going to get
across the Columbia River irso
Washington If they took n ferry
they would be compelled to stop the
movement of the car. There is even
a strict government regulation that
no engine can be kept running while
being transported by ferry.
This had been anticipated by the
Californians. however. before they
started. and through the efforts OF
l.. D Whitehurst. who had charge of
all arrangements for the Dulmage-
Manley Company. license to use the
Vancouver railroad bridge was Civ
en- by A J.. Davidson. superintendent
Of the s + IL S. Railroad Company.
which owns two-thirds interest In
the s3710 o01 bridge that connects
South s. Johns with Vancouver.
ThanF the kindness of Mr. Da-
wilson. who spent many hours pre-
pairing for the revolutionary events,
and who walked the entire three
miles with the car over the tracks.
the feat was accomplished and the
nonstop Chandler was sent merrily
on its way to Canada still with q
perfect record that hettcvs all pre-
vious performances of true nonstop
runs. several times over.
II was no small trick to get across
the Vancouver bridge. The track
had To be travelled by the car for
exactly three miles. and two and four
1enths miles OF the distance embraced
bridge. trestle and viaduct. There
were serious distractions in the tracks
at turn outs and cross overs.
handling switches. guard rails ope-
rating levers. block signal and de-
railing pipe lines. etc.
"To make the trip without allow
ing the car TO stop even for an an
stant. Mr. Hunter had TO jump AT a
fairly good pace, and he had 10 stay
In the exact groove outlined by the
surveyors OF the line, else the jig
would have been up.
When he turned the car loose at
the bridge Mr.. Hunter was cool es
cucumber. He took every jump &C
cording TO schedule and finally, after
an hours gruelling test. he faced
the moving picture men on the Wash
ington side of the river after driving
the first passenger vehicle, other than
a train. that has ever passed over the
big Vancouver bridge"
But the Vancouver bridge was not
the only tough nut to crack. The
tour was sprinkled with difficulties.
as any motorists may easily figure
out but the crew found a way always
10 keep the wheels moving.
In the entire 1000 miles not once
did they permit themselves 10 get in
a position where II would have been
necessary to reverse: which of course.
would have meant to stop" no mat
ter how brief.
Just think OF driving a car" said
p. A. Blenner, local representative OF
the Chandler. over a road OF three
nations without allowing 1t so stop.
Great locomotives are usually driv-
en- on 150-mile runs. and a run of
ESQ miles is generally considered the
limit. At the end OF the run they
are sent to the terminals and given
running repairs before going back
70 work, Locomotives carry ire
mendous load. but they have tre-
mendous power. and they get some
what OF rest once in a while. The
Chandler carried fun load of five
grown men with baggage 2.0s0 miles
without a stop
Gould one ask for more convincing
proof OF the mechanical efficiency
and endurance OF the high grade au-
tomobile as exemplihed in the Chand-
ler?"