The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1922-10-05
A MOTORING ANTHOLOGY
Continued from page u

handful of speeds forward and just about
enough clearance to pass over its own
shadow without an abrasion. One time
when John was going to the Bremen Fair
he ran over a hen, and being conscienti-
Gus tourist, turned back to settle with the
owner.
"Wall, sir" growed the farmer, you
sure have done it now. That was a prize
hen"
"I'm mighty sorry" said John, "what do
you consider her worth?"
The bereaved ignored the question, and
dilated at great length on the rare pedi-
gree of the hen, of her priceless virtues,
and the inability to replace such an ex-
= traordinary fowl. Two or three times
John interrupted with query about the
amount of damages, but the rustic con-
tinued his eulogy. At first John wondered
if he had enough cash with him, and later
wished he had run over farm hand in
stead. Finally, in desperation, he demanded ::
swell, I've got to go on. Give me an
idea what you expect so that l can make
arrangements for settlement What's
the best you can do?"
The farmer regarded him shrewdly
moment and then snapped, 81 won't take
a cent lessn half dollar"
AT this period there were a great many
doctors among the hopefuls who went in
for horseless vehicling. Some were bona
6de practising physicians and others mere
ly titular, though all certainly became doc
tors of philosophy. Perhaps the urge to
experiment with unfamiliar anatomies led
them into this avocation, but one and all
soon discovered that the healing element of
Mother Nature never assisted toward re-
covery in a motor affection.
DR.. Stoltz, practitioner of generous dis
placement, chose Crestmobile as pro-
fessional carrier 1t was little more than
pneumatic tired buggy with a bicycle
motor in front of the dash, and so small
that he sat on it rather than in it. The
doctor could start it from the seat by pull
ing on a strap wound around the crank
shaft, which automatically recoiled itself.
Soon after he bought the machine they
say that he was working on waterlogged
patient out at Chain Lakes, and failing to
get results after the first few pulls at the
victims tongue, absently exclaimed, ooh
darn, guess she's run out of gas again!"
Dr. Myers first experience was with
one of those spindly, high-wheeled Hols-
MANS which Louie Nickel innocently re-
ferred to as "Wholesome" but it was an
incorrect classification. 1t had almost
enough clearance to straddle load of
hay, and could have easily passed over
traffic cop, had there been any at the time
The two-cylinder air-cooled motor was
slung beneath the body, and it is fact
that on cold mornings the busy doctor built
fire under it, after the manner of slim
ulating reluctant mules. Transmission
was accomplished by means of pair of
cord belts running in sheaves on crank
shaft and rear wheels, and speed control
was through varying tension of these BELTS
Sometimes going down hill with belts TOO
slack they would slip off, and the driver
wouldn't discover the mishap until he at
tempted the next grade.
Doc Pine kept us in news with several
early models carving out quite career
with one-cylinder Packard that hurtled
through an iron fence and knocked out
the cornerstone of the Oliver Block with
out losing hubcap. With his next car,
a Pope he once tore out of his
barn with the door around his neck. After
that he got bigger car and took his show
to Chicago.
Doc Williams was our designing genius.
and eventually turned out some credtable
work. But his first creation, which he
called the White Ghost, had peculiarities
Under his vigilant eyes and virile Ian