Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-02
From England, Across America to the South
Seas, australia, CeyIOn and Iudia and
Back Through Europe in a Midget Car.
american Hospitality, Hold-U Ups, CooO-.
boys and Indians-Snakes Of australia.


made up our minds, however, that we would
have jolly good try.
It was not long before it began to look as if
the latter dismal prophecy, at all events, might
be fulfilled. The road steadily deterioraIed un-
til it became no better than a mud-track, the
mire being deep that British motorists can
have no conception of it unless they have seen
it. FearSome potholeS were everywhere-great
cavities half as big as our car itself. Once we
went into one. We had Strayed of the proper
road on to a most appalling track where we
skidded in crab-like fashion. On either side
lay frozen flood-water Of considerable depth.
into which was in momentary fear of sliding.
Again and again we stuck fast, having to get
out and push the car along by main force, for
the wheels refused to grip with the engine
running.
Our shoes and stockings were speedily soaked
with icy water, and we were Smothered up to
the knees IN mud. All of sudden the car
pitched into q big hole, from which our united
efforts failed to bulge her! Utterly weary. and
consigning all cars to cline where mud is un-
known, I looked round and spotted farmhouse
in the distance.
WHEN I went there for assistance big
AlSatian dog barred my entrance with
fierce growls. but cajoled him to let me pass
by giving him toffee The farmer. when he
heard my tale of woe readily offered help.
Even with the essential chains with which his
own car was fitted it was only with the utmost
difficulty that we got back to my sorely-tried
little car and saved her from a watery grave
Fortunately pleasant experiences alternate
with unpleasant ones, and two days later saw
us bowling merrily along over sunlit prairies.
stopping occasionally to take photographs and
bask in the sun. Thus we progressed unevent-
fully through the Arkansas River Valley to La
Junta, in Colorado.
An entertaining town is La Junta, full of
cowboys and Indians, though it gives one
queer sensation of the mingling of ancient and
Vyla TN0 tuna
shopping in chain stores! We stayed there for
a day, and then set out again, almost immedi-
ately encountering more mud.
We were about 10 miles past the settlement of
Model when the trouble occurred, and at one
period there were five cars likewise stuck
close by Again we went through the old ia
miliar routine of pushing and heaving, getting
covered with mud ourselves in the process.
So thick and heavy was the mire that the
tires churned it up into masses which wedged
themselves tightly between the wheels and the
body and mudguards, so that after time the
wheels could not turn. We pulled the glutin-
Gus stuff away with our hands but few yards
farther on the wheels gummed up as badly as
ever.
To add to our troubles it was growing dark
and beginning to snow. Just as it looked as If
we might have to spend freezing night in this
undesirable locality three big cars came slither-
ing along the track toward us, with brown
faces peering out at us.
Stuck" inquired voice, and forthwith
perfect torrent of dark-skinned figures poured
from the cars suppose we must have looked
a little alarmed for one amiable old gentleman
who seemed to be the boss" hastily explained
that they were troupe of Negro musicians on
their way to Trinidad.
Many hands make light work, and these
good fellows soon had us out of our predica-
ment. In spite of the fact that they were in
a hurry they insisted on driving behind us all
the way to Trinidad in case we got stuck again.
Right across America, by the way, we found
that road courtesy" is certainly not dead there
Ration Pass, the summit of which is 1900
feet high, was our next thrill. The climb was
one long struggle with snow and slippery roads,
and at times there were unguarded precipices
along the sides which made the thought Of
more than usually bad skid decidedly unnerv-
ing. The ups and downs of Ration Pass are
really formidable, but it gives one glimpses of
some of the most beautiful scenery in America.
The mountains are clothed to the Underline
with forests of spruce and pine, full of cougars
bears and deer.
Reaching the end of the pass, we put up at
Home Ranch Maxwell; and of all the cold
places have ever been in Maxwell is aSsuredly
the coolest! We had another bitter drive next
day. continually drinking scalding hot coffee
from thermos flask in order to keep our blood
moving; found the two pairs of gloves I wore
perfectly useless for keeping my hands warm
on the steeringwheel. Snow was again a trou-
BILE, but other motorists were invariably ready
to help u.s. notably wild-looking but really
charming Indian and his wife,
We were now in very lonely mountainous
country, and although the travellers we encoun-
tered were very kind to I did not like the
look of some of the locals" at all. They were
mainly Mexicans and Indians, driving old carts
pulled by mules and donkeys and although
they may have been harmless they appeared
quite the reverse, With their large black Next
can hats, dirty shirts, sheepSkin coats and