South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-08
GOES 972 MILES
IN "A HOURS
Portland, Me-, Man Sets Up
New Mark For Mid-win-
ter Travel Over Snow.

4 gruelling. long distance road run
In the dead OF winter, Where SHAH
j. be staeod? The reafer naturaUs
PICTURES sr his minis eye the fine
u scadam roads and sum- skies o..
Southern California this road
run unique in motoring annals was
made under the most adverse OF eli
matte conditions The Q12 miles 90
rocky. rutty. snow covered roads
stretching from Boston so Fort Kent.
Maine. and return were selected FOR
the route. the actual running time
over which was made within practic-
ally "A hours. Fort Kent. by the
way. is one OF the most northerly
points in the United States and IS To-
Gated in the northeastern part OF
Maine. almost at the border line
The date-Dec $3.50. 1919.
Participants-P =. Frost Por.-
land, Ne. ". II g. Sawyer. and
Haven Sawyer. Of Bangor. Me
Car-Stock Franklin Touring.
Weather Conditions-Ty New
England winter
Road Conditions-Abom
\ Real Road Test.
Let IL be noted az the outset that
even in the summer months the
roads from Portland through to Fort
Kent are BY no means the acme or
perfection, and that by September
Is all genial tourist travel is by com
mon consent abandoned. And Maine
roads in December-there's "a real
test for both car and driver.
At three minutes past nine on the
evening Of Friday December rs. p.
Z. Frost seated himself I'm his Frank
lin touring car in the city Of Boston
and accompanied by the Sawyer
brothers. started out with the grim
determination 20 get that car
through to Fort Kent iu record time.
And he did,
Each man agreed 90 take his turn
at the wheel for "A third OF the dis
lance. and the process OF clipping
OF the miles had begun Portland
was reached at 1916; Augusta, az
1:15: Bangor. at 3:13: Houlton. az
6.23; Pressure Isle. at 75f4, and
when Fort Kent hove into sight m
9:40 A NJ. the car and drivers were
still going strong. 4S6 miles OF icy
and snow covered roads including
every known variety Of road and
near-road Several times II was
necessary TO cut through fields
where the roads were impassablel
covered i'm Il hours and % minutes
elapsed time-an average of 2S-5-
miles per hour.
Only Five Minutes Rest
Such "a trip made without mishaD
or an adjustment OF any kind would.
seemingly, have satisfied the ann
bition OF most motorists however
enthusiastic But not so Frost and
his companions, only five minutes
for a rest, and the faithful old
Franklin had her nose pointed Tor
Boston. The return journey was
not destined TO be as happy as the
first leg Of the trip. for just outside
of Bangor a team of horses swung
across the road I'm front Of the car
which was travelling at high speed.
The driver, to avoid collision took
the ditch and nit a granite cu.verl
None Of the occupants was injured
but the engine was pushed back
and the car put out OF commission.
This happened about 1893 on Satur-
dav afternoon. December % The
car was returned 10 Bangor. repair
ed. and started on the last lap OF It's
journey on Tuesday afternoon. De-
cenber 80. at 4:23 p NJ To reached
Augusta at 6.19 p H.. Portland al
.g:43 P. NJ. and the Hotel LenoN in
Boston at 1928 p. ~ ON the return
trip 20 Boston ia many places not
the slightest sign was 10 be seen oI
the tracks made by the car as Dc
headed northward.
The actual running time of the
return trip was 10 hours and p
minutes. as compared with : and
81 minutes. elapsed time for the
trim 10 Fort Kent. The total rum
ming time for the round trip was -
hours and a. minutes. however ll
is estimated that tho return time
was extended about II minutes uF
broken gasoline connection, Que ID
the accident In view Of the facL
that the accident and the suose-
euent delay were brought ABOUT ~
purelv unnatural situation u Is
only fair TO discuss the drive ln
terms OF actual running time, TOT il
can be easily seen that had the
awkward situation not arisen on tn-
rough. narrow roads near Bangor
the running time would in fact ne
the elapsed time.
such is the story Of run. re-
markable for the stamina and grit
OF the drivers and for the ability OF
a light weight fine touring car 90
take punishment. Mr.. Frost and ms
companions have set up a new marx
gor long distance travel by motor
over snowboUnd roads