The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-08-23
Automobiles Death Leap

Turing tne great EctIcdt VI TIC OCtoidho
in the face of the Teutonic invasion, the
condition of the roads was such that many
motor cars had either to be destroyed by
their Serbian owners or left to fall into the
hands of the invaders. The former alter
native was generally chosen.
IN Ipek, writes Mr.. Fortier Jones in the
Century Magazine, there were many auto
mobiles, motor lorrles, limousines and tour
ing cars. They were drawn up round the
public squares in imposing rows. Apparent
ly from habit, the chauffers puttered about
them, polishing the plate glass and nickel
and cleaning the engines. But when evacu
alton was announced they drove little way
out of the town. Some of them had brought
hand grepades, and, leaving the engines
running, they lifted up the hoods, struck
the percussion caps of the bombs, which
they dropped beside the cylinders, and then
ran. Seven or eight seconds later the racing
motor would be blown to scrap iron.
Other chauffers saturated their cars with
petrol and set them on fire, Limousines
became roaring furnaces and then exploded
into glorious bonhres But these methods
| were as nothing compared with that which
one chaqtfer conceived and, by setting the
fashion, brought several others to adopt.
Three or four kilometres out of Ipek one
of the roads turns at right angle and shrinks
into twofoot trail cut in the side of sheer
cliff three or four hundred feet above a
stream. There is no fence: the earth ends
and space begins. Having arrived at this
point, to step out of the car, let in the
clutch and push down the accelerator was
less dangerous than the grenade, easier,
quicker and far more exciting than the fire.
1t was great game.
There was a long gray car that took the
brink like trained hunter, leaping far out
over the ledge. AS its power was suddenly
released from the friction of the road, the
engine roared and trembled like live thing
during the infinitesimal instant that the car
hung upright, neld by its own momentum.
Then the motor dragged its nose down
ward as true as an arrow until it struck the
steep slope, down which it went in quick
somersaults. The tires burst with loud re-
ports that could be heard above the crash
of the breaking car. Before it rolled into
the stream it became ball of fire.
a ponderous limousine followed and
tucked its nose into the slope without a
spectacular leap. 1t was like fat old lady
falling downstairs. A large French motor
lorry ploughed terrible path down the
cliff, pretty well giving knock for knock,
and finally grinding to splinters the wreck.
age of the other cars on which it landed al
the bottom. Each make of car took the
leap in an Individual manner. Sometime:
they flew almost to bits. The tires blew
. out with loud reports.
: One famous and inexpensive American
car made the leap. 1t had up good speed
and itslightness sent it far beyond the brink
, where it hoated four hundred feet above thu
river. 1t acted almost as if it wanted t.
i fly. But once started on its downward
course, it gyrated with incredible swiftnes
and bouncing on the river bank, flew be-
yond the other cars, swan the stream ane
came to an eternal resting place on TIT
farther side.