Page:Motoring Magazine and Motor Life December 1913.djvu/10

 MOTORING MAGAZINE AND MOTOR LIFE

��December, 1913.

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��Probably one of the greatest automo- bile feats ever performed in the State of Oregon at this season of the year was re- cently accomplished by W. S. Dulmage, accompanied by E. N. Brandt, of Detroit.

Brandt, when he arrived in Portland and informed Dulmage that he would like to make a trip across the State, through the mud, Dulmage remarked: "You have no conception of what our Oregon roads are at this season of the year, or you would not ask an impossi- bility of the car."

Brandt's answer was that he did not be- lieve there were any roads that would be impossible, so Dulmage was inclined to call his bluff, and without any further ceremony the pair set out the next day at noon on a tour of the State.

This is Dulmage's description of the tour: "The first portion of the trip to Eugene was made without any stops. Up- on leaving Eugene the crowd that sur- rounded the car informed us that there had not been a machine through for some time, and that it was an utter impossi- bility for us to secure traction on ac- count of the deep mud that we would en- counter in Pass Creek and Cow Creek Canyons.

"When leaving Cottage Grove we were also apprised of the fact that several teams were in waiting in the canyons and at nearby farms, and that the drivers of said teams were making automobiles their prey to the tune of $25 per haul. Most of this bad road was encountered after dark, the chuck holes being so deep that the drivers were obliged to hang on to the car in order to keep from being thrown into the ditch. In a great many places it seemed as though the whole car would become submerged, but owing to its light weight, combined with its extreme power, it negotiated the hills beautifully, and pulled us out of the mud time and again. In fact, the motor never missed a shot, neither did the water require replenish- ing on the heavy grinds that we were compelled to take on the extremely long hills going through the canyon. About 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon, when we were within eight miles of Oakland, we overtook an automobile that had buried itself in the mud, and the occupants were

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��trying to keep warm by a bon-fire, with the expectation ot remaining there all night, or until help could be procured.

"Well, of course, we offered our own services as well as the services of the car, and hooked on the cripple, hauling it and its occupants up Rice Hill, which, by the way, is some hill, and Oakland was fin- ally reached at about 2:30 a. m. This was really one of the most spectacular performances ever made by a car in that territory; in fact, every one seemed sur- prised to know that an automobile had come through, as we were informed that those who had tried it a few days pre- viously had been compelled to call for help, and were hauled through by horses.

"A great many of the residents of Oak- land advised up that we had better not attempt to go any farther, as it would be impossible for us to get through Cow Creek Canyon, and that some grades were as steep as 42 per cent, and also that the road was very heavy going. But after our previous experience in the mud, our appetites were only whetted for more hills to conquer, so on we went.

"We reached the famous Cow Creek Canyon about dark, and as we had brought mud hooks, we decided that it might be wise to keep them where they could easily be reached in case of neces- sity. Up to this time we had used noth- ing but chains on all wheels. Our car seemed working better as it limbered up, the motor having a beautiful purr, and the powerful electric lights threw their luminous rays a great distance ahead. We found ourselves sending our way up the canyon through exceedingly dense timber in this mountainous country, but we really enjoyed the six-mile climb, and after reaching the summit, we found that we were only 12 miles from Glen- dale, which is located in a beautiful spot in the hills.

"After having dinner in Glendale, the people we met there informed us that it was useless for us to presume to go on to Grant's Pass. Having made the trip so far in such a successful manner, we both felt as though there was nothing im- possible in the way of mountain grades or mud, so concluded that we would try the ascent of Wolf Creek, a distance of

��about five miles of very heavy mountain grade, with some very dangerous curves. Luck was with us in keeping the road, as at many places we were compelled to hug the mountain sides very closely in order to keep from going into the can- yon. After passing Wolf Creek, our dan- ger was over. Upon arriving at Grant's Pass, we concluded that we would pro- ceed to Medford that night.

"When we returned to Medford, the heavy rains set in, and we were forced to make the return trip over the same roads, only under much more disagreeable cir- cumstances. There were times when we encountered hard going, and we did not see how it would be possible for any heavy car to proceed over the same road without sinking out of sight. Most of the return trip through the canyons was made after dark, in a heavy downpour of rain, which made it exceedingly difficult, notwithstanding the fact that our electric lights were everything that could be de- sired. Our greatest difficulty lay in keeping the windshield clear of mud in order to see the road. All of the auto- mobile dealers we met en route seemed wonderfully pleased with the perform- ance of the car."

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The common impulse tire pump may be attached permanently to a priming cup opening by means of a short curved tube having a cut-off in it. The pump should be fastened to some stationary part not too near the exhaust manifold. This way of attaching the pump obviates the neces- sity of handling it while hot, and renders the removal of the spark plug unneces- sary, but the ignition cable to that cylin- der must be detached when the pump is used. When is is very convenient to pump up tires, they will be much more apt to be kept full of air. «• «• «■

��If the handle of a wrench is too long for the capacity of the jaws, there will be danger of stripping threads. For this rea- son, the mechanic's "S" wrench is the safest wrench to use. These wrenches are scientifically proportioned for the work required of them.

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