Arizona republican., 1919-12-14
MEXICAN PUT OLDS
 TRUCK ID SUPREME
 TEST OVER DESERT

Recently one of the high powered Hispano- Suiza airplanes, out in search of the aviators lost in Lower Califor- mia, ran out of gasoline and was forced to land in one of the widest, smallest wastes In this seldom visited land of mirages. The fact that the lads who were forced to abandon their plane knew in what direction they must walk to reach water saved their lives. A strenuous 25-mile hike brought them to San Felipe, tiny desert village described by them as few huts and some law abiding people. From this point they were driven by a Mexican farmer to Calexico, leaving the plane as lost forever, 173 miles from the United States border.
 But the army officials at North Is land thought otherwise and made two attempts with heavy trucks to effect rescue. Both attempts ended disas trously. News of this came to the ears of Manuel Solorzano, an enter prising young Mexican who uses an Oldsmobile Economy truck for the pur- pose of hauling cantaloupes into Ca leXico from Mexican farms far below the line.
 Although he was laughed at by ev eryone Of his friends to whom he spoke of his intentions, Solorzano consulted Lieut.. Col. H. L. Watson, commanding officer at North Island, concerning his scheme to recover the plane with his Oldsmobile. Although the colonel had little faith, he finally made SolorZano proposition and offered to supply as many men as would be required. He chose to accept but one man in ad- dition to a Mexican boy named Por- firio Garcia. Lieutenant E. D. Perrin was delegated to the job.
 A thorough examination of the truck was made, after which it was loaded with two fifty gallon barrels of water, fifty gallons of gasoline, ten gallons of oil provisions, cooking utensils and bedding, together with such tools as were considered essential. The load, including the three passen- gers, totaled approximately 2,500 pounds. At seven o'clock on the morn i ing of September 11th the little party set forth on what proved to be one of i the most gruelling tests a motor truck was ever subjected to. l Much has been written of the diff ficulties of travel encountered in this country by prospectors in search of ! gold-of the wonderful mirages to be seen on this apparently endless waste of blistering sand and sagebrush-of 1 the heat that reaches 130 degrees Tn the shade (with no shade)-of the whirlwinds and sandstorms-and,m most appalling, Of the hundred of lives snuffed out by heat and thirst
 Three solid days of travel, at an av- craze of six miles per hour brought the little party to San Felipe. From this point the tracks of the aviators, still discernible in the sand, were taken up and the airplane located.
 At least two hours were required 70 devise a plan for towing the plane and it was at length decided that the removal of the wings would make it possible to haul the balance intact With the wings removed, the plane was lashed tail foremost to the Olds-
 mobile and pulled across the sand hills to San Felipe-much to the as- tonfshment of the natives. Consider that the wheels of an airplane are set much wider apart than those of ar automobile it becomes apparent that i it was necessary to break two distinct sets of tracks through the i loose sand.
 From San Felipe it was one contin-
 uous battle from morning until nigh
 for four consecutive days. But or l September goth the Oldsmobile Econ | omy truck, Uncle Sams Hispano-
 Suiza and triumphant Solorzano hove
 into Calexico-all in first class con-
 dition.