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In Remembrance of You

Page 10

by Holley Gene Leffler


  Crossed bridge on stringers. No planks down.

  Went out some five miles on the road to see how the water was receding. Found it alright as far as we went.

  Today Whit and I took out the rig to cross over the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, Iowa. We found that the bridge at Main Street was damaged because of the flooding. We got permission to cross at our own risk. We had to climb up to bridge level in low gear, riding on two twelve-inch planks. A large crowd had gathered and applauded our trick.

  We weren’t sure what condition the road would be in. When we scouted out some 5 miles east of the city, we found it passable. We would get a fresh start tomorrow and see if we could get past all this mud.

  When we returned to the Olds Gasoline Engine Works in Omaha, a telegram from the Detroit Olds factory was waiting for us. It urged us to start off as soon as possible. We felt ashamed to stay longer. For more than a week, we had been enjoying expensive first-rate food and soft beds, in the luxury of one of the best hotels in town. We never knew what our hotel bill was or who finally paid it!

  Iowa—Longest Day’s Run

  Monday August 31

  Whit’s diary

  Took some pictures in front of the Oldsmobile Gasoline Engine Company. They took out several of their machines and lined them up in the street.

  At 10 a.m. we started for good.

  We ran out about 20 miles and the chain came apart, catching in case on rear axel, turned it so violently that it broke one side spring at the clip and bent the other. No other damage.

  This was bad, but I went to nearby house and telephoned back to Omaha, and they had a machine and came out with a new lower leaf. This was 10:50 a.m. when I telephoned.

  At 3:40 p.m. they arrived and at 4:45 p.m. it was done and we were off.

  We reached Oakland at 6 p.m., ate supper and left at 7 p.m.

  Reached Atlantic at 9:45 p.m. 65 miles.

  We led the parade of CDOs from the Olds Gasoline Engine Works out of Omaha. My lady friends pulled up alongside of us. Sadly, I said my goodbyes and thanked them again for the pearl.

  We left the horn-blowing entourage of little Runabouts at the edge of town. One of the machines from the shop ran out ahead of us for 3 miles to show us the road. The water had gone down, so we did not find much mud. In fact, in some places the road was dry, but the wagon ruts cut our tires.

  We had gone only 20 miles when, all at once, the rear end of our machine dropped. The drive chain had come apart, catching in the speed gear drive case on the rear axle. It twisted the axle housing so badly that it snapped off both main springs at the clips. The axle and wheels flew off into a ditch along the roadside, while the engine kept merrily running. What else could happen to us? I looked at Whit, and he looked at me. We both burst out laughing. This would have been a great act for two clowns at the circus!

  Whit went to a nearby farmhouse where he saw a telephone wire and asked if he could use their telephone to ring Omaha. It was almost noon when he called up the Olds shop and described our problem. Did he hear a groan coming through the receiver as he hung up?

  While waiting, Whit and I enjoyed fresh apple pie and milk, courtesy of the farmer’s wife. Soon, two mechanics arrived, driving another Runabout that carried two new lower leaf springs and an extra drive chain. With all four of us working on the rig, we finished the job in about an hour. Whit and I were off again!

  We had our supper in Oakland, Iowa, and were back on the road at dusk. Our acetylene headlight and kerosene lamps worked well enough for us to drive in the dark.

  The roads were uphill and down, with little level ground. The dried mud continued to be hard on our tires and rough on us and the machine. We reached Atlantic late at night.

  Tuesday September 1

  Whit’s diary

  Left at 9 a.m.

  When we went to start at 7:30 a.m. we found the gasoline tank cast iron support broken.

  Reached Cassey, Iowa for dinner.

  Reached Des Moines at 7 p.m.

  100 miles today.

  Found letters, etc., from Sally, Mother, Oldsmobile Motor Works.

  We had to take the cast iron support for the gasoline tank to a blacksmith’s shop and have it stripped and riveted. This delayed our start, but by noon we were in Casey, Iowa.

  The going was like a roller coaster most of the way. The road finally leveled out 25 miles from Des Moines. We traveled over the same kind of rough and dried mud as yesterday. We were glad to stop for the night in Des Moines.

  Wednesday September 2

  Whit’s diary

  Des Moines to Cedar Rapids—170 miles today.

  We ran north to Cambridge, then east along Chicago St. Paul (R.R.), cut up at

  Dextin to Toledo Road direct in to Cedar Rapids. Arrived at 9:45 p.m.

  Today we found the roads in good condition, the last half of our run smoother than the first. We proceeded east along the Chicago-St. Paul Railroad and on into Cedar Rapids. We clipped off 170 miles today, our longest day’s run of the entire trip so far! We felt like we were making up time for the nine days we had spent in Omaha, waiting for the rain to stop.

  Illinois—Auto Club Fanfare

  Thursday September 3

  Whit’s diary

  Left Cedar Rapids at 5:30 a.m.

  Ran to Mt. Vernon for breakfast; then to Mechanicsville; then east to Clinton.

  Arrived here at 1:30 p.m. and ate dinner. 90 miles in the morning.

  Then crossed Mississippi River and ran east to Dixon where we ate supper at 7 p.m.

  Then ran on east to Rochelle.

  Arrived Rochelle at 10 p.m. 150 miles sure. 75 miles to Chicago.

  We got an early start today, left Cedar Rapids, and followed the Chicago and Northwestern Railway. When we drove through Mechanicsville, Whit kidded me. He said they named the town after me. Mechanicsville—at least we didn’t have to stop to make repairs! We had dinner in Clinton.

  We crossed the Mississippi River over a steel bridge, decked with wooden floor timbers, into Fulton, Illinois. Then we drove east to Dixon, which is on the Rock River, where we ate supper and continued on to Rochelle.

  The night was clear. With the help of a nearly full moon, we used the kerosene lamps and the acetylene gas lamp to show us the way. We lost the lens from our gas lamp somewhere along the way, but it still lit up the road. Our stop for the night was Rochelle, Illinois.

  Friday September 4

  Whit’s diary

  Left Rochelle at 6 a.m.

  Ran to Malta—20 miles—for breakfast.

  Then via Geneva to Chicago entering on Jackson Boulevard.

  Had some trouble with spark vaporizer—missed shots. Changed plugs and then it was alright.

  Showers came up about 10 a.m. in the north. Commenced to rain some at Wheaton.

  I telegraphed at Wheaton as the club was going to meet us.

  Five miles out five or six machines and Oldsmobile agent here met us. They took us into the city at Club C.A.C. There we were met by 100 automobilists to shake hands.

  After a fine dinner and wine, we ran down to Oldsmobile place to have machine fixed up. Steering spring broken and spokes chattering.

  I was taken to Normandie Hotel by Oldsmobile Company and quartered. After a bath, I went up to Automobile Club for supper alone, Hammond having been taken in tow by John Blotenburger {sic. (Blockburger)} and not seen afterwards.

  One thing happened today. A horse picketed on the side road ran away down the road ahead of us for two or three miles. He was tied to a fir tree (cut down). He took tree and all, making the dust fly. The tree was 6” in diameter and 10 to 15 feet long and all the limbs had been left on.

  75 miles today. Four days and 1 hour from Omaha. Arrived Chicago 3 p.m.

  This morning, before we left Rochelle, we had some trouble with both our spark and the mixer, causing the engine to misfire. We changed the spark plug, and the engine ran fine.

  Then it started to rain. At Wheaton, Whit telegraphed the Chic
ago Automobile Club. They planned to escort us into the city. We bought a piece of oilcloth to put on our laps and drove on in the driving rain for the last 15 miles into the Windy City.

  Soon after we left Wheaton, we hit a bump in the road hard enough to break our steering spring. I hung over the rig’s curved dash and held the spring together in order for Whit to steer. I had to keep my eyes closed for the remaining distance as water and mud splashed onto my face. The auto club greeters must have thought Whit was lugging a dead man through the streets of the city!

  At Garfield Park, five machines, including one driven by the Chicago Oldsmobile agent, braved a downpour to meet us. They led the way into the city. The stouthearted Olds chugged up in front of the club building, where a large group of automobilists greeted us.

  We were a wet and sorry-looking sight, with leather coats and hats soaked through, and mud all over the machine and us. The Grand Rapids, Michigan, Automobile Club members were having a three-day meet and were the guests of the Chicago club for a luncheon today. They came out to greet us also. Photographers took pictures of our rig and their machines lined up in front of the club. Later, news reporters and a Motor Age Magazine writer interviewed us.

  We were invited to stay for early supper. Wine flowed freely, warming the rain-soaked two of us. Some of the men were wearing tuxedos, and their ladies wore evening gowns. They were looking us over as though we were strange animals from the zoo! We had no choice but to sit there, drink their wine, answer questions, and smile … darn.

  Later, we drove the Olds to Githen Brothers Olds Motor Works Agency downtown. There they replaced the broken spring, tightened the spokes, and gave the rig a general tune-up. The Diamond Tire people sent over two new tires. Ours had gotten badly damaged from the deep ruts of Iowa and Nebraska.

  The Oldsmobile Company put us up at the Normandie Hotel. We bathed and changed into all new clothing, which we had purchased in Des Moines. Whit went back with his friends to the Automobile Club for a late supper. I preferred to spend the evening with my former Pasadena garage partner, John Blockburger. We had a well-deserved night of fun with the ladies, some 2,800 miles from San Francisco. It was a good break for both of us.

  Indiana—On the Way to the Races

  Saturday September 5

  Whit’s diary

  Fixed machine up—some new spokes, two new Diamond Tires (put one on, other put in box), new steering spring, brass under cam camshaft and new gas headlight.

  Telegram from Oldsmobile to come to Detroit to races on Monday and Tuesday.

  Left Chicago at 2 p.m.

  Ate lunch at La Porte, Indiana.

  Ran to Elkhart via South Bend and stayed there all night. Got there at 11 p.m.

  The Githens Agency put the little Olds back in good shape with some new spokes and two Diamond tires, one put on, the other put in the luggage box as an extra. They also replaced the steering spring and installed a new acetylene gas headlight. They gave her a bath, and we hardly knew her.

  A telegram arrived this morning, which read:

  HAVE WHITMAN COME ON AT ONCE. WANT HIM HERE MONDAY AND TUESDAY RACES. OLDS MOTOR WORKS.

  We had not planned to leave Chicago until tomorrow morning, but the urgency to hurry to the Grosse Pointe Auto Races and be there by Monday caused us to pack up quickly and cancel plans. My friend, John Blockburger, with his brand new Pope Hartford, led us the first 20 miles out to Gary, Indiana. We could have easily become lost in the maze of South Chicago streets! You can drive into the heart of any strange big city, but getting out can be mighty confusing.

  The roads were good, and the machine ran like a top as we paralleled the Lakeshore and Michigan Southern Railway. We ate dinner at LaPorte, Indiana, and then rolled on to Mishawaka for supper. We were in Elkhart and to bed by midnight.

  Ohio—Outrageous Newspaper Headlines

  Sunday September 6

  Whit’s diary

  Up at 5 a.m.

  Took machine and ran till 11 a.m. when we had breakfast then, we had some trouble with gas or spark for a while. One tire punctured by nail.

  Ran to Delta, ate lunch then ran to Toledo, Ohio.

  Arrived at 9 p.m. 150 miles today.

  With only five hours of sleep, we were up early, eager to get our Olds Runabout as close to Detroit as possible tonight. Along the way, we were delayed by another punctured tire. We tried to stop the leak with our tire repair kit. That failed, so we took out our extra tire from the luggage box and put it on.

  As I changed the tire, I had to laugh, remembering the headlines in the newspaper about our trip: “SPAN CONTINENT IN A FIVE HORSEPOWER AUTOMOBILE. Cowboys, Indians, snakes add to the novelty of the trip.” Did they think we were part of a Wild West Show? Novelty? What about changing tires, repairing drive chains, and digging the Olds out of the mud?

  We arrived in Toledo over good roads most of the way.

  Michigan—A Meeting with R. E. Olds

  Monday September 7

  Whit’s diary

  Left Toledo at 8:15 a.m.

  Arrived in Detroit at 1 p.m. 65 miles—poor roads.

  No machine to meet us but received rousing reception at office downtown.

  Taken to Cadillac Hotel.

  Here newspaper men took our pictures and center of mob.

  R.E. Olds had me come to his hotel in the evening when he showed us all of our pictures. Stayed with him about two hours. Found him a young and agreeable man. He seemed pleased with our trip but made no great demonstration.

  After breakfast in our hotel, we left Toledo and headed north for Detroit, following the Michigan Central Railroad through Monroe and Wyandotte. Detroit would be an important stopping point because we were to meet R. E. Olds there. It would be a homecoming for our CDO. I couldn’t brag about the roads, but we pressed on. Then, there in front of us, lay Detroit. No one met us at the outskirts, but as we approached “Billy” Rands’ Oldsmobile showroom, a long parade of CDOs followed us, joining in from all directions. We paraded through the downtown streets of Detroit for nearly an hour before we stopped at Rands’ showroom.

  Newspaper reporters asked us about our trip. “Were you attacked by any Indians? What did you do when it rained? Was it hot in the desert?” Many photographers took our picture. Roy D. Chapin, who was employed by Olds, “officially” photographed us with a camera borrowed from the factory’s advertising department.

  We were treated to a stay at the Cadillac Hotel, a fancy place with marble floors. It cost five dollars a day for the room! Whit and I looked like bums in such a place. We were instructed to make our hotel bill as big as possible and charge it to the company! It seems that Olds was taking care of us as well as the rig, at least as long as we‘re in Detroit.

  After supper, Ransom E. Olds invited us to come over to his hotel. He quite proudly showed us all of our photographs, made from the negatives we had mailed to him along the route. Many of the photos were pasted neatly in his personal photo album.

  “Say, Ham, did you get your envelope that I put under the CDO’s seat?” Mr. Olds asked.

  I smiled, “Yes, someday someone should write a book about that letter!”

  By then, we were distracted because some of Mr. Olds’ top engineering and sales staff had arrived. They were eager to know what we considered the weakest parts and why they had failed. How could they improve the Runabout? I had been keeping notes of the mechanical breakdowns that slowed our journey thus far. I had a complete list in hand of each part that had failed. I had a chance to really talk with them in detail. I felt important.

  I suggested a heavier crankshaft, for example. Also, I told them to consider putting the main brakes on the rear wheels. They should also install better piston pins and rings. The meeting lasted for nearly two hours. As we were leaving, Mr. Olds tapped me on the shoulder, and with a twinkle in his eye, he said, “Remember this, young man. We make as much on our parts as we do on the automobiles!”

  Note from Granddaughter’s letter:

  G
et the Olds factory mechanics to put fenders on your CDO in Detroit. This will help keep the mud from getting on your clothing.

  I should be out to the factory tomorrow. I’ll be sure they put fenders on the Runabout.

  Tuesday September 8

  Whit’s diary

  Went out to factory where they were fixing up the machine in first class shape again. They put on four new wheels, mud guards, engine shaft flywheel, speed gears, starting chain, rear axles and differential, so use new block instead of roller chain; put one mud apron with a hole to put our head through, a new head light.

 

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