The Coconino sun., 1927-11-25
POWERFUL STEAM CAR BUT
HAD HECK OF A TIME WITH
COLD CREW MOST STARVED

stop at night, and had no eatables
along. All that we had in the way
of the necessities of life was plenty
of tobacco and matches.
Right here our first streak of good
luck came to us. Doyle reckoned that
Muderbach's cabin was somewhere in
the vicinity. We came to where side
trail led away from ours, up the side
of mountain, and he reckoned that
trail led right to the cabin We had
to leave the automobile, however, for
it wasn't made to climb mountains
like that one, and to scramble on foot
up the winding trail. 1t seemed a
long way, but after while we saw
what made us glad-a light apparent
ly shining right out of the big, dark
mountain. Doyle reckoned there must
be somebody staying at the cabin.
And so there was-three cowboys. We
found cowboys and cowboy hospital
ity. They had recently killed two
year-old steer, and they had flour,
baking powder, coffee and honey and
ice. What more could a person rea-
sonably ask for-juicy steaks, honey
biscuits and coffee; a supper fit for
a hungry automobilist.
We bunked with the cowboys on the
floor of the cabin, and were up long
before daylight and had breakfast.
We were back where we had left the
automobile just as the first gray of
dawn was breaking The automobile
was frozen stiff. A long time was
required to thaw it out, and valu-
able portion of our supply of fuel
used But we gave little thought to
that, for were we not going to be at
Rerry's place at the rim by o'clock
of that day at the very latest?
Alas! for our reckoning, and, alas!
for US. Alas! several times for US.
We got to Berry's two days later, and
not a particle of food did we have to
eat, nor drop Of water to drink un-
til we got there. And quite q little
story goes with that. l hesitate to
tell it. 1t is like opening an old sore.
NY tongue seems to swell and my
throat to crack when | think of it now.
Other people have gone many days
without food or water, but | never
realized how they suffered until ! was
forced to go two days without those
things myself.
morning from the trail below the cabin
we moved off splendidly. The cow
bows were there to see the start
Davis and Pitts and the Mexican, all
mounted on fiery broncs that snorted
and wheeled every time the cylinders
puffed out a little steam. But the
cowboys sat their saddles like they
were part of the broncs.
For ten miles or more we scooted
through the forest like sliding down
the chutes. 1t was a glorious morn
ing and a glorious ride. Twice we
came close to bands of antelope, beau
tiful, graceful creatures, whose curlos-
ity to know what made the automo-
bile go kept them from running until
we were nearly upon them. Once we
saw a number of wild horses way up
on the side of a hill They were look
ing for snow to eat, for they were
many miles from water.
We had just descended a small hill
where the trail was rough with stones,
and the driver had given her more
steam as we struck the level and good
going again, when something popped,
and instantly we were enveloped in
cloud of steam. Our water gauge had
failed to work. We lost all our steam,
and, | am afraid, our hope of heaven,
right there And that was only the
beginning of our troubles that day.
We had now used all the gasoline
brought from Los Angeles, which had
been contained in the two feed tanks
under the seat, and we're obliged to
refill the tanks with oil purchased in
Flagstaff, and alleged to be gasoline.
When we started again it was plain to
be seen that this fuel was not going
to give the amount of heat required
to keep up sufficient steam. Besides,
it produced dense volume of smoke,
that poured out of the ventilators and
enveIoped US, making us look like In
dians. We crawled along for several
hours, making about three miles an
hour. Then we decided to abandon the
trailer and its load Of baggage, water
and alleged gasoline, and attempt to
make the canyon sometime during the
night. So everything that was not
absolutely necessary was left right
there, and all four of us piled onto
the machine in heap, and she start