New York-Paris automobile race newspaper articles #2

Valparaiso Daily Vidette, Wednesday, 26 February, 1908 American Auto First to Chicago. American ingenuity and American pluck triumphed yesterday over the German, French and Italian. They carried the Stars and Stripes first into Chicago in the great international automobile race from New York to Paris.

The first 1,200-mile lap in the 22,000-mile endurance race ended in a victory for the only American car in the hazardous contest, the Thomas Flyer, which reached the Chicago Automobile club at 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon.

With bands playing patriotic airs and flags flying, hundreds of members of the Chicago Automobile club and Chicago Motor club met the leader in the race at the South Shore Country club, a few minutes before 4 o'clock. Piloted by two Chicago cars the Flyer had made the run from Hobart, Ind., through huge drifts and a blinding blizzard. Montague Roberts, the driver of the car, who had fought valiantly for thirteen days through snowdrifts, mud and violent storms, was at the wheel.

Valparaiso Messenger, Thursday, 27 February, 1908 Burdick Items. A large Thomas car was snow bound near here Monday. It was on its trip from New York to Paris. Farmers along the line from Michigan City to Burdick were called on to help them with shovels and horses. It finally reached Burdick after hard jerks and pulls about 1 o'clock Monday night and stopped till morning. Superintendent Smith of the Lake Shore was consulted and arrangements were made whereby the great automobile party were given permission to use the company's tracks to Chesterton. The trip was made in 16 minutes.

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Posted 16th August, 1999. Reposted 13th April, 2004, after being knocked off-line four years ago.