Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 311, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1919 — LOCAL DRIVER IN WILD CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. [ARTICLE]

LOCAL DRIVER IN WILD CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.

What is believed to be a record that will long withstand tha-?'attack of local automobile drivers waa made Sunday afternoon by E. E. (“Doc'’) Shoemaker, an employe of the Main Garage, who piloted a Ford sedan of the 1916 variety from this city to Winamac in the remarkable time of 59 minutes and 5 seconds. Shoemaker’s feat was the result of a Sunday afternoon argument which occurred at the Main Garage following his remark that he could go to Winamac in his Ford .car in an hour. The driver was accompanied on the trip by two passengers, who had made the statement that such a feat could not be accomplished by Shoemaker. Francesville, which is a distance of eighteen miles from Rensselaer, was reached in twenty-six minutes and Pulaski was reached in fortyeight minutes. In making his dash Shoemaker was compelled to draw his car to a halt but once, when he reached a railroad crossing which was blocked by a passing freight train. Fifteen seconds were lost by the driver. Considering the bad condition of the roads, the weather conditions anc’ the numerous turn§ that the driver forced to make, his recorders’ evhn the more remarkable.