The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-11-02
SNOW CRUISER
STARTS EAST
Big Vehicle Leaves Conner
Early Wednesday After
Three-day Tie-up
Huge Crowds View Juggernaut
Lying in Small Stream
Near Conner

Admiral Byrd's giant 37-ton snow
cruiser destined for Antarctic wastes
which for three days lay with its nose
buried in the bank of small stream
near Conner, resumed its journey from
Chicago eastward over the Lincoln
highway early Wednesday morning.
The numbering juggernaut passed
the Bentley road intersection four
miles south of Bluffton at o'clock.
Although early in the morning num-
ber of spectators were on hand to see
it.
Bluffton area residents - jittery
since early last week because they
were afraid they might not see the
cruiser-mad plenty of time to look
it over after it left the road and bog
ged down in Pike run, creek on the
Mrs. Cleo Watkins farm a quarter
mile east of Conner, Saturday after
noon at ITO o'clock.
Crowds estimated at upwards of
100000 people saw the cruiser from
Saturday afternoon until Tuesday
night and the traffic regulation over
the Lincoln highway, main east and
vast travel artery proved a big
task for state and county authorities.
The cruiser was lifted from the
creek, largely under its own power
late Monday, and was back on the
Lincoln highway again Tuesday, ready
for resumption of its journey follow
ing the completion of temporary re-
pairs.
Many Await Arrival
Bluffton's interest in the gigantic
vehicle first reached fever-point Tues
day of last deck when it was falsely
rumored that the cruiser was to pass
thru Beaverdam. Many motored to
vantage points on the Lincoln on that
day, only to learn later that the snow
cruiser was not scheduled to leave
Chicago until Thursday.
There was another furry of excite
ment Friday when reports were wide
spread that the snow cruiser would
pass thru Beaverdam at noon.
Many carloads of Bluffton residents
again took up their vigil, but again
no snow cruiser. 1t developed that
the vehicle was not then out of In
diana, monor collision with a truck
having delayed it.
Nears Beaverdam
Came Saturday, and word that the
ponderous machine, 55 feet long and
20 feet wide, was travelling over the
Lincoln and drawing nearer Beaver
dam.
1t was not fated to reach the town
that day, however, for a quarter mile
east of Conner, the snow cruiser.
scraped the northeast corner of a
bridge, in some fashion the high COM
preston steering line was cracked,
and the juggernaut out of control,
left the highway and plunged into the
creek.
Hundred saw the vehicle as it rest
ed helplessly in the mud Saturday
afternoon and also during the even
ing, among them many from Bluffton
who had heard of the mishap.
Crowd of $4,000
The real turnout came on Sunday,
however, when it was estimated that
more than $4,000 persons gathered at
the scene of the crash.
Anticipating the rush, small army
of state highway patrol men and spe-
cial deputies had thrown up Gordon
around the entire area.
Conner was insulated to automobiles
and the thousands of sight-seers
found thew were compelled to park
their cars from one and one-half
miles to four miles from the locality.
Altho the highway was closed to au-
tomobiles, it was lined with a steady
stream of person, moving to and from
the creek bed where the cruiser rest
ed.
The great machine virtually extri-
Gated itself from the creek, despite
damage to it, and the only work that
had to be done was to block one of the
wheels up to level with the others.
Then, the vehicle backed out to the
highway under its own power.
Temporary repairs were effected,
permitting the cruiser to continue its
Journey. In Pennsylvania two of the
Diesel powered motors which were
damaged will be rebuilt, and other
repairs will be made.