1 00:00:09,266 --> 00:00:11,166 Man: AFOOT AND LIGHT-HEARTED, 2 00:00:11,166 --> 00:00:14,233 I TAKE TO THE OPEN ROAD, 3 00:00:14,233 --> 00:00:16,966 HEALTHY, FREE, THE WORLD BEFORE ME, 4 00:00:16,966 --> 00:00:22,800 THE LONG BROWN PATH BEFORE ME, LEADING WHEREVER I CHOOSE. 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,366 HENCEFORTH I ASK NOT GOOD-FORTUNE-- 6 00:00:26,366 --> 00:00:29,633 I MYSELF AM GOOD FORTUNE; 7 00:00:29,633 --> 00:00:32,200 HENCEFORTH I WHIMPER NO MORE, 8 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,966 POSTPONE NO MORE, NEED NOTHING, 9 00:00:35,966 --> 00:00:42,066 STRONG AND CONTENT, I TRAVEL THE OPEN ROAD. 10 00:00:42,066 --> 00:00:44,333 WALT WHITMAN. 11 00:00:57,266 --> 00:00:59,866 Narrator: ON THE EVENING OF MAY 19, 1903, 12 00:00:59,866 --> 00:01:01,700 IN THE OAK-PANELED GAME ROOM 13 00:01:01,700 --> 00:01:04,900 OF THE EXCLUSIVE UNIVERSITY CLUB IN SAN FRANCISCO, 14 00:01:04,900 --> 00:01:05,866 A GROUP OF WELL-TO-DO MEN 15 00:01:05,866 --> 00:01:09,200 WERE SHARING DRINKS AND CONVERSATION. 16 00:01:10,333 --> 00:01:12,533 THE TALK CENTERED ON 17 00:01:12,533 --> 00:01:14,133 PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S POLITICAL FORTUNES 18 00:01:14,133 --> 00:01:18,566 AND THE CHANCES THAT THE BOSTON PILGRIMS MIGHT TAKE THE PENNANT 19 00:01:18,566 --> 00:01:22,066 IN THE BRAND-NEW AMERICAN LEAGUE. 20 00:01:22,066 --> 00:01:24,433 THEN THE DISCUSSION TURNED TO ANOTHER TOPIC: 21 00:01:24,433 --> 00:01:27,000 THE FUTURE OF A NEW MACHINE 22 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:28,733 THAT ONLY RECENTLY HAD BEEN SHOWING UP 23 00:01:28,733 --> 00:01:31,400 ON THE STREETS OF MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES: 24 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,700 THE HORSELESS CARRIAGE. 25 00:01:33,700 --> 00:01:35,966 A DEBATE BROKE OUT, 26 00:01:35,966 --> 00:01:38,933 AND ONE MAN, A STRANGER TO THE CLUB, 27 00:01:38,933 --> 00:01:43,200 SOON FOUND HIMSELF COMPLETELY OUTNUMBERED. 28 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:45,866 Man: THE MAJORITY OPINION WAS THAT, 29 00:01:45,866 --> 00:01:47,800 SAVE FOR SHORT DISTANCES, 30 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,033 THE AUTOMOBILE WAS AN UNRELIABLE NOVELTY, 31 00:01:51,033 --> 00:01:53,366 A PASSING MECHANICAL FANCY 32 00:01:53,366 --> 00:01:57,166 WHICH THINKING MEN COULD DO NO OTHER THAN DISCARD. 33 00:01:57,166 --> 00:01:59,500 THE HORSE, THEY SAID, 34 00:01:59,500 --> 00:02:02,233 CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE HIS PROPER PLACE 35 00:02:02,233 --> 00:02:06,433 AS THE DEPENDABLE SERVANT OF MANKIND FOR TRAVEL. 36 00:02:06,433 --> 00:02:09,533 HORATIO NELSON JACKSON. 37 00:02:09,533 --> 00:02:13,266 Narrator: HORATIO NELSON JACKSON WAS A 31-YEAR-OLD DOCTOR 38 00:02:13,266 --> 00:02:15,333 FROM BURLINGTON, VERMONT. 39 00:02:15,333 --> 00:02:18,033 3 YEARS EARLIER, 40 00:02:18,033 --> 00:02:19,666 AFTER A MILD CASE OF TUBERCULOSIS, 41 00:02:19,666 --> 00:02:23,566 JACKSON HAD GIVEN UP HIS MEDICAL PRACTICE. 42 00:02:23,566 --> 00:02:26,633 BUT HE WAS STILL ENERGETIC, OPTIMISTIC, 43 00:02:26,633 --> 00:02:29,400 AND BRIMMING WITH NEW IDEAS. 44 00:02:31,433 --> 00:02:36,733 THAT EVENING, JACKSON ARGUED THAT THE AUTOMOBILE WAS MORE THAN A RICH MAN'S TOY 45 00:02:36,733 --> 00:02:39,966 SUITABLE ONLY FOR SHORT DRIVES ON CITY BOULEVARDS, 46 00:02:39,966 --> 00:02:42,766 AND HE DISAGREED WHEN MOST OF THE OTHER MEN DECLARED 47 00:02:42,766 --> 00:02:47,833 THAT ONE WOULD NEVER BE DRIVEN ACROSS THE CONTINENT. 48 00:02:47,833 --> 00:02:52,000 Woman: AND HE HEARD SOME PEOPLE AT THE NEXT TABLE 49 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,033 TALKING ABOUT THE HORSELESS CARRIAGE 50 00:02:54,033 --> 00:02:57,200 AND HOW IT WAS NOT GONNA LAST-- 51 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:58,866 IT WASN'T LIKE THE HORSE-- 52 00:02:58,866 --> 00:03:00,266 AND HE COULDN'T STAND IT. 53 00:03:00,266 --> 00:03:01,800 AND HE, I GUESS, GOT UP FROM THE TABLE, 54 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,733 WENT OVER, AND STARTED TALKING TO THEM ABOUT IT, 55 00:03:04,733 --> 00:03:06,300 AND EVENTUALLY, 56 00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:08,033 WITHIN A FEW SHORT MINUTES, 57 00:03:08,033 --> 00:03:09,633 HE TOOK OUT HIS WALLET, 58 00:03:09,633 --> 00:03:11,633 PUT 50 BUCKS ON THE TABLE AND SAID, 59 00:03:11,633 --> 00:03:13,433 "I BET I CAN DRIVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY." 60 00:03:13,433 --> 00:03:15,166 THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK AFTER THAT. 61 00:03:15,166 --> 00:03:18,066 Narrator: UNDER THE TERMS OF THE BET, 62 00:03:18,066 --> 00:03:20,433 JACKSON WOULD WIN THE $50 63 00:03:20,433 --> 00:03:23,233 IF HE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO NEW YORK CITY-- 64 00:03:23,233 --> 00:03:25,933 SOMETHING NO ONE ELSE HAD EVER DONE BEFORE-- 65 00:03:25,933 --> 00:03:28,000 IN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS. 66 00:03:31,866 --> 00:03:33,766 ONLY 4 DAYS LATER, 67 00:03:33,766 --> 00:03:37,366 HORATIO NELSON JACKSON WOULD SET OFF FROM SAN FRANCISCO 68 00:03:37,366 --> 00:03:39,700 ON THE GREATEST ADVENTURE OF HIS LIFE-- 69 00:03:39,700 --> 00:03:44,033 AN ADVENTURE THAT WOULD MARK THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA IN AMERICA 70 00:03:44,033 --> 00:03:46,933 AND THE END OF ANOTHER. 71 00:04:10,100 --> 00:04:11,733 IN 1803, 72 00:04:11,733 --> 00:04:15,233 EXACTLY 100 YEARS BEFORE HORATIO NELSON JACKSON 73 00:04:15,233 --> 00:04:16,600 WOULD DRIVE OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO, 74 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,633 MERIWETHER LEWIS HAD LEFT WASHINGTON, D.C., 75 00:04:19,633 --> 00:04:22,900 LOOKING TO BECOME THE FIRST AMERICAN 76 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:25,066 TO CROSS THE CONTINENT. 77 00:04:25,066 --> 00:04:28,900 TRAVELING BY KEELBOAT AND CANOE, 78 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:30,733 HORSEBACK AND ON FOOT, 79 00:04:30,733 --> 00:04:35,000 IT TOOK LEWIS AND HIS PARTNER WILLIAM CLARK NEARLY 2 1/2 YEARS 80 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,200 TO MAKE IT FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC. 81 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,233 AMERICANS WOULD SPEND THE REST OF THE 19th CENTURY 82 00:04:44,233 --> 00:04:45,800 TRYING TO FIND BETTER AND FASTER WAYS 83 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:50,966 TO CONQUER THE NATION'S VAST BUT ALLURING DISTANCES. 84 00:04:54,566 --> 00:04:57,800 IN THE 1840s, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PIONEERS 85 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,500 TOOK WAGON TRAINS TO OREGON AND CALIFORNIA, 86 00:04:59,500 --> 00:05:02,533 SEARCHING FOR GOLD, FOR LAND, 87 00:05:02,533 --> 00:05:05,966 OR A CHANCE TO START OVER. 88 00:05:05,966 --> 00:05:10,833 AT THE PACE OF A SLOW WALK, THE TRIP TOOK 6 MONTHS. 89 00:05:10,833 --> 00:05:14,500 LATER TRAVELERS RODE THE OVERLAND STAGECOACH, 90 00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:16,833 WHICH CUT THE TIME IN HALF. 91 00:05:16,833 --> 00:05:19,866 BUT THE JOURNEY WAS SO BUMPY AND DUSTY, 92 00:05:19,866 --> 00:05:20,866 THE WRITER MARK TWAIN SAID, 93 00:05:20,866 --> 00:05:22,833 THAT HE NEEDED AN UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY 94 00:05:22,833 --> 00:05:26,833 TO FIND THE PROPER WORDS TO DESCRIBE HIS JOY 95 00:05:26,833 --> 00:05:30,300 WHEN THE ORDEAL WAS FINALLY OVER. 96 00:05:30,300 --> 00:05:33,133 BY 1869, 97 00:05:33,133 --> 00:05:36,533 THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD WAS COMPLETED, 98 00:05:36,533 --> 00:05:39,266 AND AMERICANS COULD NOW CROSS THEIR NATION IN WEEKS 99 00:05:39,266 --> 00:05:41,366 INSTEAD OF MONTHS OR YEARS, 100 00:05:41,366 --> 00:05:44,666 PROVIDED THEY WERE CONTENT TO CONFINE THEMSELVES 101 00:05:44,666 --> 00:05:47,000 TO A RAILROAD SCHEDULE. 102 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,800 BUT LATE IN THE 19th CENTURY, 103 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,466 A NEW MEANS OF TRAVEL APPEARED FIRST IN EUROPE 104 00:05:52,466 --> 00:05:54,766 AND THEN IN THE UNITED STATES 105 00:05:54,766 --> 00:05:59,466 WHICH PROMISED NOT JUST SPEED, BUT GREATER FREEDOM. 106 00:06:02,433 --> 00:06:05,433 Man: SPRINGFIELD EVENING UNION: 107 00:06:05,433 --> 00:06:09,000 A NEW MOTOR CARRIAGE IS BEING MADE IN THIS CITY. 108 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:13,033 IF THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS PROVE SUCCESSFUL, AS EXPECTED, 109 00:06:13,033 --> 00:06:16,066 IT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE THE MODE OF TRAVEL 110 00:06:16,066 --> 00:06:19,133 AND DO AWAY WITH THE HORSE. 111 00:06:19,133 --> 00:06:21,166 Narrator: IN 1893, 112 00:06:21,166 --> 00:06:24,666 TWO BICYCLE MECHANICS IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS-- 113 00:06:24,666 --> 00:06:26,533 CHARLES AND FRANK DURYEA-- 114 00:06:26,533 --> 00:06:31,233 STARTED MAKING GASOLINE-POWERED MACHINES THEY CALLED MOTORWAGONS 115 00:06:31,233 --> 00:06:36,033 AND SOLD THEIR FIRST ONE IN 1896. 116 00:06:36,033 --> 00:06:39,400 OTHER ENTREPRENEURS QUICKLY FOLLOWED SUIT. 117 00:06:43,133 --> 00:06:44,600 IN LANSING, MICHIGAN, 118 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:46,633 RANSOM OLDS MADE A MOTOR CARRIAGE 119 00:06:46,633 --> 00:06:47,700 THAT WAS BETTER THAN A HORSE, HE SAID, 120 00:06:47,700 --> 00:06:51,066 "BECAUSE IT NEVER KICKS OR BITES, 121 00:06:51,066 --> 00:06:52,733 "NEVER TIRES ON LONG RUNS, 122 00:06:52,733 --> 00:06:55,233 "NEVER SWEATS IN HOT WEATHER, 123 00:06:55,233 --> 00:06:57,533 AND EATS ONLY WHILE ON THE ROAD." 124 00:06:57,533 --> 00:07:01,333 IN DETROIT, A YOUNG MACHINIST 125 00:07:01,333 --> 00:07:03,300 AND SELF-TAUGHT ENGINEER NAMED HENRY FORD 126 00:07:03,300 --> 00:07:06,033 PRODUCED A QUADRACYCLE-- 127 00:07:06,033 --> 00:07:08,766 A MACHINE THAT WEIGHED ONLY 500 POUNDS 128 00:07:08,766 --> 00:07:14,333 AND COULD REACH THE UNHEARD-OF SPEED OF 20 MILES AN HOUR. 129 00:07:14,333 --> 00:07:17,033 AT FIRST, ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES 130 00:07:17,033 --> 00:07:19,533 WERE MORE COMMON THAN THE SO-CALLED PETROL CARS 131 00:07:19,533 --> 00:07:21,100 THAT USED GASOLINE, 132 00:07:21,100 --> 00:07:24,200 ALTHOUGH THEIR RANGE WAS SEVERELY LIMITED 133 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,733 BECAUSE THEIR BATTERIES ALWAYS SEEMED TO NEED RECHARGING. 134 00:07:28,733 --> 00:07:31,000 AND IN MASSACHUSETTS, 135 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,766 THE STANLEY BROTHERS BEGAN PRODUCING STEAMERS, 136 00:07:33,766 --> 00:07:37,933 WHOSE ONLY DRAWBACK WAS THAT THEIR BOILERS REQUIRED 20 MINUTES 137 00:07:37,933 --> 00:07:42,200 IN ORDER TO HEAT UP ENOUGH WATER TO GET THINGS MOVING. 138 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,800 Man: THE EARLY DAYS OF THE AUTOMOBILE WAS SORT OF THIS FREE-FOR-ALL. 139 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,533 PEOPLE WERE MAKING THEM IN THEIR GARAGES. 140 00:07:49,533 --> 00:07:50,733 IT'S SORT OF LIKE-- 141 00:07:50,733 --> 00:07:52,833 YOU THINK OF THE START OF THE COMPUTER AGE, YOU KNOW? 142 00:07:52,833 --> 00:07:57,266 YOUNG MECHANICS-- MOSTLY BICYCLE MECHANICS-- 143 00:07:57,266 --> 00:07:59,866 IN THEIR GARAGES TRYING TO FIGURE A WAY 144 00:07:59,866 --> 00:08:03,000 TO MAKE ALL THESE THINGS WORK MECHANICALLY. 145 00:08:04,900 --> 00:08:06,233 Narrator: ON SOME VEHICLES, 146 00:08:06,233 --> 00:08:08,500 THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ON THE LEFT; 147 00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:09,700 ON OTHERS, THE RIGHT. 148 00:08:09,700 --> 00:08:12,933 MANY HAD NO STEERING WHEEL AT ALL, 149 00:08:12,933 --> 00:08:14,666 USING A TILLER OR LEVERS 150 00:08:14,666 --> 00:08:16,700 TO GUIDE THE HORSELESS CARRIAGE DOWN THE STREET. 151 00:08:16,700 --> 00:08:20,033 SOME HAD METAL POLES MOUNTED UNDERNEATH 152 00:08:20,033 --> 00:08:21,933 THAT COULD BE DROPPED LIKE ANCHORS, 153 00:08:21,933 --> 00:08:25,466 NAILING THE CAR TO THE ROAD IF IT STARTED TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS 154 00:08:25,466 --> 00:08:28,433 OR ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL. 155 00:08:28,433 --> 00:08:32,500 DRIVERS OF THESE NEW MACHINES WENT BY VARIOUS NAMES: 156 00:08:32,500 --> 00:08:34,866 MOTORISTS, CHAUFFEURS, 157 00:08:34,866 --> 00:08:38,866 AND AS THE EUROPEAN TERM "AUTOMOBILE" SLOWLY CAUGHT ON, 158 00:08:38,866 --> 00:08:40,800 AUTOMOBILISTS. 159 00:08:43,066 --> 00:08:48,100 Duncan: SOMEBODY ONCE SAID THAT THE AUTOMOBILE IS A MOBILE STATUS SYMBOL, 160 00:08:48,100 --> 00:08:54,433 AND A MOBILE STATUS SYMBOL IS AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET TO DEFINING THE AMERICAN DREAM. 161 00:08:54,433 --> 00:08:57,500 IT REPRESENTED ADVENTURE. 162 00:08:57,500 --> 00:09:00,600 IT REPRESENTED ROMANCE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. 163 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,400 THERE ARE ALL THESE EARLY SONGS THAT GREW UP, 164 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:07,333 AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH ROMANCE. 165 00:09:07,333 --> 00:09:11,400 "COME AWAY WITH ME, LUCILLE, IN MY MERRY OLDSMOBILE." 166 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:14,800 IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING THE GIRL IF YOU GOT THE CAR. 167 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,800 ONE OF MY FAVORITES IS HE'D HAVE TO GET UNDER-- 168 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,500 GET OUT AND GET UNDER (TO FIX UP HIS AUTOMOBILE). 169 00:09:21,500 --> 00:09:23,500 ♪ HE'D HAVE TO GET UNDER ♪ 170 00:09:23,500 --> 00:09:25,433 ♪ GET OUT AND GET UNDER ♪ 171 00:09:25,433 --> 00:09:28,800 ♪ TO FIX HIS LITTLE MACHINE... ♪ 172 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:32,333 EVERY TIME HE'S TRYING TO MAKE ROMANCE TO HIS GIRL AS HE'S DRIVING, 173 00:09:32,333 --> 00:09:34,633 THE CAR WOULD BREAK DOWN, 174 00:09:34,633 --> 00:09:38,833 AND HE'D HAVE TO GET DOWN UNDERNEATH THE AUTOMOBILE. 175 00:09:41,766 --> 00:09:43,900 IT'S AS IF, TWO GENERATIONS LATER, 176 00:09:43,900 --> 00:09:45,200 FINALLY GUYS FIGURED OUT 177 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,133 THAT IT WAS THE BREAKING DOWN OF THE AUTOMOBILE 178 00:09:47,133 --> 00:09:49,366 THAT PRESENTED THE--YOU KNOW, THE CHANCE FOR ROMANCE. 179 00:09:49,366 --> 00:09:52,400 ♪ GET OUT AND GET UNDER ♪ 180 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:56,233 ♪ AND FIX UP HIS AUTOMOBILE ♪ 181 00:09:56,233 --> 00:09:59,233 ♪ JOHNNY O'CONNOR BOUGHT AN AUTOMOBILE ♪ 182 00:09:59,233 --> 00:10:02,833 ♪ HE TOOK HIS SWEETHEART FOR A RIDE ONE SUNDAY ♪ 183 00:10:02,833 --> 00:10:05,900 ♪ JOHNNY WAS TOGGED UP IN HIS BEST SUNDAY CLOTHES ♪ 184 00:10:05,900 --> 00:10:09,600 ♪ SHE NESTLED CLOSE TO HIS SIDE ♪ 185 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:13,566 ♪ THINGS WENT JUST DANDY TILL HE GOT DOWN THE ROAD ♪ 186 00:10:13,566 --> 00:10:16,333 ♪ THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE OLD MACHINERY ♪ 187 00:10:16,333 --> 00:10:18,066 ♪ THAT ENGINE GOT HIS GOAT ♪ 188 00:10:18,066 --> 00:10:20,066 ♪ OFF WENT HIS HAT AND COAT ♪ 189 00:10:20,066 --> 00:10:22,900 ♪ EVERYTHING NEEDED REPAIRS ♪ 190 00:10:22,900 --> 00:10:24,733 ♪ HE'D HAVE TO GET UNDER ♪ 191 00:10:24,733 --> 00:10:26,933 ♪ GET OUT AND GET UNDER ♪ 192 00:10:26,933 --> 00:10:30,233 ♪ TO FIX HIS LITTLE MACHINE ♪ 193 00:10:30,233 --> 00:10:33,666 ♪ HE WAS JUST DYING TO CUDDLE HIS QUEEN ♪ 194 00:10:33,666 --> 00:10:35,300 ♪ BUT EVERY MINUTE ♪ 195 00:10:35,300 --> 00:10:37,200 ♪ WHEN HE'D BEGIN IT ♪ 196 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:38,466 ♪ HE'D HAVE TO GET UNDER ♪ 197 00:10:38,466 --> 00:10:39,700 ♪ GET OUT AND GET UNDER ♪ 198 00:10:39,700 --> 00:10:41,866 ♪ THEN HE'D GET BACK AT THE WHEEL ♪ 199 00:10:41,866 --> 00:10:46,066 ♪ A DOZEN TIMES THEY'D START TO HUG AND KISS ♪ 200 00:10:46,066 --> 00:10:50,033 ♪ AND THEN THE DARNED OLD ENGINE, IT WOULD MISS ♪ 201 00:10:50,033 --> 00:10:52,066 ♪ AND THEN HE'D HAVE TO GET UNDER ♪ 202 00:10:52,066 --> 00:10:53,866 ♪ GET OUT AND GET UNDER ♪ 203 00:10:53,866 --> 00:10:57,233 ♪ AND FIX UP HIS AUTOMOBILE ♪ 204 00:11:07,900 --> 00:11:12,600 Narrator: AT A TIME WHEN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN EARNED LESS THAN $500 A YEAR, 205 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,600 EARLY AUTOMOBILES WERE BEYOND MOST PEOPLE'S REACH: 206 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:20,333 RANGING IN PRICE FROM $650 TO MORE THAN $6,000 207 00:11:20,333 --> 00:11:23,600 AND LIMITED TO A SMALL NUMBER OF WEALTHY BUYERS-- 208 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:28,700 DOCTORS, BUSINESSMEN, AND MILLIONAIRES. 209 00:11:28,700 --> 00:11:30,600 AND FOR MANY AMERICANS, 210 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,633 AUTOMOBILES WERE NOT ONLY TOO EXPENSIVE, 211 00:11:34,633 --> 00:11:38,133 THEY WERE DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. 212 00:11:38,133 --> 00:11:40,400 IN CITIES ALL AROUND THE NATION, 213 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,233 RESIDENTS BEGAN COMPLAINING 214 00:11:43,233 --> 00:11:45,366 ABOUT THE NOISE OF THE NEW MACHINES, 215 00:11:45,366 --> 00:11:48,533 THE CLOUDS OF DUST THEY RAISED WHIRLING THROUGH TOWN, 216 00:11:48,533 --> 00:11:50,900 AS WELL AS THE THREAT THEY SEEMED TO POSE 217 00:11:50,900 --> 00:11:56,433 TO PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, AND HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES. 218 00:11:59,466 --> 00:12:01,200 Duncan: VERMONT PASSED A LAW-- 219 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:02,933 BASED ON AN ENGLISH LAW CALLED THE RED FLAG LAW-- 220 00:12:02,933 --> 00:12:06,466 THAT REQUIRED AN ADULT TO WALK IN FRONT OF THE CAR 221 00:12:06,466 --> 00:12:09,533 WAVING A RED FLAG. 222 00:12:09,533 --> 00:12:10,766 KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF GOING OUT IN THE CAR 223 00:12:10,766 --> 00:12:13,633 IF SOMEBODY'S GOT TO WALK IN FRONT OF IT. 224 00:12:18,366 --> 00:12:19,633 Narrator: TENNESSEE REQUIRED MOTORISTS 225 00:12:19,633 --> 00:12:24,700 TO POST A WEEK'S NOTICE BEFORE STARTING OUT ON ANY TRIP. 226 00:12:24,700 --> 00:12:26,566 IN GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, 227 00:12:26,566 --> 00:12:28,633 SOMEONE STRETCHED A STEEL CABLE ACROSS THE ROAD 228 00:12:28,633 --> 00:12:33,166 TO STOP WHAT THEY CALLED "THE DEVIL WAGONS." 229 00:12:33,166 --> 00:12:38,166 SOME CITIES BANNED AUTOMOBILES ALTOGETHER. 230 00:12:44,366 --> 00:12:46,733 BY THE END OF THE 19th CENTURY, 231 00:12:46,733 --> 00:12:50,100 THERE WERE ONLY 8,000 AUTOMOBILES IN THE UNITED STATES 232 00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:52,633 COMPARED TO 14 MILLION HORSES. 233 00:12:52,633 --> 00:12:55,600 BLACKSMITHS OUTNUMBERED DOCTORS, 234 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,500 AND MOST AMERICANS RARELY TRAVELED 235 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:00,800 FARTHER THAN 12 MILES FROM THEIR HOME-- 236 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,866 THE DISTANCE A HORSE AND WAGON MIGHT TAKE THEM IN A DAY. 237 00:13:06,833 --> 00:13:11,833 Duncan: THE ROADS WERE TERRIBLE; NO ROAD SIGNS. 238 00:13:11,833 --> 00:13:16,366 BECAUSE YOU'RE SORT OF CONFINED TO THESE SMALL AREAS, 239 00:13:16,366 --> 00:13:18,700 YOU TRAVELED IN THE AREA THAT YOU ALREADY KNEW, 240 00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:23,366 SO THERE WAS NO NEED FOR HIGHWAY NUMBERS. 241 00:13:23,366 --> 00:13:26,533 THERE WAS NO NEED TO HAVE A LOT OF SIGNAGE, 242 00:13:26,533 --> 00:13:29,433 BECAUSE PEOPLE TRAVELED THE ROADS THAT THEY TRAVELED-- 243 00:13:29,433 --> 00:13:31,933 SORT OF LIKE BOSTON TODAY. 244 00:13:31,933 --> 00:13:35,800 IF YOU'RE FROM OUT OF TOWN, YOU KNOW, GOOD LUCK. 245 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:39,933 THERE'D BE THESE THICK BOOKS THAT WOULD SAY, FOR INSTANCE, 246 00:13:39,933 --> 00:13:44,066 "START AT MAIN STREET WHERE THE CIVIL WAR STATUE IS. 247 00:13:44,066 --> 00:13:45,100 "GO DOWN WEST STREET. 248 00:13:45,100 --> 00:13:48,100 "FOLLOW THE TROLLEY TRACKS AS FAR AS THEY GO. 249 00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:52,333 "ONCE YOU'VE GONE 0.3 MILES PAST THE END OF THE TROLLEY TRACKS, 250 00:13:52,333 --> 00:13:55,666 "TAKE A RIGHT UNDER THE GRANITE RAILROAD BRIDGE. 251 00:13:55,666 --> 00:13:58,733 "GO TO THE STONE WATERING TROUGH. 252 00:13:58,733 --> 00:14:00,033 TAKE A RIGHT THERE." 253 00:14:00,033 --> 00:14:04,100 GOING, SAY, 20 MILES MIGHT BE TWO PAGES OF THIS BOOK. 254 00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:06,333 SOME OF THEM EVEN TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS 255 00:14:06,333 --> 00:14:09,166 TO SHOW THESE JUNCTURES, 256 00:14:09,166 --> 00:14:11,900 SO YOU COULD FLIP THROUGH THE PAGES 257 00:14:11,900 --> 00:14:14,366 TO SEE WHERE YOU WERE. 258 00:14:14,366 --> 00:14:17,666 BUT THOSE WERE JUST FOR THE EAST. 259 00:14:17,666 --> 00:14:20,433 ONCE YOU GOT PAST THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, 260 00:14:20,433 --> 00:14:22,566 THEN YOU WERE ON YOUR OWN. 261 00:14:22,566 --> 00:14:24,833 NOBODY KNEW WHAT THE ROADS WERE LIKE OUT THERE. 262 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,433 Narrator: ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF AMERICANS BELIEVED 263 00:14:31,433 --> 00:14:32,666 THAT THE AUTOMOBILE REPRESENTED THE FUTURE, 264 00:14:32,666 --> 00:14:36,066 DESTINED SOMEDAY TO MAKE BOTH THE HORSE 265 00:14:36,066 --> 00:14:39,166 AND THE RAILROAD OBSOLETE. 266 00:14:41,466 --> 00:14:42,966 AND TO PROVE IT, 267 00:14:42,966 --> 00:14:46,833 A FEW AUTOMOBILE FANATICS DECIDED TO TRY TO DRIVE 268 00:14:46,833 --> 00:14:48,733 ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 269 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,200 IN THE SUMMER OF 1899, 270 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:55,366 WITH THE BACKING OF TWO NEWSPAPERS 271 00:14:55,366 --> 00:14:56,866 AND A CAR MANUFACTURER, 272 00:14:56,866 --> 00:15:01,800 LOUISE AND JOHN DAVIS MOTORED THEIR 7-HORSEPOWER DURYEA 273 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,633 OUT OF NEW YORK CITY, HEADED FOR SAN FRANCISCO-- 274 00:15:05,633 --> 00:15:09,866 THE FIRST KNOWN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE A CAR FROM COAST TO COAST. 275 00:15:09,866 --> 00:15:16,166 BUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, EVERYTHING WENT WRONG. 276 00:15:16,166 --> 00:15:19,433 THE DAVISES' PROGRESS WAS SO SLOW 277 00:15:19,433 --> 00:15:21,733 THAT A ONE-ARMED BICYCLIST 278 00:15:21,733 --> 00:15:25,033 WHO HAD LEFT NEW YORK 10 DAYS AFTER THEIR DEPARTURE 279 00:15:25,033 --> 00:15:29,566 PASSED THEM BEFORE THEY REACHED SYRACUSE. 280 00:15:29,566 --> 00:15:32,466 TWO YEARS AFTER THE DAVISES' FAILURE, 281 00:15:32,466 --> 00:15:34,166 ALEXANDER WINTON, 282 00:15:34,166 --> 00:15:36,633 ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING CAR MANUFACTURERS, 283 00:15:36,633 --> 00:15:38,966 DECIDED TO DRIVE FROM WEST TO EAST 284 00:15:38,966 --> 00:15:42,866 IN ORDER TO TACKLE THE HARDEST PART OF THE JOURNEY FIRST. 285 00:15:42,866 --> 00:15:47,166 WINTON LEFT SAN FRANCISCO ON MAY 20, 1901, 286 00:15:47,166 --> 00:15:50,700 ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FULL-TIME PUBLICIST CHARLES B. SHANKS. 287 00:15:50,700 --> 00:15:53,800 THEY MADE GOOD TIME SURMOUNTING THE SIERRAS 288 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,533 AND WERE SOON CROSSING THE DESERTS OF NEVADA. 289 00:15:57,533 --> 00:16:00,000 BUT ON THE TENTH DAY OF THE TRIP, 290 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:05,633 A MERE 530 MILES FROM THEIR STARTING POINT IN SAN FRANCISCO, 291 00:16:05,633 --> 00:16:08,600 THE CAR BECAME HOPELESSLY STUCK IN A SAND DRIFT, 292 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:12,633 AND WINTON CALLED AN ABRUPT END TO HIS JOURNEY. 293 00:16:14,366 --> 00:16:19,600 THE NEXT PERSON TO TRY WAS NEARLY WHOLLY UNQUALIFIED TO MAKE THE TRIP: 294 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,166 LACKED ANY CORPORATE BACKING OR PUBLICITY, 295 00:16:22,166 --> 00:16:25,033 KNEW NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT AUTOMOBILE MECHANICS, 296 00:16:25,033 --> 00:16:28,433 AND HAD DONE LITTLE OR NO PLANNING. 297 00:16:28,433 --> 00:16:32,466 IT WAS HORATIO NELSON JACKSON. 298 00:16:32,466 --> 00:16:34,733 Duncan: HORATIO NELSON JACKSON, TO ME, 299 00:16:34,733 --> 00:16:38,200 SEEMS LIKE SORT OF A TEDDY ROOSEVELT-TYPE FIGURE: 300 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,466 OPTIMISTIC, FULL OF ENTHUSIASMS AND PASSIONS, 301 00:16:41,466 --> 00:16:43,466 SORT OF AN INDOMITABLE SPIRIT, 302 00:16:43,466 --> 00:16:46,066 ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEW, 303 00:16:46,066 --> 00:16:48,033 ALWAYS WANTING TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. 304 00:16:48,033 --> 00:16:52,233 AS A GUY WHO HAD HAD FAST-RUNNING HORSES IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT, 305 00:16:52,233 --> 00:16:53,966 ONCE THE AUTOMOBILE SHOWED UP, 306 00:16:53,966 --> 00:16:56,900 YOU COULD SORT OF SEE HIS EYES SORT OF SPIN, 307 00:16:56,900 --> 00:16:59,100 SAYING, "I GOTTA HAVE ONE OF THESE." 308 00:16:59,100 --> 00:17:01,433 HE JUST BECAME A FANATIC FOR AUTOMOBILES. 309 00:17:01,433 --> 00:17:04,933 Narrator: BORN IN 1872, 310 00:17:04,933 --> 00:17:06,866 JACKSON WAS A MINISTER'S SON 311 00:17:06,866 --> 00:17:09,300 KNOWN MORE FOR HIS GUNG-HO EAGERNESS 312 00:17:09,300 --> 00:17:11,733 THAN FOR HIS INTROSPECTION. 313 00:17:11,733 --> 00:17:13,766 HE HAD RECENTLY MARRIED BERTHA WELLS, 314 00:17:13,766 --> 00:17:17,300 THE DAUGHTER OF ONE OF THE RICHEST MEN IN VERMONT, 315 00:17:17,300 --> 00:17:19,633 FOUNDER OF PAINE'S CELERY COMPOUND-- 316 00:17:19,633 --> 00:17:25,066 A POPULAR CURE-ALL THAT WAS 20% GRAIN ALCOHOL. 317 00:17:25,066 --> 00:17:27,833 AFTER GIVING UP HIS MEDICAL PRACTICE, 318 00:17:27,833 --> 00:17:30,466 JACKSON HAD TRAVELED TO MEXICO AND ALASKA 319 00:17:30,466 --> 00:17:33,533 TO INVEST IN GOLD AND SILVER MINES. 320 00:17:33,533 --> 00:17:37,433 HE WAS ON HIS WAY HOME WHEN HE STOPPED IN SAN FRANCISCO 321 00:17:37,433 --> 00:17:40,566 AND MADE HIS IMPULSIVE WAGER. 322 00:17:40,566 --> 00:17:42,633 Duncan: THIS IS A STORY ABOUT A WHIM, 323 00:17:42,633 --> 00:17:46,700 ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO JUST DECIDES, 324 00:17:46,700 --> 00:17:48,700 "I WANT TO DO IT." 325 00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:52,766 4 DAYS AFTER MAKING A $50 BET, 326 00:17:52,766 --> 00:17:56,533 HE LEFT TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING THAT NOBODY HAD EVER DONE BEFORE. 327 00:17:56,533 --> 00:17:59,700 THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION-- 328 00:17:59,700 --> 00:18:01,866 THAT WAS A RESULT OF YEARS AND YEARS OF PLANNING. 329 00:18:01,866 --> 00:18:06,400 IT WAS ADVANCING SCIENCE, IT WAS DIPLOMACY, 330 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,666 IT WAS EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE UNITED STATES: 331 00:18:09,666 --> 00:18:12,633 A VERY SERIOUS UNDERTAKING. 332 00:18:12,633 --> 00:18:15,033 THIS IS NOT A VERY SERIOUS UNDERTAKING. 333 00:18:15,033 --> 00:18:16,766 THIS IS ALL ABOUT A GUY JUST DECIDING, 334 00:18:16,766 --> 00:18:20,966 "I WANT TO GET IN A CAR AND GET ON THE ROAD." 335 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:26,100 Narrator: BUT FIRST HE HAD TO FIND A CAR. 336 00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:27,200 AFTER A QUICK SEARCH, 337 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:32,066 JACKSON SETTLED ON A CHERRY-RED 1903 TOURING CAR 338 00:18:32,066 --> 00:18:36,066 MADE BY ALEXANDER WINTON'S COMPANY. 339 00:18:36,066 --> 00:18:38,466 EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MORE THAN A MONTH OLD 340 00:18:38,466 --> 00:18:40,600 WITH NEARLY 1,000 MILES ON IT, 341 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:45,566 HE PAID $3,000 FOR THE CAR-- $500 MORE THAN THE LIST PRICE-- 342 00:18:45,566 --> 00:18:48,966 BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND HE COULD FIND FOR SALE. 343 00:18:48,966 --> 00:18:53,266 THE WINTON HAD A TWO-CYLINDER, 20-HORSEPOWER ENGINE 344 00:18:53,266 --> 00:18:54,900 UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT 345 00:18:54,900 --> 00:18:56,900 WITH A CHAIN DRIVE; 346 00:18:56,900 --> 00:19:00,033 CAPABLE OF SPEEDS UP TO 30 MILES PER HOUR; 347 00:19:00,033 --> 00:19:05,466 NO TOP AND NO WINDSHIELD; STEERING WHEEL ON THE RIGHT. 348 00:19:05,466 --> 00:19:08,833 JACKSON REMOVED THE BACKSEAT 349 00:19:08,833 --> 00:19:11,100 TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE PILES OF EQUIPMENT 350 00:19:11,100 --> 00:19:13,300 HE'D QUICKLY PURCHASED FOR THE JOURNEY-- 351 00:19:13,300 --> 00:19:15,400 SLEEPING BAGS AND COOKING GEAR; 352 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,400 A SET OF TOOLS INCLUDING A SPADE AND A FIREMAN'S AX; 353 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,033 A BLOCK AND TACKLE WITH 150 FEET OF HEMP ROPE; 354 00:19:22,033 --> 00:19:25,733 A SHOTGUN, RIFLE, PISTOLS, AND AMMUNITION; 355 00:19:25,733 --> 00:19:29,966 AND A SMALL KODAK CAMERA TO RECORD HIS TRIP. 356 00:19:29,966 --> 00:19:32,833 THERE WERE NO GAS STATIONS AT THE TIME, 357 00:19:32,833 --> 00:19:34,833 BUT STORES IN MOST TOWNS CARRIED FUEL 358 00:19:34,833 --> 00:19:38,833 FOR FARM MACHINERY, STOVES, AND WATER PUMPS. 359 00:19:38,833 --> 00:19:41,000 HE CHRISTENED HIS CAR THE VERMONT 360 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:45,366 IN HONOR OF THE STATE WHERE HE LIVED WITH HIS WIFE BERTHA. 361 00:19:45,366 --> 00:19:48,233 FOR REASONS FOREVER LOST TO HISTORY, 362 00:19:48,233 --> 00:19:52,033 HE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED HER "SWIPES." 363 00:19:52,033 --> 00:19:54,766 SHE SUPPORTED HIS DECISION TO MAKE THE TRIP 364 00:19:54,766 --> 00:19:57,866 BUT CHOSE TO RETURN HOME BY PASSENGER TRAIN 365 00:19:57,866 --> 00:20:01,033 INSTEAD OF COMING ALONG. 366 00:20:01,033 --> 00:20:03,566 IN THE FIRST PLACE, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY ROOM FOR HER. 367 00:20:03,566 --> 00:20:06,066 WHO WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON TO TAKE WITH YOU? 368 00:20:06,066 --> 00:20:07,666 NOT YOUR WIFE. 369 00:20:07,666 --> 00:20:11,633 THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT SHE SAID TO HIM, 370 00:20:11,633 --> 00:20:15,766 "NELSON, IT'S OK FOR YOU TO GO." 371 00:20:15,766 --> 00:20:20,366 OH, I THINK SHE GAVE HIM HIS INDEPENDENCE. 372 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:23,366 Narrator: IN BERTHA'S PLACE, 373 00:20:23,366 --> 00:20:26,233 JACKSON HIRED THE MAN WHO HAD RECOMMENDED THE WINTON 374 00:20:26,233 --> 00:20:28,166 AS THE BEST CAR FOR THE TRIP: 375 00:20:28,166 --> 00:20:31,366 A 22-YEAR-OLD FORMER PROFESSIONAL BICYCLE RACER 376 00:20:31,366 --> 00:20:33,400 NAMED SEWALL K. CROCKER, 377 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,400 WHO WAS WORKING IN CALIFORNIA 378 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,400 AS A MECHANIC IN A GASOLINE ENGINE FACTORY. 379 00:20:41,233 --> 00:20:44,466 ON THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 23, 1903, 380 00:20:44,466 --> 00:20:47,533 THEY WERE READY TO GO. 381 00:20:47,533 --> 00:20:50,966 THE TWO MEN STARTED DOWN SAN FRANCISCO'S MARKET STREET 382 00:20:50,966 --> 00:20:53,366 TO CROSS THE BAY ON THE OAKLAND FERRY 383 00:20:53,366 --> 00:20:55,800 FOR THEIR LONG JOURNEY EAST. 384 00:20:59,566 --> 00:21:03,066 IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF AMERICA'S FIRST ROAD TRIP-- 385 00:21:03,066 --> 00:21:04,600 A TRIP THAT WOULD COLLECT 386 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:05,800 A THOUSAND IMPRESSIONS OF A COUNTRY 387 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:11,800 AND A PEOPLE ON THE CUSP OF EXTRAORDINARY CHANGE. 388 00:21:17,433 --> 00:21:20,566 Man as Jackson: MY DARLING SWIPES, 389 00:21:20,566 --> 00:21:22,700 THE HARDEST WORK I EVER DID WAS TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO YOU. 390 00:21:22,700 --> 00:21:26,433 I CAME PRETTY NEARLY HAVING COLD FEET. 391 00:21:26,433 --> 00:21:27,800 THERE ISN'T ONE WOMAN IN 1,000 392 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,733 THAT WOULD LET A FELLOW DO WHAT I HAVE DONE, 393 00:21:30,733 --> 00:21:33,733 AND I CAN TELL YOU, OLD GIRL, I APPRECIATE IT. 394 00:21:35,733 --> 00:21:37,100 PLEASE GIVE MY BEST LOVE TO YOUR MOTHER, 395 00:21:37,100 --> 00:21:40,433 AND TELL MY FATHER AND MOTHER THAT I LOVE THEM AS MUCH AS EVER. 396 00:21:40,433 --> 00:21:42,966 I SHALL WRITE YOU WHEN I CAN 397 00:21:42,966 --> 00:21:45,666 AND SHALL DEPEND ON YOU TO KEEP THEM POSTED. 398 00:21:45,666 --> 00:21:51,166 YOURS TILL NEW YORK, NELSON. 399 00:21:51,166 --> 00:21:55,833 P.S. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF, AND DON'T WORRY. 400 00:21:59,266 --> 00:22:00,633 Man: THERE IS NO THING THAT WE CAN DO 401 00:22:00,633 --> 00:22:03,866 THAT IS MORE AMERICAN THAN GETTING IN A CAR 402 00:22:03,866 --> 00:22:07,400 AND STRIKING OUT ACROSS COUNTRY. 403 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:08,800 I THINK, AS A NATION, 404 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:10,966 WE CAN THINK OF FEW THINGS THAT DRAW US MORE STRONGLY 405 00:22:10,966 --> 00:22:15,800 THAN A PIECE OF ROADWAY HEADING TO WE KNOW NOT WHERE. 406 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:18,600 THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE GROW UP. 407 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,800 THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE ENTER OUR HISTORY: 408 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,766 GET IN A CAR AND FIND THE COUNTRY. 409 00:22:57,766 --> 00:23:03,700 Narrator: 15 MILES FROM OAKLAND, THE VERMONT BLEW A TIRE. 410 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:06,500 THEY REPLACED IT WITH THE ONLY SPARE THEY HAD 411 00:23:06,500 --> 00:23:09,566 AND THEN MOTORED ON ANOTHER 60 MILES 412 00:23:09,566 --> 00:23:12,666 BEFORE STOPPING IN THE TOWN OF TRACY FOR THE NIGHT. 413 00:23:12,666 --> 00:23:16,633 THE NEXT DAY, ON THEIR WAY TO SACRAMENTO, 414 00:23:16,633 --> 00:23:19,200 THEY STOPPED AT A GENERAL STORE 415 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:21,800 TO BUY GASOLINE FROM AN ANCIENT CLERK 416 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:26,833 WHO SEEMED BEMUSED TO SEE TOURISTS IN A HORSELESS CARRIAGE. 417 00:23:26,833 --> 00:23:30,700 Man as Jackson: THE OLD MAN SAID WHEN HE GOT RICH, 418 00:23:30,700 --> 00:23:33,833 HE WAS GOING TO BUY ONE OF THESE G.D. MACHINES 419 00:23:33,833 --> 00:23:36,866 SO THAT HE COULD SPEND HIS MONEY FAST. 420 00:23:36,866 --> 00:23:40,000 HE WOULD BREAK DOWN HIS NEIGHBOR'S FENCES WITH IT, HE SAID. 421 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,033 THEN HE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY LEFT 422 00:23:42,033 --> 00:23:43,733 FOR HIS CHILDREN TO FIGHT OVER. 423 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,233 Narrator: AFTER COVERING 118 MILES, 424 00:23:52,233 --> 00:23:53,866 THEY STOPPED IN SACRAMENTO 425 00:23:53,866 --> 00:23:56,700 TO MAKE MINOR REPAIRS TO THE VERMONT: 426 00:23:56,700 --> 00:23:58,866 FIXING THE SPARK IGNITER, 427 00:23:58,866 --> 00:24:01,166 BUYING SOME SECONDHAND TIRE TUBES 428 00:24:01,166 --> 00:24:03,266 SINCE NO NEW ONES WERE AVAILABLE, 429 00:24:03,266 --> 00:24:05,233 AND ATTACHING AN ACETYLENE HEADLAMP 430 00:24:05,233 --> 00:24:08,433 TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR FOR NIGHT DRIVING. 431 00:24:10,233 --> 00:24:12,300 HERE THEY ALSO LOOKED OVER SOME RUDIMENTARY MAPS 432 00:24:12,300 --> 00:24:15,266 TO PLAN THE ROUTE AHEAD. 433 00:24:15,266 --> 00:24:19,133 A FORBIDDING PROSPECT LAY BEFORE THEM. 434 00:24:19,133 --> 00:24:20,300 AT THE TIME, 435 00:24:20,300 --> 00:24:25,000 OF THE 2.3 MILLION MILES OF ROAD IN THE UNITED STATES, 436 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,033 FEWER THAN 150 MILES WERE PAVED, 437 00:24:28,033 --> 00:24:31,833 AND ALL OF THOSE WERE WITHIN CITY LIMITS. 438 00:24:31,833 --> 00:24:34,366 THE REST WERE MOSTLY DIRT PATHS 439 00:24:34,366 --> 00:24:39,600 SUITABLE AT BEST FOR HORSES, COWS, AND SLOW-MOVING WAGONS. 440 00:24:41,433 --> 00:24:43,400 TO CROSS THE CONTINENT, 441 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:45,566 JACKSON DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO FOLLOW 442 00:24:45,566 --> 00:24:48,133 THE ROUTES OF RAILROADS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE-- 443 00:24:48,133 --> 00:24:51,466 TO USE THEIR RIGHTS OF WAY AS A ROAD IF NECESSARY, 444 00:24:51,466 --> 00:24:52,733 EVEN THEIR TRESTLES 445 00:24:52,733 --> 00:24:57,000 IN PLACES WHERE NO OTHER BRIDGE COULD BE FOUND. 446 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,000 AND TO AVOID THE SANDY WASTES OF NEVADA, 447 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:01,733 WHICH HAD DEFEATED ALEXANDER WINTON 448 00:25:01,733 --> 00:25:03,000 TWO YEARS EARLIER, 449 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:06,633 HE DETERMINED TO DETOUR NORTH THROUGH OREGON, 450 00:25:06,633 --> 00:25:09,100 EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD ADD MORE THAN 1,000 MILES TO HIS JOURNEY 451 00:25:09,100 --> 00:25:11,933 AND FOR A TIME, 452 00:25:11,933 --> 00:25:16,633 TAKE HIM THROUGH PLACES WHERE EVEN RAILROADS DID NOT EXIST. 453 00:25:19,666 --> 00:25:22,700 Man as Jackson: MY DARLING SWIPES, 454 00:25:22,700 --> 00:25:25,633 WE LEAVE IN THE MORNING FOR OROVILLE, 455 00:25:25,633 --> 00:25:26,666 THE LAST RAILWAY POINT WE WILL HAVE 456 00:25:26,666 --> 00:25:30,200 UNTIL WE STRIKE ONTARIO, OREGON. 457 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,533 WHEN WE GET THERE, THE WORST WILL BE OVER. 458 00:25:33,533 --> 00:25:35,500 I CAN RUN THE CAR AS WELL AS CROCKER 459 00:25:35,500 --> 00:25:39,000 AND HAVE RATHER SURPRISED HIM. 460 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,433 WE TAKE TWO HOURS ON AND TWO OFF AT THE WHEEL. 461 00:25:42,433 --> 00:25:44,633 HE'S A MIGHTY GOOD MAN. 462 00:25:44,633 --> 00:25:46,500 I AM FINE, 463 00:25:46,500 --> 00:25:49,133 AND THE ONLY TROUBLE IS, I MISS YOU SO. 464 00:25:49,133 --> 00:25:52,366 NELSON. 465 00:25:54,733 --> 00:25:58,166 Narrator: ON MAY 25, THEY STARTED FOR OROVILLE, 466 00:25:58,166 --> 00:26:00,933 TRAVELING THROUGH MILES AND MILES OF ORCHARDS 467 00:26:00,933 --> 00:26:03,400 ON DUSTY ROADS JACKSON DESCRIBED AS 468 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:08,300 "A COMPOUND OF RUTS, BUMPS, AND THANK YOU, MA'AMS." 469 00:26:08,300 --> 00:26:10,233 "WE NEVER NOTICED," HE ADDED, 470 00:26:10,233 --> 00:26:14,066 "AS OUR COOKING UTENSILS JOLTED OFF ONE BY ONE. 471 00:26:14,066 --> 00:26:16,233 "AND WHEN WE DISCOVERED OUR LOSS, 472 00:26:16,233 --> 00:26:20,266 WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO TURN BACK TO SEEK THEM." 473 00:26:20,266 --> 00:26:22,333 THEN THEY DISCOVERED SOMETHING ELSE. 474 00:26:22,333 --> 00:26:25,400 THEY WERE LOST. 475 00:26:27,266 --> 00:26:31,400 Man as Jackson: WE MET A RED-HAIRED YOUNG WOMAN RIDING ALONG ON A WHITE HORSE. 476 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:32,900 "WHICH WAY TO MARYSVILLE?" I ASKED HER. 477 00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:37,066 "RIGHT DOWN THAT ROAD," SHE SAID, AND POINTED. 478 00:26:37,066 --> 00:26:39,766 WE TOOK THAT ROAD FOR MILES, 479 00:26:39,766 --> 00:26:44,233 AND THEN IT CAME TO A DEAD END AT AN ISOLATED FARMHOUSE. 480 00:26:44,233 --> 00:26:46,666 THE FAMILY ALL TURNED OUT TO STARE AT US 481 00:26:46,666 --> 00:26:50,566 AND TOLD US WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK. 482 00:26:50,566 --> 00:26:54,000 WE WENT BACK AND MET THE RED-HAIRED YOUNG WOMAN AGAIN. 483 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:57,900 "WHY DID YOU SEND US WAY DOWN THERE?" I ASKED HER. 484 00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:02,133 "I WANTED PA AND MA AND MY HUSBAND TO SEE YOU," SHE SAID. 485 00:27:02,133 --> 00:27:04,633 "THEY'VE NEVER SEEN AN AUTOMOBILE." 486 00:27:06,466 --> 00:27:09,566 Narrator: LONG AFTER NIGHTFALL, 487 00:27:09,566 --> 00:27:11,666 JACKSON AND CROCKER FINALLY PULLED INTO OROVILLE 488 00:27:11,666 --> 00:27:15,600 BY THE LIGHT OF THEIR NEW SEARCHLAMP. 489 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:18,966 "EVERYTHING IS ALL OK," A TIRED JACKSON WROTE HIS WIFE. 490 00:27:18,966 --> 00:27:22,633 "I SHALL TAKE MY CAR THROUGH TO NEW YORK," HE PROMISED, 491 00:27:22,633 --> 00:27:24,766 UNDERLINING THE WORDS FOR EMPHASIS 492 00:27:24,766 --> 00:27:28,800 BEFORE SIGNING THE LETTER, "YOURS TILL DEATH." 493 00:27:32,633 --> 00:27:36,700 EARLY ON THE MORNING OF MAY 27, THEIR FIFTH DAY OUT, 494 00:27:36,700 --> 00:27:41,633 THE ASCENT INTO THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS BEGAN. 495 00:27:41,633 --> 00:27:43,800 THEY CLIMBED STEEP, ROCKY TRAILS 496 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,000 NO AUTOMOBILE HAD EVER TRAVELED-- 497 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,766 MOSTLY LOW-GEAR WORK, JACKSON WROTE, 498 00:27:48,766 --> 00:27:51,800 THAT REQUIRED FREQUENT STOPS FOR CROCKER TO FIX THE CLUTCH. 499 00:28:01,300 --> 00:28:03,833 Man as Jackson: OFTEN, THE TRAIL NARROWED TO 10 FEET, 500 00:28:03,833 --> 00:28:07,366 ONE-WAY THOROUGHFARES ESTABLISHED BY NATURE. 501 00:28:07,366 --> 00:28:12,666 SOMETIMES IT WAS NECESSARY TO REMOVE BOULDER BLOCKADES BY HAND. 502 00:28:12,666 --> 00:28:15,700 SLIPPING ON SHALE AND LOOSE ROCKS, 503 00:28:15,700 --> 00:28:17,633 WEAVING AROUND MOUNTAIN LEDGES, 504 00:28:17,633 --> 00:28:20,933 WE STAKED OUR CAREERS AGAINST NONE-TOO-RELIABLE BRAKES 505 00:28:20,933 --> 00:28:22,466 ON STEEP DESCENTS, 506 00:28:22,466 --> 00:28:25,866 AROUND HAIRPIN TURNS WHERE, JOLTING AND SKIDDING, 507 00:28:25,866 --> 00:28:30,466 WE SUDDENLY LOOKED DOWN SHEER PRECIPICES. 508 00:28:50,966 --> 00:28:53,800 Narrator: SHARP STONES PIERCED THE CAR'S TIRES, 509 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:55,933 FORCING THEM TO PATCH THE INNER TUBES 510 00:28:55,933 --> 00:28:58,866 AND THEN REINFLATE THEM BY HAND PUMP. 511 00:29:01,333 --> 00:29:04,300 THE WINDING TRAIL WAS CRISSCROSSED BY MOUNTAIN STREAMS, 512 00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:06,966 USUALLY WITH NO BRIDGES OVER THEM. 513 00:29:06,966 --> 00:29:08,933 JACKSON AND CROCKER HAD NO CHOICE 514 00:29:08,933 --> 00:29:11,100 BUT TO PUT THE VERMONT INTO HIGH GEAR 515 00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:15,000 AND TRY TO GET ACROSS AT TOP SPEED. 516 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,833 "WE WELCOMED SOME OF THE CREEKS," JACKSON SAID, 517 00:29:17,833 --> 00:29:21,200 "TO LET THE CAR'S HOT TIRES COOL." 518 00:29:27,766 --> 00:29:32,433 BUT ONE CREEK WAS TOO DEEP, AND THE VERMONT GOT STUCK. 519 00:29:32,433 --> 00:29:34,033 THE MEN TOOK OFF THEIR CLOTHES, 520 00:29:34,033 --> 00:29:38,100 WADED TO THE OTHER SHORE WITH THE BLOCK AND TACKLE, 521 00:29:38,100 --> 00:29:39,633 ATTACHED IT TO A TREE, 522 00:29:39,633 --> 00:29:40,600 PULLED THE CAR OUT WITH THE ROPE, 523 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:43,866 AND THEN CONTINUED ON THE BUMPY ROAD. 524 00:29:48,900 --> 00:29:51,933 Man as Jackson: WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE LOST OUR BLOCK AND TACKLE, 525 00:29:51,933 --> 00:29:55,133 FOR BIT BY BIT, OUR EQUIPMENT WAS DISAPPEARING, 526 00:29:55,133 --> 00:29:59,166 INCLUDING MY OWN SPECTACLES AND FOUNTAIN PEN. 527 00:30:03,433 --> 00:30:04,766 Narrator: THE NEXT DAY, 528 00:30:04,766 --> 00:30:08,233 THEY TOOK A WRONG ROAD AND LOST 20 MILES. 529 00:30:08,233 --> 00:30:10,566 THE CLUTCH NEEDED FIXING AGAIN, 530 00:30:10,566 --> 00:30:14,566 AND THEN THE LINE FEEDING OIL TO THE CYLINDERS GOT CLOGGED. 531 00:30:14,566 --> 00:30:17,433 WHEN CROCKER CRAWLED UNDERNEATH THE CAR TO REOPEN IT, 532 00:30:17,433 --> 00:30:20,633 TWO GALLONS OF OIL SPILLED ONTO HIM 533 00:30:20,633 --> 00:30:22,066 BEFORE HE COULD STOP IT. 534 00:30:22,066 --> 00:30:26,600 "HE IS NOW WEARING MY CLOTHES," JACKSON WROTE TO BERTHA, 535 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,766 "AND THE OTHERS ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD." 536 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:33,300 DURING IT ALL, 537 00:30:33,300 --> 00:30:36,700 JACKSON SOMEHOW LOST YET ANOTHER PAIR OF SPECTACLES 538 00:30:36,700 --> 00:30:39,566 WHILE THE VERMONT BOUNCED ALONG. 539 00:30:42,733 --> 00:30:47,133 BUT HE COULDN'T HELP ADMIRING THE SCENERY. 540 00:30:47,133 --> 00:30:50,066 Man as Jackson: PASSED THROUGH WINTER'S CANYON. 541 00:30:50,066 --> 00:30:52,033 VERY NARROW ROAD. 542 00:30:52,033 --> 00:30:56,066 STREAM WITH BEAUTIFUL FALLS 1,000 FEET BELOW 543 00:30:56,066 --> 00:30:58,966 AND HIGH GRANITE WALLS ON EACH SIDE. 544 00:30:58,966 --> 00:31:01,333 A GRAND SIGHT. 545 00:31:01,333 --> 00:31:05,600 I NEVER WENT THROUGH SUCH COUNTRY IN MY LIFE. 546 00:31:10,966 --> 00:31:13,733 Man: I THINK AN EARLY AUTOMOBILE TRIP 547 00:31:13,733 --> 00:31:17,633 WOULD BE ABOUT THE MOST FUN A PERSON COULD HAVE. 548 00:31:17,633 --> 00:31:20,366 IT WAS A VISCERAL EXPERIENCE-- 549 00:31:20,366 --> 00:31:23,866 THE LANDSCAPE COMING AT YOU AS IT DID, 550 00:31:23,866 --> 00:31:27,866 ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAD NO WINDSHIELD OR TOP TO BLOCK YOUR VIEW. 551 00:31:27,866 --> 00:31:30,166 IT'S ALL AROUND YOU. 552 00:31:30,166 --> 00:31:32,233 IT'S NO WONDER IT APPEALED SO MUCH TO JACKSON, 553 00:31:32,233 --> 00:31:33,133 'CAUSE HE, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, 554 00:31:33,133 --> 00:31:35,000 HAD RIDDEN TRAINS MOST OF HIS LIFE-- 555 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:37,600 ENCLOSED, CRAMPED, STUFFY RAILROAD CARS. 556 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:39,233 WHAT A DIFFERENCE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN. 557 00:31:39,233 --> 00:31:42,100 Narrator: MOUNT SHASTA, 558 00:31:42,100 --> 00:31:44,900 WHICH FOR DAYS HAD BEEN IN VIEW OFF AND ON "LIKE A GUIDEPOST," 559 00:31:44,900 --> 00:31:45,833 JACKSON WROTE, 560 00:31:45,833 --> 00:31:48,800 NOW FADED COMPLETELY FROM SIGHT BEHIND THEM 561 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:51,433 AS THEY CAME DOWN OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS 562 00:31:51,433 --> 00:31:53,966 AND HEADED FOR THE TOWN OF ALTURAS 563 00:31:53,966 --> 00:31:57,200 IN THE NORTHEASTERN CORNER OF CALIFORNIA. 564 00:32:00,033 --> 00:32:01,633 Man as Jackson: MY DARLING GIRL, 565 00:32:01,633 --> 00:32:04,233 WE HAVE CROSSED THE MOUNTAINS 566 00:32:04,233 --> 00:32:05,266 AND DON'T EXPECT TO COME TO ANY MORE 567 00:32:05,266 --> 00:32:08,333 UNTIL WE GET INTO IDAHO. 568 00:32:08,333 --> 00:32:14,066 WE HAVE PROVEN THAT MY MACHINE CAN DO OR GO ANYWHERE. 569 00:32:14,066 --> 00:32:16,800 I FEEL CONFIDENT WE CAN MAKE IT. 570 00:32:18,466 --> 00:32:20,733 HOW I WISH YOU WERE WITH ME 571 00:32:20,733 --> 00:32:24,433 AND THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO TAKE THE TRIP. 572 00:32:24,433 --> 00:32:25,433 WITH A BARRELFUL OF LOVE, 573 00:32:25,433 --> 00:32:31,200 I AM, AS ALWAYS, YOURS, NELSON. 574 00:32:57,500 --> 00:33:00,100 Man: THE ALTURAS PLAIN DEALER: 575 00:33:00,100 --> 00:33:04,100 QUITE A FLURRY OF EXCITEMENT WAS ERECTED SATURDAY EVENING 576 00:33:04,100 --> 00:33:06,866 BY THE ARRIVAL OF AN AUTOMOBILE. 577 00:33:06,866 --> 00:33:09,666 VERY FEW OF OUR CITIZENS HAD EVER SEEN THIS-- 578 00:33:09,666 --> 00:33:13,000 ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE CENTURY, 579 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,500 AND LARGE CROWDS GAZED WITH CURIOUS INTEREST 580 00:33:15,500 --> 00:33:19,033 AT THE HORSELESS WAGON. 581 00:33:19,033 --> 00:33:20,400 THE INDIANS ESPECIALLY 582 00:33:20,400 --> 00:33:23,700 NEVER TIRED OF GAZING AT THE MACHINE. 583 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:27,600 INDEED, HAD A FLYING MACHINE LIT DOWN IN THEIR MIDST, 584 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:31,800 IT WOULD NOT HAVE CREATED GREATER ASTONISHMENT. 585 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:33,566 Narrator: IN ALTURAS, 586 00:33:33,566 --> 00:33:35,633 JACKSON DECIDED TO WAIT FOR A DAY. 587 00:33:35,633 --> 00:33:37,966 HE HAD TELEGRAPHED BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO 588 00:33:37,966 --> 00:33:42,200 FOR A NEW SET OF BADLY NEEDED TIRES, SOME NEW BATTERIES, 589 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:46,700 AND A NEW CYCLOMETER TO HELP HIM MEASURE DISTANCES, 590 00:33:46,700 --> 00:33:49,366 AND HE HAD BEEN PROMISED BY WELLS FARGO 591 00:33:49,366 --> 00:33:54,033 THAT THE STAGECOACH WITH HIS SHIPMENT WOULD SOON CATCH UP WITH HIM. 592 00:33:54,033 --> 00:33:58,966 Duncan: I LOVE THE IRONY OF THE IMAGE OF JACKSON 593 00:33:58,966 --> 00:34:02,700 WHEN HE WAS IN ALTURAS, CALIFORNIA. 594 00:34:02,700 --> 00:34:05,833 HE NEEDS SOME SPARE TIRES, AND HE NEEDS SOME OTHER PARTS, 595 00:34:05,833 --> 00:34:07,866 AND THE ONLY WAY HE'S GONNA GET THEM 596 00:34:07,866 --> 00:34:09,900 IS FOR THEM TO ARRIVE BY WHAT? 597 00:34:09,900 --> 00:34:11,400 BY STAGECOACH. 598 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:16,900 HE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE UNTIL THE OLD STAGE ARRIVES. 599 00:34:16,900 --> 00:34:18,733 IT'S NOT QUITE A PASSING OF THE ERA, 600 00:34:18,733 --> 00:34:20,866 BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL RELYING ON THE OLD ERA 601 00:34:20,866 --> 00:34:23,600 TO GET THE NEW ERA IN MOTION. 602 00:34:25,566 --> 00:34:29,933 Narrator: ONE DAY PASSED, THEN A SECOND AND A THIRD. 603 00:34:29,933 --> 00:34:32,633 STILL NO TIRES. 604 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:37,300 Man as Jackson: MONDAY, JUNE 1: 605 00:34:37,300 --> 00:34:38,500 WELL, OLD GIRL, 606 00:34:38,500 --> 00:34:39,866 I AM RATHER PROVOKED 607 00:34:39,866 --> 00:34:41,400 OVER OUR DELAY. 608 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:45,700 I'VE LOST 5 1/2 DAYS. THIS IS A BAD START. 609 00:34:45,700 --> 00:34:49,866 BUT JUST AS SOON AS I CAN GET DECENT TIRES, 610 00:34:49,866 --> 00:34:51,500 WE WILL MAKE A RECORD RUN. 611 00:34:51,500 --> 00:34:55,566 CROCKER IS MORE INTERESTED THAN EVER 612 00:34:55,566 --> 00:34:57,866 AND IS KEEPING THE MACHINE UP IN GOOD SHAPE. 613 00:34:57,866 --> 00:35:02,033 I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT THAT I CAN MAKE NEW YORK. 614 00:35:02,033 --> 00:35:04,333 WE ARE CAUSING A GREAT SENSATION. 615 00:35:04,333 --> 00:35:06,866 IT IS THE FIRST MACHINE 616 00:35:06,866 --> 00:35:08,100 THAT HAS EVER GONE OVER THESE MOUNTAINS. 617 00:35:08,100 --> 00:35:13,266 YESTERDAY THE FARMERS DROVE IN FOR MILES TO SEE MY MACHINE, 618 00:35:13,266 --> 00:35:15,266 AND THERE HAS BEEN A HUNDRED PEOPLE 619 00:35:15,266 --> 00:35:18,266 AROUND THE LIVERY STABLE SINCE OUR ARRIVAL. 620 00:35:18,266 --> 00:35:22,266 I'VE BEEN OFFERED ALL PRICES TO TAKE THEM FOR A RIDE. 621 00:35:22,266 --> 00:35:24,633 I HAVE PROMISED SOME OF THE COWPUNCHERS A RIDE 622 00:35:24,633 --> 00:35:27,600 IF THEY WILL GET ME UP A GOOD ROUNDUP. 623 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:31,366 THEY'RE PLANNING FOR IT THIS AFTERNOON, 624 00:35:31,366 --> 00:35:34,766 AND I EXPECT TO SEE A REGULAR WILD WEST SHOW. 625 00:35:42,233 --> 00:35:44,033 Narrator: BY TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 626 00:35:44,033 --> 00:35:46,766 THE SHIPMENT STILL HAD NOT ARRIVED. 627 00:35:46,766 --> 00:35:49,366 JACKSON LEFT ALTURAS ANYWAY-- 628 00:35:49,366 --> 00:35:54,566 "IN NO VERY GOOD HUMOR," ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL PAPER. 629 00:35:54,566 --> 00:35:58,800 BUT AFTER ONLY A FEW MILES, A FRONT SPRING BROKE, 630 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:02,500 AND THE VERMONT LIMPED TOWARD LAKEVIEW, OREGON, 631 00:36:02,500 --> 00:36:03,833 AT UNDER 10 MILES PER HOUR. 632 00:36:05,566 --> 00:36:09,033 Woman: THE LAKEVIEW HERALD: 633 00:36:09,033 --> 00:36:10,666 A TELEGRAM WAS RECEIVED HERE TUESDAY MORNING 634 00:36:10,666 --> 00:36:14,000 THAT THE WONDER HAD LEFT ALTURAS 635 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:17,600 AND WOULD REACH THIS PLACE IN ABOUT TWO HOURS. 636 00:36:17,600 --> 00:36:21,466 THIS WAS ENOUGH TO PUT EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD IN LAKEVIEW 637 00:36:21,466 --> 00:36:24,633 ON THE KEEN EDGE OF EXPECTANCY. 638 00:36:26,666 --> 00:36:29,566 Man: THE WAY THE STREETS OF LAKEVIEW 639 00:36:29,566 --> 00:36:32,233 WERE LINED WITH PEOPLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON, 640 00:36:32,233 --> 00:36:35,400 ONE WOULD THINK A CIRCUS WAS COMING TO TOWN, 641 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:38,766 OR A 4th OF JULY PROCESSION WAS ABOUT TO PASS. 642 00:36:40,666 --> 00:36:42,433 WHILE IT WAS NEITHER, 643 00:36:42,433 --> 00:36:44,000 THE PEOPLE'S CURIOSITY HAD BEEN AROUSED 644 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:49,000 FROM A REPORT THAT AN AUTOMOBILE WAS COMING THIS WAY, 645 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,433 AND THAT IF THEY WISHED TO SEE IT PASS 646 00:36:51,433 --> 00:36:54,866 IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE A SEAT IN THE FRONT ROW. 647 00:36:54,866 --> 00:37:00,000 OTHERWISE IT MIGHT GO THROUGH AT THE RATE OF 90 MILES AN HOUR 648 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:03,800 AND WOULD BE OUT OF SIGHT BEFORE THEY COULD RUN A BLOCK. 649 00:37:08,466 --> 00:37:11,300 IT HOVE IN SIGHT AT JUST 4:00, 650 00:37:11,300 --> 00:37:16,866 AND THE CROWD SURGED FORWARD TO GET A FIRST LOOK AT A REAL, LIVE AUTO-- 651 00:37:16,866 --> 00:37:21,800 A MACHINE THAT 9/10 OF THE PEOPLE OF LAKE COUNTY HAD NEVER SEEN. 652 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:26,733 THE MACHINE DROVE UP IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL LAKEVIEW AND STOPPED. 653 00:37:26,733 --> 00:37:29,833 THE CHAUFFEUR INQUIRED FOR A BLACKSMITH SHOP, 654 00:37:29,833 --> 00:37:33,366 HAVING HAD A MISHAP COMING OVER THE ROUGH ROADS. 655 00:37:33,366 --> 00:37:35,800 LAKEVIEW COUNTY EXAMINER. 656 00:37:38,400 --> 00:37:39,766 Narrator: A LOCAL BLACKSMITH 657 00:37:39,766 --> 00:37:40,933 WAS PUT TO WORK REPAIRING THE FRONT SPRING-- 658 00:37:40,933 --> 00:37:45,566 "NEVER SENSING," JACKSON SAID, "THAT OUR STRANGE VEHICLE 659 00:37:45,566 --> 00:37:47,800 WAS A SYMBOL OF DOOM TO HIS PROFESSION." 660 00:37:51,633 --> 00:37:53,466 THEY LEFT THE BLACKSMITH'S SHOP THE NEXT DAY 661 00:37:53,466 --> 00:37:56,133 AND SET OFF ONCE AGAIN. 662 00:37:56,133 --> 00:37:57,700 THE FRONT SPRING WAS WORKING WELL NOW, 663 00:37:57,700 --> 00:38:02,266 BUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AN INNER TUBE BURST. 664 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:14,033 THEY HAD NO CHOICE NOW BUT TO RETURN TO LAKEVIEW 665 00:38:14,033 --> 00:38:16,166 AND WAIT FOR THE STAGE TO REACH THEM 666 00:38:16,166 --> 00:38:19,000 WITH THE SUPPLIES THEY HAD ORDERED FROM SAN FRANCISCO. 667 00:38:21,500 --> 00:38:23,266 Hokanson: IN 1903, 668 00:38:23,266 --> 00:38:25,466 TRAVELING CROSS-COUNTRY BY AUTOMOBILE... 669 00:38:25,466 --> 00:38:30,566 I DON'T THINK TODAY WE CAN CONCEIVE OF JUST HOW MUCH DIFFICULTY THAT PRESENTED. 670 00:38:30,566 --> 00:38:33,666 THESE WERE VERY UNRELIABLE AUTOMOBILES AT THIS TIME. 671 00:38:33,666 --> 00:38:35,600 EVEN IF YOU WENT 20 MILES, 672 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:37,900 YOU COULD FIGURE ON SOMETHING BREAKING. 673 00:38:37,900 --> 00:38:40,966 I THINK A $50 BET AT THAT TIME 674 00:38:40,966 --> 00:38:43,600 SAYING THAT NO ONE WOULD MAKE IT ACROSS THE STATES BY AUTOMOBILE 675 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:47,200 IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE WAS PROBABLY A PRETTY SAFE BET. 676 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:49,166 Man as Jackson: THURSDAY: 677 00:38:49,166 --> 00:38:52,533 LOAFED ALL DAY AND KEPT THE TELEGRAPH WIRE BUSY 678 00:38:52,533 --> 00:38:55,233 TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE TIRES. 679 00:38:55,233 --> 00:38:59,200 WE SPENT MOST OF THE DAY IN MR. LAKE'S BICYCLE SHOP, 680 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:04,033 AND CROCKER MADE $3.00 REPAIRING A COLUMBIAN BICYCLE. 681 00:39:04,033 --> 00:39:08,000 SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE NEVER SEEN A RAILROAD 682 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:11,366 OR BEEN AWAY FROM THE PLACE FOR MORE THAN 50 MILES. 683 00:39:11,366 --> 00:39:12,666 A LITTLE BOY ASKED HIS TEACHER 684 00:39:12,666 --> 00:39:17,033 IF HE COULD HAVE A HOLIDAY TO SEE THE AUTO. 685 00:39:19,266 --> 00:39:21,600 Narrator: LATE ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 5, 686 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:25,566 THE TIRES, BATTERIES, AND CYCLOMETER FINALLY ARRIVED. 687 00:39:25,566 --> 00:39:27,566 AND BY EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, 688 00:39:27,566 --> 00:39:31,833 JACKSON AND CROCKER HAD EVERYTHING READY. 689 00:39:31,833 --> 00:39:36,466 AHEAD OF THEM LAY NEARLY 300 MILES OF DESERT-- 690 00:39:36,466 --> 00:39:37,633 AN AREA THAT HAD THE ADDED DISTINCTION 691 00:39:37,633 --> 00:39:39,566 OF BEING FARTHER FROM A RAILROAD 692 00:39:39,566 --> 00:39:42,833 THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES. 693 00:39:45,833 --> 00:39:48,266 JACKSON HOPED TO CROSS IT IN TWO DAYS 694 00:39:48,266 --> 00:39:49,933 AND REACH ONTARIO, OREGON, 695 00:39:49,933 --> 00:39:52,600 WHERE HE HAD TELEGRAPHED AHEAD FOR MORE TIRES AND SUPPLIES 696 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:55,966 TO BE WAITING FOR HIM AT THE TRAIN STATION. 697 00:39:58,033 --> 00:40:00,533 Hokanson: SOUTHEASTERN OREGON IN 1903 698 00:40:00,533 --> 00:40:03,500 IS NOT A PLACE YOU WANT TO HAVE A MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN. 699 00:40:03,500 --> 00:40:04,866 IT STILL ISN'T. 700 00:40:04,866 --> 00:40:08,033 FEWER THAN TWO PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE 701 00:40:08,033 --> 00:40:10,533 LIVE IN SOUTHEASTERN OREGON TODAY. 702 00:40:10,533 --> 00:40:12,200 THAT USED TO BE 703 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:15,700 THE CENSUS BUREAU'S DEFINITION OF THE FRONTIER. 704 00:40:17,033 --> 00:40:21,566 IN 1990, CENSUS TAKERS HAD A MECHANICAL PROBLEM IN SOUTHEAST OREGON, 705 00:40:21,566 --> 00:40:25,766 AND THEY WERE MISSING FOR 4 DAYS...IN 1990. 706 00:40:28,433 --> 00:40:29,700 Narrator: AT 6 A.M., 707 00:40:29,700 --> 00:40:33,033 THEY SET OFF FROM LAKEVIEW FOR THEIR DASH ACROSS THE DESERT 708 00:40:33,033 --> 00:40:35,200 BUT IMMEDIATELY GOT CONFUSED 709 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:37,300 AND WENT 19 MILES DOWN THE WRONG ROAD 710 00:40:37,300 --> 00:40:40,666 BEFORE REALIZING IT. 711 00:40:40,666 --> 00:40:43,866 BY 8:00, THICK DUST WAS ALREADY CLOGGING 712 00:40:43,866 --> 00:40:45,466 ONE OF THE VERMONT'S TWO CARBURETORS, 713 00:40:45,466 --> 00:40:48,366 AND THEY HAD TO STOP TO CLEAN IT. 714 00:40:52,633 --> 00:40:54,933 THEN THE CAR WOULDN'T START. 715 00:40:54,933 --> 00:40:57,566 THE NEW BATTERIES WERE DEFECTIVE. 716 00:40:57,566 --> 00:41:01,466 TIME AFTER TIME THEY STRUGGLED TO GET THE ENGINE GOING, 717 00:41:01,466 --> 00:41:03,366 BUT WITH NO LUCK. 718 00:41:05,100 --> 00:41:08,266 HOURS TICKED BY. 719 00:41:08,266 --> 00:41:13,400 CROCKER TRIED EVERYTHING HE COULD THINK OF TO COAX THE VERMONT TO LIFE, 720 00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:16,200 BUT STILL IT REFUSED TO START. 721 00:41:18,566 --> 00:41:23,600 NOONTIME CAME AND WENT, THEN MOST OF THE AFTERNOON. 722 00:41:28,400 --> 00:41:31,600 Man as Jackson: ABOUT 4:00, A COWPUNCHER WENT BY, 723 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:36,000 AND WE CALLED HIM TO US BY FIRING MY GUN. 724 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:41,133 HE TIED HIS LASSOS TO OUR CAR AND TOWED US. 725 00:41:44,600 --> 00:41:47,700 Narrator: THE 20-HORSEPOWER AUTOMOBILE 726 00:41:47,700 --> 00:41:51,533 THAT PEOPLE HAD CALLED "ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE CENTURY" 727 00:41:51,533 --> 00:41:55,533 NOW FOUND ITSELF BEING SLOWLY DRAGGED LIKE A STUBBORN CALF 728 00:41:55,533 --> 00:42:00,800 ACROSS THE DESERT FLOOR BY A COWBOY AND HIS HORSE. 729 00:42:01,833 --> 00:42:06,233 SOMEHOW, WORD OF JACKSON AND CROCKER'S TROUBLES 730 00:42:06,233 --> 00:42:08,866 FILTERED BACK TO THE LAKEVIEW EXAMINER. 731 00:42:08,866 --> 00:42:11,733 "IF THEY MEET WITH AS MANY ACCIDENTS 732 00:42:11,733 --> 00:42:14,900 AND ARE DELAYED AS LONG AS THEY WERE IN ALTURAS AND LAKEVIEW," 733 00:42:14,900 --> 00:42:16,166 THE NEWSPAPER REPORTED, 734 00:42:16,166 --> 00:42:21,100 "IT WILL BE WINTER BEFORE THEY SEE THE ATLANTIC." 735 00:42:21,100 --> 00:42:25,033 WHEN THEY FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE NEAREST RANCH HOUSE, 736 00:42:25,033 --> 00:42:26,700 CROCKER AGAIN WENT TO WORK 737 00:42:26,700 --> 00:42:31,100 AND AT LAST GOT THE VERMONT RUNNING. 738 00:42:31,100 --> 00:42:34,033 THEY SET OFF IMMEDIATELY, 739 00:42:34,033 --> 00:42:35,500 FOLLOWING WHAT JACKSON CALLED 740 00:42:35,500 --> 00:42:41,166 "THE DAMNEDEST, ROUGH, ROCKY, SANDY ROAD THIS SIDE OF HADES." 741 00:42:42,566 --> 00:42:47,000 14 LONG HOURS AFTER LEAVING LAKEVIEW, 742 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:49,800 THEY REACHED A RANCH CALLED THE SL. 743 00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:53,633 Man as Jackson: THE RANCH MAN KINDLY OFFERED 744 00:42:53,633 --> 00:42:55,733 TO GIVE US HIS ATTIC FOR THE NIGHT, 745 00:42:55,733 --> 00:42:58,833 SO WE CRAWLED UP THE LADDER FOR BED. 746 00:42:58,833 --> 00:43:02,233 HERE WE FOUND A PILE OF RAGS IN ONE CORNER 747 00:43:02,233 --> 00:43:03,666 WITH TWO BLANKETS THAT EVERY SETTLER 748 00:43:03,666 --> 00:43:07,800 COMING THAT WAY SINCE '49 HAD SLEPT UNDER. 749 00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:12,566 IT IS NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT WE EACH SAT ON A NAIL KEG 750 00:43:12,566 --> 00:43:15,566 AND WAITED FOR OUR HOST AND HOSTESS TO GET TO SLEEP. 751 00:43:15,566 --> 00:43:18,966 THIS WE SOON DISCOVERED FROM THE SONOROUS SOUND 752 00:43:18,966 --> 00:43:20,600 THAT CAME UP THROUGH THE PLANKS OF OUR FLOOR, 753 00:43:20,600 --> 00:43:24,400 WHEREUPON WE BOTH JUMPED OUT OF THE WINDOW 754 00:43:24,400 --> 00:43:25,633 AND HAD A VERY COMFORTABLE NIGHT 755 00:43:25,633 --> 00:43:29,000 IN ONE OF THE HORSE STALLS IN THE BARN. 756 00:43:31,433 --> 00:43:33,733 Narrator: ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 7, 757 00:43:33,733 --> 00:43:37,233 JACKSON AND CROCKER RESUMED THEIR JOURNEY ACROSS THE DESERT 758 00:43:37,233 --> 00:43:40,200 AND SOON ENCOUNTERED HOMESTEADERS 759 00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:43,233 TRAVELING BY WAGON TO SOME OF THE ONLY FREE LAND 760 00:43:43,233 --> 00:43:45,566 STILL AVAILABLE IN THE NATION. 761 00:43:46,900 --> 00:43:50,900 Man as Jackson: I CANNOT SEE WHY THEY'D COME TO THIS DESERT, 762 00:43:50,900 --> 00:43:53,500 BUT THE OREGON AGENTS SEEM TO BE ABLE TO PAINT THEM 763 00:43:53,500 --> 00:43:57,033 A MOST BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THE HOMESTEADS HERE. 764 00:43:57,033 --> 00:44:01,100 ONE POOR FELLOW, SEEING US COMING DOWN THE ROAD, 765 00:44:01,100 --> 00:44:04,033 THOUGHT THE TRAIN HAD GOT OFF THE TRACK, 766 00:44:04,033 --> 00:44:07,000 SO HE HASTILY UNHARNESSED HIS HORSES, 767 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:10,900 AND HE AND HIS WIFE CRAWLED UNDER THE WAGON. 768 00:44:10,900 --> 00:44:15,000 OF COURSE, WHEN WE CAME ALONG, WE FRIGHTENED THEIR HORSES, 769 00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:17,800 AND THEY RAN MANY MILES ACROSS THE DESERT. 770 00:44:17,800 --> 00:44:20,666 I WAS VERY SORRY FOR THE POOR FELLOW, 771 00:44:20,666 --> 00:44:24,733 BUT HE WAS AS GREEN AS THEY MAKE THEM. 772 00:44:26,566 --> 00:44:28,566 Narrator: THE WAGON ROADS WERE SO ROUGH 773 00:44:28,566 --> 00:44:30,800 THAT JACKSON AND CROCKER DECIDED INSTEAD 774 00:44:30,800 --> 00:44:33,966 TO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SAGEBRUSH-- 775 00:44:33,966 --> 00:44:37,033 WHICH SOON STRIPPED OFF THEIR NEW CYCLOMETER, 776 00:44:37,033 --> 00:44:40,300 MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MEASURE DISTANCES. 777 00:44:40,300 --> 00:44:42,933 AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, 778 00:44:42,933 --> 00:44:46,366 THE GASOLINE IN THEIR EXTRA STORAGE TANK LEAKED OUT. 779 00:44:49,966 --> 00:44:52,433 WHEN THEY REACHED AN OUTPOST CALLED OKERMAN'S 780 00:44:52,433 --> 00:44:54,366 ON SILVER CREEK THAT EVENING, 781 00:44:54,366 --> 00:44:57,133 THEY HAD LESS THAN A QUART LEFT. 782 00:44:57,133 --> 00:44:59,033 IT WAS 26 MILES TO BURNS, 783 00:44:59,033 --> 00:45:03,100 THE NEAREST TOWN WHERE GAS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. 784 00:45:03,100 --> 00:45:04,466 WITH NO TELEPHONE AT OKERMAN'S, 785 00:45:04,466 --> 00:45:07,466 JACKSON RENTED THE OWNER'S BICYCLE 786 00:45:07,466 --> 00:45:09,633 AND SENT CROCKER OFF ON IT. 787 00:45:12,566 --> 00:45:16,233 CROCKER WAS GONE ALL NIGHT AND HALF THE NEXT DAY-- 788 00:45:16,233 --> 00:45:18,200 FORCED TO WALK MOST OF THE DISTANCE 789 00:45:18,200 --> 00:45:20,766 WHEN HIS BICYCLE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED-- 790 00:45:20,766 --> 00:45:24,066 FINALLY RETURNING WITH 4 GALLONS OF GASOLINE 791 00:45:24,066 --> 00:45:26,000 AND 3 GALLONS OF BENZENE 792 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:29,966 WHICH, JACKSON COMPLAINED, COST HIM NEARLY $20. 793 00:45:35,033 --> 00:45:38,466 FINALLY, ON THE AFTERNOON OF JUNE 10, 794 00:45:38,466 --> 00:45:39,666 THEIR 19th DAY ON THE ROAD, 795 00:45:39,666 --> 00:45:43,000 THEY MOTORED INTO ONTARIO, OREGON-- 796 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:47,200 A TOWN NEAR THE IDAHO BORDER AND, MORE IMPORTANT, 797 00:45:47,200 --> 00:45:50,033 A STOP ON THE OREGON SHORT LINE RAILROAD. 798 00:45:50,033 --> 00:45:55,033 WAITING FOR THEM AT THE STATION WERE A FULL SET OF NEW TIRES 799 00:45:55,033 --> 00:45:56,933 AND A NEW FRONT SPRING. 800 00:45:56,933 --> 00:46:01,000 "WHEN WE SAW THE RAILROAD," JACKSON WROTE HIS WIFE, 801 00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:04,833 "WE BOTH FELT LIKE THROWING UP OUR HATS AND GIVING 3 CHEERS." 802 00:46:24,700 --> 00:46:27,466 Man as Jackson: THURSDAY, JUNE 11: 803 00:46:27,466 --> 00:46:28,766 MY DEAR SWIPES, 804 00:46:28,766 --> 00:46:32,000 WE PUT ON OUR NEW SPRINGS AND ONE NEW TIRE 805 00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:35,033 AND LEFT ONTARIO A LITTLE AFTER 4:00. 806 00:46:35,033 --> 00:46:38,266 WE CROSSED THE SNAKE RIVER BY A FERRY 807 00:46:38,266 --> 00:46:40,333 AND ARE NOW IN IDAHO. 808 00:46:40,333 --> 00:46:43,433 SHORTLY AFTER WE LEFT, IT COMMENCED TO RAIN, 809 00:46:43,433 --> 00:46:45,233 AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, 810 00:46:45,233 --> 00:46:47,833 WE HAD TO TAKE OUT OUR RUBBER CLOTHING. 811 00:46:47,833 --> 00:46:50,233 THIS MADE TRAVELING VERY BAD. 812 00:46:50,233 --> 00:46:53,566 WE FOUND A STREAM TO FORD AND THOUGHT, OF COURSE, 813 00:46:53,566 --> 00:46:57,133 WE COULD MAKE IT, AS WE HAD MANY OTHERS, BY SHOOTING IT, 814 00:46:57,133 --> 00:46:58,533 BUT THE MUD WAS VERY DEEP, 815 00:46:58,533 --> 00:47:02,666 AND WE GOT STUCK IN THE CENTER OF IT. 816 00:47:05,633 --> 00:47:08,900 WE DID NOT ARRIVE IN CALDWELL UNTIL 12:00 AT NIGHT, 817 00:47:08,900 --> 00:47:10,700 AND THEN SOAKING WET. 818 00:47:10,700 --> 00:47:13,533 WE PUT UP AT THE PACIFIC HOTEL, 819 00:47:13,533 --> 00:47:17,733 AND THE PEOPLE NOTICED WE WERE CARRYING WITH US A VERY STRONG ODOR. 820 00:47:17,733 --> 00:47:20,233 WE HAD RUN OVER A SKUNK. 821 00:47:22,333 --> 00:47:25,600 Narrator: BEFORE LEAVING CALDWELL, IDAHO, THE NEXT MORNING, 822 00:47:25,600 --> 00:47:28,600 JACKSON ADDED A THIRD MEMBER TO THE EXPEDITION-- 823 00:47:28,600 --> 00:47:34,700 A YOUNG BULLDOG NAMED BUD, WHICH HE PURCHASED FOR $15. 824 00:47:34,700 --> 00:47:37,233 RIDING IN FRONT AND, JUST LIKE HIS MASTER, 825 00:47:37,233 --> 00:47:39,800 WEARING A PAIR OF GOGGLES 826 00:47:39,800 --> 00:47:42,200 TO KEEP THE DUST FROM STINGING HIS EYES, 827 00:47:42,200 --> 00:47:44,533 BUD QUICKLY LEARNED TO WATCH THE ROAD AHEAD 828 00:47:44,533 --> 00:47:47,366 JUST AS INTENTLY AS CROCKER AND JACKSON, 829 00:47:47,366 --> 00:47:50,766 BRACING HIMSELF FOR EVERY BUMP AND TURN. 830 00:47:52,133 --> 00:47:55,666 "BUD SOON BECAME AN ENTHUSIAST FOR MOTORING," JACKSON BRAGGED, 831 00:47:55,666 --> 00:47:58,700 ADDING, "HE WAS THE ONE MEMBER OF OUR TRIO 832 00:47:58,700 --> 00:48:03,433 WHO USED NO PROFANITY ON THE ENTIRE TRIP." 833 00:48:08,966 --> 00:48:10,866 TAKING ROADS THAT PARALLELED THE RAIL LINE, 834 00:48:10,866 --> 00:48:14,533 JACKSON NOW PLANNED ON MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME. 835 00:48:14,533 --> 00:48:19,833 BUT ONCE AGAIN HE GOT SOME BAD ADVICE 836 00:48:19,833 --> 00:48:22,066 AND FOLLOWED THE WRONG SET OF TRACKS, 837 00:48:22,066 --> 00:48:24,300 WHICH TOOK THEM 38 MILES OUT OF THEIR WAY 838 00:48:24,300 --> 00:48:26,233 BEFORE THEY REALIZED IT. 839 00:48:39,233 --> 00:48:41,033 THEY MOTORED ON TO THE TOWN OF HAILEY, 840 00:48:41,033 --> 00:48:44,533 JUST SOUTH OF IDAHO'S SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS. 841 00:48:44,533 --> 00:48:48,966 FROM THERE, JACKSON TELEGRAPHED THE WINTON COMPANY IN CLEVELAND, 842 00:48:48,966 --> 00:48:53,266 PLACING AN ORDER FOR THEM TO SHIP HIM A NEW AIR INTAKE PIPE, 843 00:48:53,266 --> 00:48:55,933 SINCE THE ORIGINAL HAD DROPPED OFF SOMEWHERE ALONG THE ROAD. 844 00:49:01,033 --> 00:49:05,066 IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD CONTACTED THE COMPANY DIRECTLY 845 00:49:05,066 --> 00:49:08,000 AND THE FIRST TIME WINTON OFFICIALS BECAME AWARE 846 00:49:08,000 --> 00:49:12,066 THAT ONE OF THEIR CARS WAS TRYING TO CROSS THE CONTINENT. 847 00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:19,000 Man as Jackson: MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 15: 848 00:49:19,000 --> 00:49:22,033 WE STARTED ON WHAT THEY CALL THE ZIGZAG ROAD, 849 00:49:22,033 --> 00:49:24,700 WHICH RUNS ALONG A GREAT LAVA BED. 850 00:49:24,700 --> 00:49:28,666 THE COUNTRY TOOK ON A NEW CHARACTER-- 851 00:49:28,666 --> 00:49:32,533 SOARING HEIGHTS OF DENUDED SLOPES, 852 00:49:32,533 --> 00:49:34,066 MONSTROUS CLIFFS, 853 00:49:34,066 --> 00:49:39,433 AND GIANT BOULDERS SCATTERED IN MAGNIFICENT CONFUSION. 854 00:49:39,433 --> 00:49:41,166 Narrator: THEIR ROUTE TOOK THEM THROUGH 855 00:49:41,166 --> 00:49:44,400 WHAT IS NOW CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL MONUMENT-- 856 00:49:44,400 --> 00:49:47,133 A DESOLATE, EERIE LANDSCAPE 857 00:49:47,133 --> 00:49:50,833 SHAPED AND RESHAPED BY A SERIES OF VOLCANIC CATACLYSMS. 858 00:49:53,933 --> 00:49:55,966 60 YEARS BEFORE JACKSON, 859 00:49:55,966 --> 00:49:57,633 WAGON TRAINS OF PIONEERS HAD VENTURED THIS WAY 860 00:49:57,633 --> 00:50:00,866 ON WHAT WAS CALLED THE GOODALE'S CUTOFF 861 00:50:00,866 --> 00:50:02,900 ON THE OREGON TRAIL. 862 00:50:02,900 --> 00:50:05,066 60 YEARS AFTER JACKSON, 863 00:50:05,066 --> 00:50:06,600 ASTRONAUTS WOULD BE BROUGHT THERE 864 00:50:06,600 --> 00:50:09,966 TO TRAIN FOR THE FIRST LUNAR LANDING. 865 00:50:27,700 --> 00:50:31,366 THROUGHOUT RURAL IDAHO, JUST AS IN OREGON, 866 00:50:31,366 --> 00:50:33,633 PEOPLE SURROUNDED THE VERMONT, ONE LOCAL NEWSPAPER REPORTED, 867 00:50:33,633 --> 00:50:37,066 "AS FLIES SURROUND A KEG OF MOLASSES," 868 00:50:37,066 --> 00:50:39,433 AND THEY OFTEN GAVE THE TRAVELERS HOME-COOKED MEALS 869 00:50:39,433 --> 00:50:45,733 IN EXCHANGE FOR SHORT RIDES ON WHAT SOME OF THEM CALLED THE GO-LIKE-HELL MACHINE. 870 00:50:47,933 --> 00:50:52,400 BY JUNE 16, THEY HAD PASSED THROUGH THE TOWNS OF BLACKFOOT, 871 00:50:52,400 --> 00:50:55,500 POCATELLO, AND SQUAW CREEK, 872 00:50:55,500 --> 00:50:59,333 AND FOUND WHAT JACKSON CALLED "AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD ROAD" 873 00:50:59,333 --> 00:51:00,800 THAT ALLOWED THEM TO OPEN UP THE VERMONT'S THROTTLE 874 00:51:00,800 --> 00:51:05,766 AS THEY WHIRLED INTO THE QUIET VILLAGE OF SODA SPRINGS. 875 00:51:08,600 --> 00:51:11,466 Man: THE FIRST AUTOMOBILE TO INVADE SODA SPRINGS 876 00:51:11,466 --> 00:51:13,466 ROUNDED THE CORNER AT WHITMAN'S STORE 877 00:51:13,466 --> 00:51:16,000 JUST AT SUNDOWN TUESDAY NIGHT, 878 00:51:16,000 --> 00:51:18,900 AND WITH A TOOT THAT SOUNDED LIKE A YOUNG FOG HORN 879 00:51:18,900 --> 00:51:22,666 WHIZZED UP DILLON STREET AND STOPPED AT THE IDANHA HOTEL. 880 00:51:22,666 --> 00:51:26,400 WHEN THE COW BOYS, SHEEP HERDERS AND INDIANS 881 00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:28,933 RECOVERED FROM THEIR SURPRISE 882 00:51:28,933 --> 00:51:31,033 THEY CAUGHT THEIR BREATH AND LET OUT A WHOOP 883 00:51:31,033 --> 00:51:33,033 THAT WAS TAKEN UP AND PASSED ALONG 884 00:51:33,033 --> 00:51:35,366 THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE BLOCK. 885 00:51:35,366 --> 00:51:40,900 THE INTEREST IN ROULETTE AND TWENTY-ONE WAS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED 886 00:51:40,900 --> 00:51:44,366 UNTIL THE STRANGE MACHINE HAD BEEN THOROUGHLY EXAMINED 887 00:51:44,366 --> 00:51:48,166 AND THE CURIOSITY OF THE CROWD APPEASED. 888 00:51:48,166 --> 00:51:49,966 THE IDANHA CHIEFTAIN. 889 00:51:52,366 --> 00:51:53,566 Least Heat-Moon: WHEN JACKSON WOULD COME INTO A TOWN 890 00:51:53,566 --> 00:51:57,000 AND THE PEOPLE WOULD SEE FOR THE FIRST TIME-- 891 00:51:57,000 --> 00:52:00,100 WOULD LAY THEIR EYES FOR THE FIRST TIME ON AN AUTOMOBILE, 892 00:52:00,100 --> 00:52:03,166 A WHOLE NEW ERA HAS ARRIVED, 893 00:52:03,166 --> 00:52:05,900 AND A SENSE THAT-- EVEN THOUGH WHEN ERAS ARRIVE, 894 00:52:05,900 --> 00:52:08,700 WE DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THEM OR KNOW WHERE THEY'RE TAKING US, 895 00:52:08,700 --> 00:52:12,033 WE STILL HAVE THE SENSE EVERYTHING HAS JUST CHANGED. 896 00:52:13,033 --> 00:52:14,933 WHEN THIS HORSELESS CARRIAGE COMES INTO TOWN, 897 00:52:14,933 --> 00:52:19,700 THINGS ARE NOT GONNA BE THE SAME EVER AGAIN IN THIS VILLAGE. 898 00:52:19,700 --> 00:52:22,566 Narrator: IN SODA SPRINGS, 899 00:52:22,566 --> 00:52:24,833 JACKSON DISCOVERED THAT YET ANOTHER PERSONAL ITEM 900 00:52:24,833 --> 00:52:27,366 HAD FALLEN OFF THE BOUNCING CAR. 901 00:52:27,366 --> 00:52:32,400 THIS TIME IT WAS HIS COAT, WITH MOST OF HIS REMAINING CASH. 902 00:52:32,400 --> 00:52:35,566 HE TELEGRAPHED HIS WIFE TO WIRE HIM $200 903 00:52:35,566 --> 00:52:39,566 IN CARE OF THE WESTERN UNION OFFICE IN CHEYENNE, WYOMING, 904 00:52:39,566 --> 00:52:44,100 WHICH HE NOW FELT CONFIDENT HE WOULD REACH IN A FEW DAYS. 905 00:52:45,933 --> 00:52:50,033 ON JUNE 17, THEY RATTLED OUT OF TOWN, HEADED FOR WYOMING, 906 00:52:50,033 --> 00:52:51,900 AND QUICKLY MADE 30 MILES-- 907 00:52:51,900 --> 00:52:56,866 UNTIL THE HUB AND BEARINGS ON A FRONT WHEEL GAVE OUT. 908 00:52:56,866 --> 00:52:59,200 IN MONTPELIER, IDAHO, 909 00:52:59,200 --> 00:53:02,433 THEY BORROWED SOME BEARINGS FROM A FARMER'S MOWING MACHINE 910 00:53:02,433 --> 00:53:05,366 AND ONCE AGAIN HAD TO RELY ON A LOCAL BLACKSMITH 911 00:53:05,366 --> 00:53:08,200 TO INSTALL THEM. 912 00:53:08,200 --> 00:53:12,000 THE DELAY COST THEM THE REST OF THE DAY, 913 00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:16,033 BUT JACKSON'S OPTIMISM WAS UNDIMINISHED. 914 00:53:16,033 --> 00:53:18,100 Man as Jackson: DARLING SWIPES, 915 00:53:18,100 --> 00:53:23,566 JUST A LINE TO SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT WITH YOUR WANDERING BOY. 916 00:53:23,566 --> 00:53:27,766 I CAN'T WRITE MUCH, AS WE SLEEP, THEN WORK. 917 00:53:27,766 --> 00:53:32,966 WHEN YOU HEAR THAT WE HAVE REACHED RAWLINS, WYOMING, 918 00:53:32,966 --> 00:53:34,533 YOU WILL KNOW THAT I CAN MAKE THE TRIP A GO, 919 00:53:34,533 --> 00:53:38,366 SO BET ALL THE MONEY YOU HAVE GOT ON IT. 920 00:53:39,633 --> 00:53:42,300 WELL, OLD GIRLIE, I CAN'T SAY ANY MORE. 921 00:53:42,300 --> 00:53:45,000 YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL. 922 00:53:45,000 --> 00:53:48,500 I SHALL MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME. 923 00:53:48,500 --> 00:53:50,166 NELSON. 924 00:53:52,000 --> 00:53:53,533 Duncan: IF EVER THERE WAS SOMEBODY 925 00:53:53,533 --> 00:53:57,733 WHO SAW THE GLASS HALF-FULL EVEN IF IT'S ONLY A QUARTER, 926 00:53:57,733 --> 00:54:02,066 IT'S GOTTA BE HORATIO NELSON JACKSON. 927 00:54:02,066 --> 00:54:04,033 EVERY TIME--EVERY SINGLE TIME, 928 00:54:04,033 --> 00:54:06,933 IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH HIS CAR. 929 00:54:06,933 --> 00:54:11,600 AT A TIME WHEN A RATIONAL PERSON PROBABLY WOULD SAY, 930 00:54:11,600 --> 00:54:13,433 "I'VE GONE FAR ENOUGH, GAVE IT MY BEST SHOT. 931 00:54:13,433 --> 00:54:16,566 I'LL CATCH THE TRAIN, GO HOME," 932 00:54:16,566 --> 00:54:20,066 INSTEAD HE WRITES TO HIS WIFE, AND IT'S THIS SORT OF-- 933 00:54:20,066 --> 00:54:21,400 I DON'T THINK IT WAS ALL BRAVADO 934 00:54:21,400 --> 00:54:24,066 OR JUST TRYING TO REASSURE HER THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK. 935 00:54:24,066 --> 00:54:25,166 I THINK HE BELIEVED IT. 936 00:54:25,166 --> 00:54:27,800 "IF I JUST GET OVER THIS NEXT THING, 937 00:54:27,800 --> 00:54:32,366 IT'S GONNA BE SMOOTH SAILING FROM HERE ON OUT." 938 00:54:32,366 --> 00:54:35,666 AND HE SAID THAT TIME AND TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN. 939 00:54:35,666 --> 00:54:37,666 EVERY OBSTACLE THAT HE ENCOUNTERED 940 00:54:37,666 --> 00:54:41,233 WAS GOING TO BE THE LAST OBSTACLE, 941 00:54:41,233 --> 00:54:44,600 AND, OF COURSE, IT NEVER WAS. 942 00:54:48,733 --> 00:54:50,600 Narrator: THINGS GOT EVEN WORSE ON JUNE 20, 943 00:54:50,600 --> 00:54:53,566 AFTER THEY HAD CROSSED INTO WYOMING. 944 00:54:53,566 --> 00:54:55,633 A TREMENDOUS CLOUDBURST STRUCK THE AREA 945 00:54:55,633 --> 00:54:59,433 AFTER THEY PASSED THROUGH THE TOWN OF GRANGER, 946 00:54:59,433 --> 00:55:02,733 FLOODING AND WASHING OUT THE ROAD. 947 00:55:02,733 --> 00:55:07,466 THEY NOW RESORTED TO TRYING TO NAVIGATE ACROSS THE OPEN COUNTRY, 948 00:55:07,466 --> 00:55:11,533 CHANGING DIRECTION EVERY TIME THEY ENCOUNTERED A GULLY TOO DEEP TO CROSS-- 949 00:55:11,533 --> 00:55:15,166 AND GETTING HOPELESSLY LOST. 950 00:55:15,166 --> 00:55:18,800 "WE ZIGZAGGED AS BEST WE COULD," JACKSON WROTE. 951 00:55:18,800 --> 00:55:21,266 "SOMETIMES WE WENT NORTH INSTEAD OF EAST; 952 00:55:21,266 --> 00:55:23,633 "AT OTHERS, WE EVEN WENT NORTHWEST, 953 00:55:23,633 --> 00:55:27,933 BRINGING US BACK WHERE WE HAD BEEN BEFORE." 954 00:55:27,933 --> 00:55:30,966 THEY STRUGGLED ALONG FOR HOURS, 955 00:55:30,966 --> 00:55:35,566 ULTIMATELY GOING 69 MILES OUT OF THEIR WAY. 956 00:55:39,966 --> 00:55:42,400 Man as Jackson: COMING TO THE BANK OF A RIVER, 957 00:55:42,400 --> 00:55:44,633 WE JUDGED FROM OUR MAPS AND COMPASS 958 00:55:44,633 --> 00:55:46,566 THAT IT WAS THE GREEN RIVER, 959 00:55:46,566 --> 00:55:50,400 AND WE RESOLVED TO FOLLOW ITS DOWNWARD COURSE. 960 00:55:50,400 --> 00:55:54,533 WHEN NIGHT CAME ON, WE MADE CAMP BESIDE THE CAR, 961 00:55:54,533 --> 00:55:58,100 AND HAVING LOST OUR COOKING OUTFIT AND PROVISIONS 962 00:55:58,100 --> 00:56:01,166 AND IT BEING AN UNINHABITED REGION, 963 00:56:01,166 --> 00:56:04,033 WENT TO BED WITHOUT ANY SUPPER. 964 00:56:05,633 --> 00:56:08,566 Narrator: AS THEY WENT TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT, 965 00:56:08,566 --> 00:56:12,833 JACKSON AND CROCKER HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT TWO OTHER MEN 966 00:56:12,833 --> 00:56:16,833 HAD STARTED ON THEIR OWN CAR TRIP ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 967 00:56:19,466 --> 00:56:24,200 Man: SAN FRANCISCO, JUNE 20, 1903: 968 00:56:24,200 --> 00:56:27,500 AT 2:00, TOM FETCH TOOK HIS PLACE AT THE STEERING WHEEL. 969 00:56:27,500 --> 00:56:30,566 BESIDE HIM, I TOOK MY SEAT, 970 00:56:30,566 --> 00:56:33,866 AND THE COURSE WAS STEERED TO THE FAMOUS CLIFF HOUSE 971 00:56:33,866 --> 00:56:35,933 OVERLOOKING THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 972 00:56:35,933 --> 00:56:41,533 THENCE TO DEPART ON THE LONG, LAND-BOUND EXPEDITION. 973 00:56:41,533 --> 00:56:42,766 MARIUS KRARUP. 974 00:56:42,766 --> 00:56:46,366 Narrator: MARIUS KRARUP AND TOM FETCH 975 00:56:46,366 --> 00:56:48,966 HAD BEEN CHOSEN BY THE PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY 976 00:56:48,966 --> 00:56:52,366 TO DRIVE ONE OF THEIR BRAND-NEW 12-HORSEPOWER TOURING CARS 977 00:56:52,366 --> 00:56:54,700 FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW YORK. 978 00:56:54,700 --> 00:56:58,966 FETCH WAS ALREADY A TEST DRIVER FOR THE COMPANY. 979 00:56:58,966 --> 00:57:02,433 KRARUP WAS A REPORTER FOR AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE, 980 00:57:02,433 --> 00:57:03,833 ALONG TO FILE REGULAR DISPATCHES 981 00:57:03,833 --> 00:57:08,100 ON WHAT PACKARD'S ADVERTISING CHIEF ADMITTED WAS 982 00:57:08,100 --> 00:57:10,466 "A SPECTACLE TO GAIN PUBLICITY 983 00:57:10,466 --> 00:57:12,266 AND TO PROVE THE CAR'S DURABILITY." 984 00:57:12,266 --> 00:57:15,000 FOR 3 MONTHS, 985 00:57:15,000 --> 00:57:18,833 WELL BEFORE HORATIO NELSON JACKSON HAD EVER MADE HIS BET, 986 00:57:18,833 --> 00:57:23,600 THE PACKARD COMPANY HAD BEEN PLANNING THEIR TRIP. 987 00:57:23,600 --> 00:57:27,933 IT WAS EVERYTHING THAT JACKSON'S EXPEDITION WAS NOT. 988 00:57:27,933 --> 00:57:30,433 EACH DAY'S ITINERARY 989 00:57:30,433 --> 00:57:32,866 ALONG THE MAIN ROUTE OF THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD 990 00:57:32,866 --> 00:57:34,600 HAD BEEN PREDETERMINED, 991 00:57:34,600 --> 00:57:37,433 WITH EXTRA SUPPLIES PLACED AT STRATEGIC POINTS 992 00:57:37,433 --> 00:57:39,433 AND THE MEN'S PERSONAL LUGGAGE 993 00:57:39,433 --> 00:57:40,466 SHIPPED AHEAD BY TRAIN EACH MORNING 994 00:57:40,466 --> 00:57:43,333 TO THE NEXT STOPPING PLACE. 995 00:57:43,333 --> 00:57:45,266 AN EXPERT MACHINIST FROM THE PACKARD FACTORY 996 00:57:45,266 --> 00:57:47,833 WAS EVEN SENT ALONG-- 997 00:57:47,833 --> 00:57:48,633 RIDING IN THE CAR SOME DAYS, 998 00:57:48,633 --> 00:57:52,366 TAKING THE TRAIN AHEAD ON OTHERS. 999 00:57:52,366 --> 00:57:54,666 RIGHT FROM THE START, 1000 00:57:54,666 --> 00:57:58,566 FETCH AND KRARUP MADE EXCELLENT TIME. 1001 00:57:58,566 --> 00:58:00,600 BY THE FIFTH DAY, 1002 00:58:00,600 --> 00:58:04,133 THEY HAD CROSSED THE SUMMITS OF THE SIERRA NEVADAS AT LAKE TAHOE 1003 00:58:04,133 --> 00:58:07,233 AND DESCENDED INTO CARSON CITY. 1004 00:58:07,233 --> 00:58:10,300 LEARNING FROM ALEXANDER WINTON'S DISASTER 1005 00:58:10,300 --> 00:58:12,633 WITH DEEP SAND TWO YEARS EARLIER, 1006 00:58:12,633 --> 00:58:16,066 THEY CAME EQUIPPED WITH TWO LONG STRIPS OF HEAVY CANVAS 1007 00:58:16,066 --> 00:58:18,366 TO ROLL OUT ACROSS SOFT SPOTS 1008 00:58:18,366 --> 00:58:21,533 AND PROVIDE ENOUGH TRACTION TO KEEP FROM BOGGING DOWN. 1009 00:58:21,533 --> 00:58:25,400 THEIR FIRST DAY ON THE NEVADA DESERT, 1010 00:58:25,400 --> 00:58:26,833 THEY COVERED MORE THAN 70 MILES 1011 00:58:26,833 --> 00:58:29,266 AND FELT CONFIDENT ENOUGH ABOUT THEIR PROGRESS 1012 00:58:29,266 --> 00:58:30,933 TO TAKE THE NEXT DAY OFF, 1013 00:58:30,933 --> 00:58:36,966 SIMPLY TO WAIT FOR MORE FILM FOR KRARUP'S CAMERA. 1014 00:58:36,966 --> 00:58:38,266 EVERYWHERE THEY WENT, 1015 00:58:38,266 --> 00:58:42,533 THEY IGNORED THE FACT THAT JACKSON WAS ALREADY ON THE ROAD 1016 00:58:42,533 --> 00:58:47,400 AND CLAIMED TO BE THE ONLY OFFICIAL TEAM CROSSING THE CONTINENT. 1017 00:58:58,266 --> 00:59:02,500 Wall: I THINK THAT HE HAD NO IDEA HOW HARD IT WOULD BE. 1018 00:59:02,500 --> 00:59:06,533 I THINK THAT ONCE HE HAD THE FOCUS 1019 00:59:06,533 --> 00:59:07,733 OF ACCOMPLISHING THIS DREAM, 1020 00:59:07,733 --> 00:59:13,333 THAT WAS THE-- THAT WAS WHAT DROVE HIM, 1021 00:59:13,333 --> 00:59:16,200 WAS TO FINISH THE TRIP AND DO IT, 1022 00:59:16,200 --> 00:59:17,800 AND IT WASN'T THE BET. 1023 00:59:17,800 --> 00:59:18,966 NO. 1024 00:59:18,966 --> 00:59:22,166 IT WASN'T GETTING THE MONEY. 1025 00:59:22,166 --> 00:59:23,733 IT WAS JUST DOING IT. 1026 00:59:23,733 --> 00:59:26,933 AND IN THE LETTERS THAT HE SENDS BACK, 1027 00:59:26,933 --> 00:59:28,000 HE SAYS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, 1028 00:59:28,000 --> 00:59:32,300 "I'M GOING TO DO THIS. I'M GOING TO DO IT." 1029 00:59:35,666 --> 00:59:38,633 Narrator: WHEN HE AWOKE ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 21, 1030 00:59:38,633 --> 00:59:41,833 JACKSON WAS STILL LOST IN WESTERN WYOMING, 1031 00:59:41,833 --> 00:59:45,000 AND HE WOULD LATER DESCRIBE HIS NIGHT CAMPED BY THE RIVER 1032 00:59:45,000 --> 00:59:50,433 AS THE TIME "THAT 30,000 MOSQUITOES DIED ON THE BACK OF MY NECK." 1033 00:59:53,433 --> 00:59:57,166 BUT HIS MORE IMMEDIATE CONCERN WAS FOOD. 1034 00:59:57,166 --> 01:00:01,000 IT HAD BEEN NEARLY 36 HOURS SINCE THEY HAD LAST EATEN. 1035 01:00:01,000 --> 01:00:03,966 "AND AS WE TIGHTENED OUR BELTS," HE JOKED LATER, 1036 01:00:03,966 --> 01:00:05,466 "BOTH CROCKER AND I 1037 01:00:05,466 --> 01:00:09,233 WERE STEALING SPECULATIVE GLANCES AT BUD." 1038 01:00:12,666 --> 01:00:14,600 THEY FOLLOWED THE RIVER SOUTH, 1039 01:00:14,600 --> 01:00:18,500 HOPING IT WOULD LEAD THEM TO A TOWN OR A HOMESTEAD. 1040 01:00:19,933 --> 01:00:23,933 INSTEAD, THEY FINALLY CAME UPON A LONELY SHEEPHERDER 1041 01:00:23,933 --> 01:00:27,100 WHO SAID HE HADN'T SEEN ANOTHER HUMAN BEING IN 3 WEEKS 1042 01:00:27,100 --> 01:00:32,666 AND HAPPILY OFFERED THEM A FEAST OF ROAST LAMB AND BOILED CORN-- 1043 01:00:32,666 --> 01:00:36,700 "THE FINEST MEAL," JACKSON SAID, "I EVER ATE." 1044 01:00:38,466 --> 01:00:41,333 WHEN THE SHEEPHERDER REFUSED TO BE PAID FOR THE FOOD, 1045 01:00:41,333 --> 01:00:47,600 JACKSON INSISTED THAT HE AT LEAST ACCEPT A RIFLE AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION. 1046 01:00:47,600 --> 01:00:50,766 "IF HE HAD ASKED US THEN FOR MY CAR," JACKSON ADDED, 1047 01:00:50,766 --> 01:00:53,433 "I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO HIM." 1048 01:01:01,266 --> 01:01:03,666 THE SHEEPHERDER ALSO DIRECTED THEM TO THE NEAREST ROAD, 1049 01:01:03,666 --> 01:01:07,166 AND THEY WERE SOON HEADING EAST ONCE MORE, 1050 01:01:07,166 --> 01:01:10,800 ALONG THE ROUTE THAT WOULD ONE DAY BECOME THE FAMED LINCOLN HIGHWAY 1051 01:01:10,800 --> 01:01:15,066 AND HALF A CENTURY AFTER THAT, INTERSTATE 80-- 1052 01:01:15,066 --> 01:01:17,800 THE PRINCIPAL THOROUGHFARE ACROSS THE NATION. 1053 01:01:20,833 --> 01:01:23,666 IT PARALLELED THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD LINE 1054 01:01:23,666 --> 01:01:25,900 AND TOOK THEM THROUGH THE TOWNS OF BRYAN, 1055 01:01:25,900 --> 01:01:28,366 GREEN RIVER, AND ROCK SPRINGS. 1056 01:01:28,366 --> 01:01:30,500 "A CIRCUS ARRIVED IN ROCK SPRINGS THE SAME DAY," 1057 01:01:30,500 --> 01:01:32,633 JACKSON WROTE HIS WIFE, 1058 01:01:32,633 --> 01:01:35,800 "AND WE ARE TAKEN FOR PART OF THE SHOW." 1059 01:01:43,933 --> 01:01:46,866 Man as Jackson: MONDAY, JUNE 22: 1060 01:01:46,866 --> 01:01:48,733 WE ARE SPENDING MOST OF THE TIME 1061 01:01:48,733 --> 01:01:50,700 TRYING TO GET OUT OF WATER AND MUD HOLES. 1062 01:01:50,700 --> 01:01:55,166 WE BURIED OUR CAR COMPLETELY IN ONE, 1063 01:01:55,166 --> 01:01:58,133 AND AFTER WORKING HALF A DAY TO GET IT OUT AGAIN, 1064 01:01:58,133 --> 01:02:02,566 3 ITALIANS CAME ALONG, EACH PACKING A HEAVY BAG. 1065 01:02:02,566 --> 01:02:06,866 I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE NEXT STOP WAS 12 MILES AWAY 1066 01:02:06,866 --> 01:02:07,900 AND THAT IF THEY WOULD HELP US OUT, 1067 01:02:07,900 --> 01:02:11,466 I WOULD TAKE THEIR BAGGAGE IN FOR THEM. 1068 01:02:11,466 --> 01:02:13,233 THIS THEY CONSENTED TO DO, 1069 01:02:13,233 --> 01:02:16,733 AND IN ABOUT AN HOUR, WE WERE ON OUR WAY AGAIN. 1070 01:02:16,733 --> 01:02:20,266 AFTER DELIVERING THEIR LUGGAGE TO THE SECTION BOSS, 1071 01:02:20,266 --> 01:02:22,600 WE STARTED ON FOR BITTER CREEK, 1072 01:02:22,600 --> 01:02:25,500 CROSSING TWO RIVERS OVER THE RAILROAD BRIDGE. 1073 01:02:25,500 --> 01:02:29,366 WE HAD NO TROUBLE IN CROSSING RAILROAD BRIDGES. 1074 01:02:29,366 --> 01:02:33,733 WITH PRACTICE, BUMPING OVER BRIDGE TIES IS NO GREAT TASK. 1075 01:02:33,733 --> 01:02:35,900 SOMETIMES, THOUGH, WE HAD TO HUNT FOR 5 MILES 1076 01:02:35,900 --> 01:02:41,433 TO FIND A PLACE WHERE WE COULD GET OUR MACHINE ON THE TRACK. 1077 01:02:43,366 --> 01:02:45,900 Narrator: ON JUNE 23, 1078 01:02:45,900 --> 01:02:49,033 EXACTLY ONE MONTH AFTER LEAVING SAN FRANCISCO, 1079 01:02:49,033 --> 01:02:50,833 THEY PULLED INTO RAWLINS, 1080 01:02:50,833 --> 01:02:53,633 THE SAME TOWN JACKSON HAD ASSURED HIS WIFE 1081 01:02:53,633 --> 01:02:57,833 WOULD SIGNAL EASY GOING FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP. 1082 01:02:57,833 --> 01:03:01,100 THEY MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO STAY AT THE FERRIS HOTEL, 1083 01:03:01,100 --> 01:03:03,400 LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR FIRST COMFORTABLE BED 1084 01:03:03,400 --> 01:03:05,600 IN NEARLY A WEEK. 1085 01:03:05,600 --> 01:03:07,933 BUT AS JACKSON AND CROCKER DROVE THE SHORT DISTANCE 1086 01:03:07,933 --> 01:03:10,800 TO PARK THEIR CAR IN A LIVERY STABLE DOWN THE STREET, 1087 01:03:10,800 --> 01:03:15,166 THE VERMONT CAME TO A NOISY AND SUDDEN STOP. 1088 01:03:18,033 --> 01:03:22,133 THE STUD BOLTS HOLDING THE CONNECTING ROD TO THE CRANKSHAFT 1089 01:03:22,133 --> 01:03:25,600 SHEARED OFF AND PIERCED THROUGH THE CRANKCASE COVER-- 1090 01:03:25,600 --> 01:03:28,333 THE WORST MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN TO DATE. 1091 01:03:28,333 --> 01:03:30,433 THIS WAS A PROBLEM 1092 01:03:30,433 --> 01:03:31,333 THAT COULD NOT BE FIXED 1093 01:03:31,333 --> 01:03:33,233 WITHOUT NEW PARTS 1094 01:03:33,233 --> 01:03:35,600 FROM THE WINTON FACTORY IN OHIO. 1095 01:03:35,600 --> 01:03:38,600 JACKSON HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TELEGRAPH THE COMPANY 1096 01:03:38,600 --> 01:03:41,633 AND WAIT FOR A TRAIN TO DELIVER THEM. 1097 01:03:41,633 --> 01:03:46,933 FOR 5 DAYS, JACKSON WAS STUCK IN RAWLINS, 1098 01:03:46,933 --> 01:03:48,466 ARRANGING FOR HIS BANK TO SEND HIM MORE MONEY, 1099 01:03:48,466 --> 01:03:52,500 WRITING LONG LETTERS TO HIS WIFE, 1100 01:03:52,500 --> 01:03:55,133 WAITING IMPATIENTLY FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE, 1101 01:03:55,133 --> 01:03:56,266 AND LEARNING FOR THE FIRST TIME 1102 01:03:56,266 --> 01:03:58,700 THAT FETCH AND KRARUP 1103 01:03:58,700 --> 01:04:01,666 WERE ON THEIR WAY FROM SAN FRANCISCO 1104 01:04:01,666 --> 01:04:04,133 IN THEIR PACKARD. 1105 01:04:04,133 --> 01:04:10,333 Man as Jackson: FERRIS HOTEL, RAWLINS, WYOMING, JUNE 28, 1903: 1106 01:04:10,333 --> 01:04:12,800 MY DARLING SWIPES... 1107 01:04:14,733 --> 01:04:19,333 JUST A LINE TO SAY THAT I AM STILL ALIVE. 1108 01:04:19,333 --> 01:04:21,066 OUR THINGS ARRIVED THIS MORNING, 1109 01:04:21,066 --> 01:04:24,566 AND WE HELD DIVINE SERVICES IN THE BLACKSMITH'S SHOP. 1110 01:04:24,566 --> 01:04:27,566 WE SHALL TRY AND GET AWAY TONIGHT. 1111 01:04:27,566 --> 01:04:30,933 OUR CAR WILL NOW BE AS GOOD AS NEW. 1112 01:04:30,933 --> 01:04:36,400 WE HAVE HAD HARD LUCK, BUT I THINK IT ALL CAME AT ONCE. 1113 01:04:36,400 --> 01:04:39,700 WE SHALL NOW TRY AND MAKE A RECORD TRIP. 1114 01:04:39,700 --> 01:04:41,366 THE WORST OF IT IS OVER, 1115 01:04:41,366 --> 01:04:44,366 AND EVERYONE IS CONGRATULATING US. 1116 01:04:44,366 --> 01:04:47,666 THERE ARE OTHERS ON THE WAY, TRYING TO BEAT US ACROSS, 1117 01:04:47,666 --> 01:04:50,733 BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT THEY WILL GIVE IT UP. 1118 01:04:56,066 --> 01:04:57,700 Narrator: WITH THEIR CAR REPAIRED, 1119 01:04:57,700 --> 01:05:00,033 JACKSON AND CROCKER HEADED FOR LARAMIE 1120 01:05:00,033 --> 01:05:04,133 AND AT ELK MOUNTAIN ENCOUNTERED THE STEEPEST SLOPES OF THEIR JOURNEY-- 1121 01:05:04,133 --> 01:05:08,800 ROCKY TRAILS IN WHICH THEY SOMETIMES HAD TO JACK UP THE CAR TO GET OUT OF DEEP RUTS 1122 01:05:08,800 --> 01:05:12,500 OR STOP TO PUSH BOULDERS OUT OF THEIR PATH. 1123 01:05:13,333 --> 01:05:15,400 IN OTHER PLACES, 1124 01:05:15,400 --> 01:05:17,600 RANCHERS WERE USING THE ROAD AS IRRIGATION DITCHES, 1125 01:05:17,600 --> 01:05:20,533 SLOWING THE TRAVELERS DOWN EVEN MORE 1126 01:05:20,533 --> 01:05:21,866 ON THE SLIPPERY SURFACE. 1127 01:05:21,866 --> 01:05:25,933 17 TIMES THE MEN RESORTED TO THE BLOCK AND TACKLE 1128 01:05:25,933 --> 01:05:27,566 TO KEEP MOVING. 1129 01:05:27,566 --> 01:05:31,466 "I NEVER WORKED SO HARD IN MY LIFE," JACKSON TOLD HIS WIFE, 1130 01:05:31,466 --> 01:05:35,666 "BUT WE CAN SHOW WHAT THE MACHINE AND GOOD MEN CAN DO." 1131 01:05:38,900 --> 01:05:41,400 THEN, IN MEDICINE BOW, 1132 01:05:41,400 --> 01:05:43,633 THEY ENCOUNTERED AN ENTERPRISING STOREKEEPER 1133 01:05:43,633 --> 01:05:47,200 WHO HAD HEARD JUST HOW BADLY THEY NEEDED GASOLINE 1134 01:05:47,200 --> 01:05:49,933 AND SMELLED AN OPPORTUNITY. 1135 01:05:51,500 --> 01:05:54,700 Man: DR. JACKSON SAID THAT WHEN HE LEFT OREGON 1136 01:05:54,700 --> 01:05:58,400 THE SHERIFF THERE WARNED HIM TO BEWARE OF HOLDUPS, 1137 01:05:58,400 --> 01:06:02,300 BUT THAT THE ONLY PLACE HE BELIEVED HE HAD BEEN HELD UP SO FAR 1138 01:06:02,300 --> 01:06:03,866 WAS AT A PLACE CALLED MEDICINE BOW, 1139 01:06:03,866 --> 01:06:12,200 WHERE THEY CHARGED HIM $5.25 FOR 5 GALLONS OF GASOLINE. 1140 01:06:12,200 --> 01:06:14,800 LARAMIE BOOMERANG. 1141 01:06:17,933 --> 01:06:21,233 Narrator: EAST OF LARAMIE, THEY STRUCK THE BEST ROAD 1142 01:06:21,233 --> 01:06:23,600 THEY HAD TRAVELED SINCE CALIFORNIA'S SACRAMENTO VALLEY, 1143 01:06:23,600 --> 01:06:28,300 AND THEY SPED ALONG ON IT TO CHEYENNE. 1144 01:06:28,300 --> 01:06:31,300 THERE LARGE CROWDS GATHERED TO GAWK AT 1145 01:06:31,300 --> 01:06:34,866 WHAT THE WYOMING TRIBUNE CALLED "A WHIZ WAGON," 1146 01:06:34,866 --> 01:06:35,866 AND JACKSON WAS ELATED 1147 01:06:35,866 --> 01:06:38,866 TO FIND LETTERS FROM BERTHA WAITING FOR HIM. 1148 01:06:38,866 --> 01:06:45,266 Man as Jackson: JULY 1, 1903: DARLING SWIPES, 1149 01:06:45,266 --> 01:06:49,366 I HAVE JUST SHOOK HANDS AND TALKED TO 200 PEOPLE, 1150 01:06:49,366 --> 01:06:50,733 AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET AWAY 1151 01:06:50,733 --> 01:06:52,666 WAS TO SAY THAT I HAD A LITTLE WIFE AT HOME 1152 01:06:52,666 --> 01:06:54,733 THAT WAS EXPECTING A LETTER FROM ME. 1153 01:06:56,900 --> 01:07:00,466 YOU DON'T KNOW HOW GLAD I WAS TO GET YOUR 3 DEAR LETTERS. 1154 01:07:00,466 --> 01:07:05,033 THEY PUT NEW VIGOR INTO ME, YOU DEAR GIRL. 1155 01:07:05,033 --> 01:07:06,933 WELL, THE WORST OF OUR TRIP IS OVER, 1156 01:07:06,933 --> 01:07:09,733 AND EVERYONE NOW SAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE IT, 1157 01:07:09,733 --> 01:07:13,433 AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OTHERS ON THE WAY, WE WILL GET THERE FIRST. 1158 01:07:13,433 --> 01:07:18,800 JUST WATCH ME NOW. NELLIE. 1159 01:07:27,700 --> 01:07:30,033 Narrator: BUT LESS THAN AN HOUR OUT OF CHEYENNE, 1160 01:07:30,033 --> 01:07:33,666 THE STUD BOLTS ON THE OTHER CONNECTING ROD BROKE OFF, 1161 01:07:33,666 --> 01:07:37,666 AND THE VERMONT GROUND TO A DEAD STOP. 1162 01:07:40,400 --> 01:07:44,266 A RAILROAD GRADING CREW TOWED THE CAR TO THEIR ISOLATED CAMP 1163 01:07:44,266 --> 01:07:47,533 NEAR THE SMALL STATION OF ARCHER. 1164 01:07:47,533 --> 01:07:50,900 CROCKER STRIPPED THE FRONT SEAT OFF THE CAR 1165 01:07:50,900 --> 01:07:52,533 TO GET AT THE ENGINE 1166 01:07:52,533 --> 01:07:54,366 WHILE JACKSON WIRED THE WINTON FACTORY ONCE MORE 1167 01:07:54,366 --> 01:07:57,166 FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS 1168 01:07:57,166 --> 01:08:00,400 AND ONCE MORE SETTLED IN TO WAIT FOR THEIR DELIVERY BY TRAIN, 1169 01:08:00,400 --> 01:08:04,100 DAY AFTER AGONIZING DAY. 1170 01:08:07,133 --> 01:08:10,300 Man as Jackson: SUNDAY, JULY 5, 1903: 1171 01:08:10,300 --> 01:08:14,666 MY DARLING SWIPES... 1172 01:08:14,666 --> 01:08:19,100 WE EXPECTED OUR EXPRESS ON #5 AT 3:00 THIS AFTERNOON, 1173 01:08:19,100 --> 01:08:23,200 BUT A MESSAGE THIS NOON FROM THE TRAIN AGENT SAYS THAT HE HAS NOTHING, 1174 01:08:23,200 --> 01:08:26,266 SO IT IS ANOTHER DAY. 1175 01:08:26,266 --> 01:08:28,833 IT HAS BEEN AN AWFUL LONG TIME TO US, 1176 01:08:28,833 --> 01:08:31,766 AND I SHALL BE MIGHTY GLAD WHEN WE ARE ON THE WAY AGAIN. 1177 01:08:31,766 --> 01:08:34,100 AND UNLESS ANOTHER SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAPPENS, 1178 01:08:34,100 --> 01:08:38,533 WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE GOOD TIME ACROSS THESE PLAINS. 1179 01:08:38,533 --> 01:08:43,733 WELL, TOMORROW IS OUR ANNIVERSARY, 1180 01:08:43,733 --> 01:08:45,933 AND I WISH I COULD BE WITH YOU. 1181 01:08:45,933 --> 01:08:49,133 I WANT TO CELEBRATE HERE BY GETTING MY NEW PARTS. 1182 01:08:49,133 --> 01:08:54,500 I SHALL THINK OF YOU A GOOD DEAL TOMORROW, AS I ALWAYS DO. 1183 01:08:57,633 --> 01:09:00,833 YOU ARE THE BEST LITTLE WIFE IN THE WORLD, 1184 01:09:00,833 --> 01:09:03,500 AND I'M A MIGHTY LUCKY FELLOW TO HAVE YOU. 1185 01:09:03,500 --> 01:09:06,800 YES, OLD GIRL, I APPRECIATE IT, 1186 01:09:06,800 --> 01:09:11,333 IF SOMETIMES I HAVE A QUEER WAY OF SHOWING IT. 1187 01:09:11,333 --> 01:09:12,800 4 YEARS TOMORROW-- 1188 01:09:12,800 --> 01:09:16,133 THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SHORT AND DEAR ONES TO ME. 1189 01:09:16,133 --> 01:09:19,866 YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD TO MAKE ME HAPPY. 1190 01:09:19,866 --> 01:09:26,500 I SHALL JUST TEAR UP THE GROUND UNTIL I CAN BE WITH YOU. 1191 01:09:26,500 --> 01:09:30,066 WITH LOTS OF LOVE TO ALL, I AM YOURS. 1192 01:09:30,066 --> 01:09:32,000 NELSON. 1193 01:09:32,000 --> 01:09:36,333 P.S.: I AM NOT MUCH OF A HAND TO WRITE LOVE LETTERS-- 1194 01:09:36,333 --> 01:09:39,766 YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME A CHANCE FOR MUCH PRACTICE-- 1195 01:09:39,766 --> 01:09:42,433 BUT YOU KNOW, DEAR, HOW I FEEL. 1196 01:09:45,700 --> 01:09:49,400 JULY 6, ARCHER, WYOMING: 1197 01:09:49,400 --> 01:09:51,900 PARTS DID NOT COME TODAY. 1198 01:09:55,833 --> 01:10:00,233 Narrator: JACKSON HAD NOW BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 42 DAYS, 1199 01:10:00,233 --> 01:10:04,133 NEARLY HALF OF THE 90 DAYS SPECIFIED IN HIS WAGER, 1200 01:10:04,133 --> 01:10:07,133 BUT HE WAS ONLY 1/3 OF THE WAY TO NEW YORK, 1201 01:10:07,133 --> 01:10:11,000 AND HIS CAR NOW SEEMED TO BE BREAKING DOWN AT EVERY TURN. 1202 01:10:11,000 --> 01:10:14,500 EVEN WORSE, WITH TOM FETCH AND MARIUS KRARUP 1203 01:10:14,500 --> 01:10:17,700 AND THEIR PACKARD FOLLOWING A MORE DIRECT ROUTE, 1204 01:10:17,700 --> 01:10:21,500 JACKSON WAS CONCERNED THAT THEY MIGHT BE CATCHING UP WITH HIM. 1205 01:10:23,133 --> 01:10:25,666 THEY WERE. 1206 01:10:30,033 --> 01:10:33,000 FETCH AND KRARUP HAD BEEN CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE, 1207 01:10:33,000 --> 01:10:35,333 AVERAGING TWICE AS MANY MILES A DAY AS JACKSON 1208 01:10:35,333 --> 01:10:38,000 AND RUNNING RIGHT ON SCHEDULE. 1209 01:10:38,000 --> 01:10:43,166 ON JULY 3, THEY COMPLETED THEIR SECOND WEEK OF TRAVEL 1210 01:10:43,166 --> 01:10:47,833 BY COVERING 114 MILES AND REACHING PROMONTORY, UTAH, 1211 01:10:47,833 --> 01:10:49,166 WHERE THE GOLDEN SPIKE 1212 01:10:49,166 --> 01:10:50,166 JOINING THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD 1213 01:10:50,166 --> 01:10:53,700 HAD BEEN DRIVEN IN 1869. 1214 01:10:55,866 --> 01:10:58,800 AND ON JULY 4, THEY DROVE ANOTHER 106 MILES 1215 01:10:58,800 --> 01:11:03,500 AND PULLED INTO SALT LAKE CITY TO A WAVE OF PUBLICITY-- 1216 01:11:03,500 --> 01:11:08,266 PRECISELY WHAT THE COMPANY'S ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE HAD PLANNED. 1217 01:11:08,266 --> 01:11:10,266 AT THE RATE THEY WERE GOING, 1218 01:11:10,266 --> 01:11:12,200 DESPITE STARTING NEARLY A MONTH LATER, 1219 01:11:12,200 --> 01:11:18,200 FETCH AND KRARUP WERE NOW ONLY 10 DAYS BEHIND JACKSON AND CROCKER. 1220 01:11:18,200 --> 01:11:20,766 THEN ON JULY 6, 1221 01:11:20,766 --> 01:11:25,400 YET ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE SET OFF FROM SAN FRANCISCO. 1222 01:11:25,400 --> 01:11:28,400 LESTER WHITMAN AND EUGENE HAMMOND, 1223 01:11:28,400 --> 01:11:31,300 TWO EXPERIENCED DRIVERS AND AUTOMOBILE MECHANICS, 1224 01:11:31,300 --> 01:11:34,266 WERE DRIVING A 1903 OLDSMOBILE RUNABOUT: 1225 01:11:34,266 --> 01:11:38,100 THE FIRST AUTOMOBILE TO BE MADE ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE 1226 01:11:38,100 --> 01:11:43,166 AND THE FIRST THAT WOULD OUTSELL ELECTRIC- AND STEAM-POWERED MACHINES. 1227 01:11:43,166 --> 01:11:48,733 IT WAS SMALLER AND CHEAPER THAN THE TWO BIG TOURING CARS THAT WERE ALREADY ON THE ROAD, 1228 01:11:48,733 --> 01:11:50,533 BUT LIKE THE PACKARD EXPEDITION, 1229 01:11:50,533 --> 01:11:54,666 THIS ONE WAS ALSO UNDERWRITTEN BY THE MANUFACTURER. 1230 01:11:54,666 --> 01:11:58,766 FOLLOWING THE SAME ROUTE AS FETCH AND KRARUP, 1231 01:11:58,766 --> 01:12:00,666 WHITMAN AND HAMMOND QUICKLY CROSSED THE SIERRAS 1232 01:12:00,666 --> 01:12:04,866 AND WERE WELL INTO NEVADA WITHIN A WEEK'S TIME. 1233 01:12:07,133 --> 01:12:12,666 THERE WERE NOW 3 AUTOMOBILES RACING TO BECOME THE FIRST TO CROSS THE CONTINENT. 1234 01:12:28,400 --> 01:12:32,433 Man as Jackson: JULY 7: DARLING SWIPES, 1235 01:12:32,433 --> 01:12:35,600 PARTS ARRIVED; LEAVE THIS NOON. 1236 01:12:35,600 --> 01:12:38,833 NOW IN GOOD SHAPE. HOPE TO BE WITH YOU SOON. 1237 01:12:59,033 --> 01:13:04,400 Narrator: JACKSON AND CROCKER AND BUD WERE FINALLY ON THEIR WAY ONCE AGAIN. 1238 01:13:16,866 --> 01:13:21,066 THEY ENTERED NEBRASKA AND AT THE PLATTE RIVER 1239 01:13:21,066 --> 01:13:23,066 ONCE MORE BEGAN FOLLOWING THE ROUTE 1240 01:13:23,066 --> 01:13:24,500 BLAZED BY THE PIONEER WAGON TRAINS 1241 01:13:24,500 --> 01:13:27,766 HEADING FOR OREGON AND CALIFORNIA 1242 01:13:27,766 --> 01:13:28,766 HALF A CENTURY EARLIER. 1243 01:14:15,233 --> 01:14:18,233 Duncan: IF YOU'RE OUT IN THE WEST, EVEN TODAY, 1244 01:14:18,233 --> 01:14:20,233 YOU CAN SEE SUCH GREAT HORIZONS, 1245 01:14:20,233 --> 01:14:22,833 BUT PART OF THOSE HORIZONS SOMETIMES 1246 01:14:22,833 --> 01:14:26,933 ARE SOME OF THE FIERCEST FRIGHTENING STORMS 1247 01:14:26,933 --> 01:14:28,766 YOU CAN IMAGINE. 1248 01:14:31,566 --> 01:14:35,500 THERE IN THE OPEN, IN AN OPEN-SEATED CAR, 1249 01:14:35,500 --> 01:14:39,166 AND YOU SEE OFF BEHIND YOU OR OFF IN THE DISTANCE 1250 01:14:39,166 --> 01:14:43,266 OR COMING RIGHT AT YOU ONE OF THESE MOTHERS OF ALL STORMS, 1251 01:14:43,266 --> 01:14:47,433 IT'S GOT TO BE A FRIGHTENING PROSPECT. 1252 01:14:47,433 --> 01:14:49,800 THE RAIN STARTS PELTING YOU, 1253 01:14:49,800 --> 01:14:51,333 AND OF COURSE YOU'RE ON A BAD ROAD, ANYWAY, 1254 01:14:51,333 --> 01:14:52,333 SO THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO. 1255 01:14:52,333 --> 01:14:53,766 THERE'S NO PLACE TO HIDE. 1256 01:14:53,766 --> 01:14:57,866 YOU'VE JUST GOT TO TRY TO SLOG IT ON A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. 1257 01:15:02,400 --> 01:15:07,000 EVEN AN OPTIMIST LIKE HORATIO NELSON JACKSON MUST HAVE FELT... 1258 01:15:07,000 --> 01:15:10,900 A LITTLE BIT SCARED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND DISCOURAGED 1259 01:15:10,900 --> 01:15:13,266 EVERY TIME HE LOOKED UP INTO THE HORIZON 1260 01:15:13,266 --> 01:15:16,266 AND SAW YET ANOTHER STORM COMING OVER. 1261 01:15:23,733 --> 01:15:25,866 Man as Jackson: WHEN WE CROSSED INTO NEBRASKA, 1262 01:15:25,866 --> 01:15:29,566 THE MUD BECOME WORSE INSTEAD OF BETTER. 1263 01:15:31,766 --> 01:15:34,500 HERE, IT RAINED CONSTANTLY. 1264 01:15:34,500 --> 01:15:37,433 THE MUD WAS A CEMENTLIKE MASS 1265 01:15:37,433 --> 01:15:40,166 THAT STUCK TO THINGS LIKE THE BEST PORTLAND, 1266 01:15:40,166 --> 01:15:42,633 AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE NO BOTTOM. 1267 01:15:44,433 --> 01:15:47,500 THE CAR SANK IN IT CLEAR UP TO THE BATTERY BOXES-- 1268 01:15:47,500 --> 01:15:50,466 THAT IS NEARLY TO THE TOPS OF THE WHEELS-- 1269 01:15:50,466 --> 01:15:52,700 AND THEN WE WOULD GET OUT THE BLOCK AND TACKLE 1270 01:15:52,700 --> 01:15:53,700 AND HAUL IT OUT. 1271 01:15:53,700 --> 01:15:59,333 ONE DAY WE REPEATED THIS PERFORMANCE 18 TIMES. 1272 01:15:59,333 --> 01:16:04,766 THESE PLACES WERE LOCALLY TERMED "BUFFALO WALLOWS." 1273 01:16:04,766 --> 01:16:06,166 WE WALLOWED IN THEM, 1274 01:16:06,166 --> 01:16:09,600 SOMETIMES TEARING DOWN A SECTION OF FENCE 1275 01:16:09,600 --> 01:16:13,633 AND PUT THEM UNDER THE WHEELS TO MAKE A FOUNDATION. 1276 01:16:28,100 --> 01:16:31,933 Narrator: THEY DETOURED NORTH FOR A WHILE, AWAY FROM THE PLATTE RIVER, 1277 01:16:31,933 --> 01:16:35,866 PICKING UP SPEED AS THEY FINALLY FOUND BETTER AND DRIER ROADS. 1278 01:16:39,300 --> 01:16:41,000 Duncan: AS HE MOVED EAST, 1279 01:16:41,000 --> 01:16:46,500 THE CAR BECAME A SENSATION LESS BECAUSE IT WAS TOTALLY NEW-- 1280 01:16:46,500 --> 01:16:49,166 AS IT HAD BEEN FARTHER WEST-- 1281 01:16:49,166 --> 01:16:51,166 BUT IT BECAME IN A CERTAIN EXTENT 1282 01:16:51,166 --> 01:16:52,566 A GREATER SENSATION, 1283 01:16:52,566 --> 01:16:55,766 BECAUSE NOW THERE WAS THE NEWS 1284 01:16:55,766 --> 01:17:00,600 THAT THIS MIGHT BE HISTORY IN THE MAKING. 1285 01:17:00,600 --> 01:17:06,033 CROCKER AND JACKSON AND PARTICULARLY BUD BECAME CELEBRITIES, 1286 01:17:06,033 --> 01:17:07,833 BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED TO COME OUT NOW 1287 01:17:07,833 --> 01:17:13,200 AND SEE WHETHER THIS GUY COULD MAKE IT ACROSS OR NOT. 1288 01:17:15,333 --> 01:17:17,766 PEOPLE KNEW THAT THERE WERE TWO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD 1289 01:17:17,766 --> 01:17:23,266 AND THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING OF A RACE. 1290 01:17:23,266 --> 01:17:24,966 Narrator: THEY RUSHED THROUGH KEARNEY, 1291 01:17:24,966 --> 01:17:28,933 GRAND ISLAND, COLUMBUS, AND DOZENS OF SMALLER TOWNS, 1292 01:17:28,933 --> 01:17:32,800 AND AS THE TELEGRAPH LINES ANNOUNCED THEIR IMPENDING ARRIVAL IN EACH ONE, 1293 01:17:32,800 --> 01:17:36,533 PEOPLE FLOCKED TO SEE JACKSON AND HIS MACHINE. 1294 01:17:38,200 --> 01:17:40,466 DISAPPOINTMENT WAS KEEN, ONE NEWSPAPER REPORTED, 1295 01:17:40,466 --> 01:17:43,233 WHEN HE TORE THROUGH THE TOWN 1296 01:17:43,233 --> 01:17:46,500 AT A 40-MILE-AN-HOUR CLIP WITHOUT STOPPING. 1297 01:17:58,633 --> 01:18:00,966 IN A FINAL LONG DAY IN NEBRASKA, 1298 01:18:00,966 --> 01:18:04,700 THEY COVERED AN ASTONISHING 250 MILES, 1299 01:18:04,700 --> 01:18:05,900 DESPITE BREAKING A FRONT AXLE 1300 01:18:05,900 --> 01:18:10,066 THAT HAD TO BE WELDED BY YET ANOTHER BLACKSMITH. 1301 01:18:12,333 --> 01:18:14,100 AND ON THE MORNING OF JULY 12, 1302 01:18:14,100 --> 01:18:16,866 THEY ROLLED INTO OMAHA NEAR THE PLACE 1303 01:18:16,866 --> 01:18:19,433 WHERE LEWIS AND CLARK HAD HELD THEIR FIRST MEETING 1304 01:18:19,433 --> 01:18:23,533 WITH A HANDFUL OF AMERICAN INDIANS A CENTURY EARLIER. 1305 01:18:23,533 --> 01:18:26,100 NOW A HUGE CROWD TURNED OUT 1306 01:18:26,100 --> 01:18:28,800 TO GREET JACKSON AND HIS EXPEDITION. 1307 01:18:28,800 --> 01:18:33,666 Man: THE OMAHA MORNING WORLD HERALD: 1308 01:18:33,666 --> 01:18:36,466 THE EXPERIENCES AND ADVENTURES OF THE TRIP 1309 01:18:36,466 --> 01:18:39,800 HAVE BEEN OF AN EXCITING NATURE, 1310 01:18:39,800 --> 01:18:41,533 WHICH MAY BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD 1311 01:18:41,533 --> 01:18:44,500 WHEN IT IS KNOWN THAT HE TRAVELED 3,000 MILES 1312 01:18:44,500 --> 01:18:48,366 THROUGH A COUNTRY NEVER BEFORE TOUCHED BY AN AUTOMOBILE. 1313 01:18:48,366 --> 01:18:52,400 BEFORE LEAVING, THE MACHINE WILL HAVE A THOROUGH OVERHAULING 1314 01:18:52,400 --> 01:18:54,700 AND BE PUT INTO CONDITION FOR FAST RUNNING. 1315 01:18:54,700 --> 01:19:00,266 INCIDENTALLY, HALF A TON OF NEBRASKA CLAY 1316 01:19:00,266 --> 01:19:03,166 WHICH IT HAS GATHERED DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS 1317 01:19:03,166 --> 01:19:04,933 WILL BE REMOVED. 1318 01:19:07,700 --> 01:19:11,200 Narrator: THE SPREADING NEWS OF JACKSON'S QUEST, 1319 01:19:11,200 --> 01:19:12,366 AS WELL AS THE INTENSE PUBLICITY 1320 01:19:12,366 --> 01:19:15,833 SURROUNDING BOTH THE PACKARD AND THE OLDSMOBILE JOURNEYS, 1321 01:19:15,833 --> 01:19:18,233 HAD NOT ONLY AROUSED GREATER PUBLIC INTEREST 1322 01:19:18,233 --> 01:19:19,933 IN THE VERMONT'S PROGRESS, 1323 01:19:19,933 --> 01:19:24,266 IT HAD SPURRED THE WINTON COMPANY INTO ACTION. 1324 01:19:24,266 --> 01:19:26,300 Man as Jackson: DARLING SWIPES... 1325 01:19:26,300 --> 01:19:28,600 ON OUR ARRIVAL HERE, 1326 01:19:28,600 --> 01:19:31,466 I WAS MUCH SURPRISED TO FIND A MAN FROM THE FACTORY 1327 01:19:31,466 --> 01:19:34,000 WITH A LETTER CONGRATULATING ME 1328 01:19:34,000 --> 01:19:37,066 AND STATING THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO PLACE MEN 1329 01:19:37,066 --> 01:19:40,600 ALONG THE LINE WITH SUPPLIES AT THEIR EXPENSE. 1330 01:19:40,600 --> 01:19:45,300 Narrator: THE WINTON COMPANY NOW OFFERED TO PROVIDE JACKSON WITH THE SAME FINANCIAL SUPPORT 1331 01:19:45,300 --> 01:19:50,400 THE OLDSMOBILE AND PACKARD COMPANIES WERE GIVING THE OTHER EXPEDITIONS, 1332 01:19:50,400 --> 01:19:53,333 BUT IT WOULD ALSO MEAN THE WINTON COMPANY 1333 01:19:53,333 --> 01:19:56,666 WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF THE REST OF THE TRIP. 1334 01:19:56,666 --> 01:19:59,133 THAT EVENING, IN HIS LETTER TO BERTHA, 1335 01:19:59,133 --> 01:20:02,833 JACKSON REVEALED HIS ANSWER. 1336 01:20:02,833 --> 01:20:04,333 Man as Jackson: I HAVE INFORMED THEM 1337 01:20:04,333 --> 01:20:08,900 THAT WE HAVE MADE THE TRIP SO FAR WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE 1338 01:20:08,900 --> 01:20:10,233 AND THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS 1339 01:20:10,233 --> 01:20:14,533 WE TWO GREENHORNS COULD DO THE REST OF IT. 1340 01:20:14,533 --> 01:20:16,233 Narrator: "WINTON'S MAN," 1341 01:20:16,233 --> 01:20:18,233 HE ADDED IN A TELEGRAM THE NEXT MORNING 1342 01:20:18,233 --> 01:20:21,100 AS HE PULLED OUT OF TOWN WITH CROCKER AND BUD, 1343 01:20:21,100 --> 01:20:24,266 "CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW WE MADE IT." 1344 01:20:29,166 --> 01:20:30,433 FOLLOWING THE ROUTE 1345 01:20:30,433 --> 01:20:32,300 OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD, 1346 01:20:32,300 --> 01:20:33,833 THEY SPED ACROSS IOWA AND WESTERN ILLINOIS 1347 01:20:33,833 --> 01:20:36,800 IN SUCH A RUSH THAT JACKSON DIDN'T EVEN STOP 1348 01:20:36,800 --> 01:20:40,766 TO SEND TELEGRAMS TO BERTHA ABOUT THEIR PROGRESS. 1349 01:20:43,366 --> 01:20:44,600 EVERYWHERE THEY WENT, 1350 01:20:44,600 --> 01:20:47,766 PEOPLE TURNED OUT TO CHEER THEM ON. 1351 01:21:13,966 --> 01:21:17,400 4 DAYS AFTER LEAVING OMAHA, THEY PULLED INTO CHICAGO, 1352 01:21:17,400 --> 01:21:19,666 WHERE JACKSON PROUDLY TOLD REPORTERS, 1353 01:21:19,666 --> 01:21:22,033 "WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE CAN RUN OUR CAR 1354 01:21:22,033 --> 01:21:26,866 "OVER ANY ROAD THAT A MAN CAN TAKE A TEAM OF HORSES AND A WAGON, 1355 01:21:26,866 --> 01:21:29,866 PROVIDING WE CAN GET TRACTION." 1356 01:21:29,866 --> 01:21:33,500 "WE WERE HONORED WITH RECEPTIONS BY CITY OFFICIALS, 1357 01:21:33,500 --> 01:21:35,200 "AUTOMOBILE DEALERS, 1358 01:21:35,200 --> 01:21:37,666 AND HERO WORSHIPERS GENERALLY," JACKSON WROTE, 1359 01:21:37,666 --> 01:21:41,733 "BUT THE ONE THOUGHT IN OUR MINDS WAS TO FINISH." 1360 01:21:43,900 --> 01:21:44,933 THE NEXT DAY, 1361 01:21:44,933 --> 01:21:47,666 A CARAVAN OF AUTOMOBILE ENTHUSIASTS 1362 01:21:47,666 --> 01:21:49,766 ESCORTED THEM OUT OF CHICAGO-- 1363 01:21:49,766 --> 01:21:52,300 ALTHOUGH THEIR DEPARTURE WAS DELAYED A FEW HOURS 1364 01:21:52,300 --> 01:21:54,500 UNTIL THEY COULD FIND BUD, 1365 01:21:54,500 --> 01:21:56,866 WHO HAD WANDERED OFF IN THE CROWD. 1366 01:21:56,866 --> 01:22:00,300 THEY RUSHED THROUGH HAMMOND AND SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, 1367 01:22:00,300 --> 01:22:03,400 THEN TOLEDO, OHIO, 1368 01:22:03,400 --> 01:22:07,566 AND ON THE 20th OF JULY-- THE 59th DAY OF THEIR JOURNEY-- 1369 01:22:07,566 --> 01:22:09,433 THEY WERE PERSONALLY GREETED BY 1370 01:22:09,433 --> 01:22:11,300 THE WINTON COMPANY'S ADVERTISING MANAGER-- 1371 01:22:11,300 --> 01:22:12,833 CHARLES B. SHANKS-- 1372 01:22:12,833 --> 01:22:14,900 WHO HAD ACCOMPANIED ALEXANDER WINTON 1373 01:22:14,900 --> 01:22:17,666 ON HIS ABORTED TRIP IN 1901. 1374 01:22:19,366 --> 01:22:24,666 THEN A CONVOY OF CARS LED THEM TRIUMPHANTLY INTO CLEVELAND. 1375 01:22:27,033 --> 01:22:30,500 Man as Jackson: MONDAY EVENING: DARLING SWIPES, 1376 01:22:30,500 --> 01:22:34,566 WELL, OLD GIRL, I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO ITS BIRTHPLACE, 1377 01:22:34,566 --> 01:22:37,233 AND A GREAT RECEPTION IT GOT. 1378 01:22:37,233 --> 01:22:39,566 WE HAD QUITE A PROCESSION INTO THE CITY. 1379 01:22:39,566 --> 01:22:42,733 THEY ARE ALL LIKE A LOT OF KIDS. 1380 01:22:45,466 --> 01:22:49,133 Narrator: SURROUNDED BY REPORTERS WHO NOW HUNG ON HIS EVERY WORD, 1381 01:22:49,133 --> 01:22:52,833 JACKSON SAID HIS CHIEF ADVICE TO ANYONE TRYING TO MAKE A SIMILAR TRIP 1382 01:22:52,833 --> 01:22:55,366 WOULD BE FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT THEIR EXPENSES 1383 01:22:55,366 --> 01:22:59,066 AND MULTIPLY THAT BY 20. 1384 01:23:06,233 --> 01:23:10,800 Man: THE JACKSON PARTY WENT TO THE HOLLENDEN HOTEL FOR A CLEANUP AND FOR SUPPER 1385 01:23:10,800 --> 01:23:12,366 WHILE THE FAITHFUL BULLDOG MASCOT-- 1386 01:23:12,366 --> 01:23:15,700 SO UGLY THAT HE'S HANDSOME-- 1387 01:23:15,700 --> 01:23:19,366 REMAINED IN CHARGE AND FOUGHT FLIES 1388 01:23:19,366 --> 01:23:23,200 AND KEPT OFF INQUISITIVE NEWSBOYS. 1389 01:23:23,200 --> 01:23:25,566 THE MOTOR AGE. 1390 01:23:25,566 --> 01:23:28,466 Narrator: JACKSON WAS NOW CONFIDENT 1391 01:23:28,466 --> 01:23:32,133 THAT THE OTHER TWO CARS COULD NOT BEAT HIM TO NEW YORK. 1392 01:23:33,533 --> 01:23:36,766 IT SEEMED LIKE A SAFE BET. 1393 01:23:39,133 --> 01:23:41,500 DESPITE ALL THEIR METICULOUS PLANNING, 1394 01:23:41,500 --> 01:23:45,266 BOTH EXPEDITIONS HAD RUN INTO PROBLEMS OF THEIR OWN. 1395 01:23:45,266 --> 01:23:46,400 INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO FOLLOW 1396 01:23:46,400 --> 01:23:49,466 THE DIRECT ROUTE OF THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD, 1397 01:23:49,466 --> 01:23:52,166 TOM FETCH AND MARIUS KRARUP HAD TURNED SOUTHEAST 1398 01:23:52,166 --> 01:23:55,133 INTO THE CANYONS OF UTAH 1399 01:23:55,133 --> 01:23:58,200 AND THE HEART OF COLORADO'S ROCKY MOUNTAINS, 1400 01:23:58,200 --> 01:24:00,533 A ROUTE PRESELECTED FOR THEM 1401 01:24:00,533 --> 01:24:02,200 BY THE PACKARD COMPANY'S ADVERTISING DIRECTOR 1402 01:24:02,200 --> 01:24:04,666 BACK IN OHIO. 1403 01:24:04,666 --> 01:24:06,700 "LIKE A DUMB FOOL, 1404 01:24:06,700 --> 01:24:09,333 "I WAS THINKING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PUBLICITY, 1405 01:24:09,333 --> 01:24:11,166 WITH PICTURES OF MOUNTAINS AND CANYONS," HE SAID LATER, 1406 01:24:11,166 --> 01:24:17,033 "BUT WHAT I SENT THEM INTO WAS SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE." 1407 01:24:18,600 --> 01:24:22,233 MEANWHILE, THE OLDSMOBILE RUNABOUT 1408 01:24:22,233 --> 01:24:24,900 WAS EVEN FARTHER FROM ITS GOAL. 1409 01:24:24,900 --> 01:24:26,400 AFTER A SERIES OF BREAKDOWNS, 1410 01:24:26,400 --> 01:24:29,066 LESTER WHITMAN AND EUGENE HAMMOND 1411 01:24:29,066 --> 01:24:31,833 WERE STILL IN NEVADA WITH A BROKEN PART 1412 01:24:31,833 --> 01:24:34,300 THAT ALLOWED THEM TO DRIVE IN REVERSE, 1413 01:24:34,300 --> 01:24:36,433 BUT NOT IN FORWARD. 1414 01:24:46,833 --> 01:24:48,300 Man as Jackson: DARLING SWIPES, 1415 01:24:48,300 --> 01:24:51,066 THE CAR IS AT THE SHOP, 1416 01:24:51,066 --> 01:24:52,600 AND THEY ARE TO WORK ALL NIGHT 1417 01:24:52,600 --> 01:24:54,433 SO THAT I CAN GET AWAY IN THE MORNING. 1418 01:24:54,433 --> 01:24:58,133 I GO FROM HERE TO BUFFALO. 1419 01:24:58,133 --> 01:25:01,966 I AM TIRED AND GOT TO GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, 1420 01:25:01,966 --> 01:25:05,333 AND I AM DAMN ANXIOUS TO GET YOU IN MY ARMS. 1421 01:25:05,333 --> 01:25:08,833 WATCH ME NOW COME TO YOU. 1422 01:25:08,833 --> 01:25:11,266 NEL. 1423 01:25:13,100 --> 01:25:16,800 Narrator: JACKSON SET OFF FROM CLEVELAND WITH CROCKER AND BUD 1424 01:25:16,800 --> 01:25:18,733 ON THE 21st OF JULY, 1425 01:25:18,733 --> 01:25:21,700 INTENT ON REACHING HIS GOAL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. 1426 01:25:25,333 --> 01:25:28,333 TO AVOID THE RISK OF CROSSING THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS, 1427 01:25:28,333 --> 01:25:29,466 HE NOW DECIDED TO TURN NORTHEAST 1428 01:25:29,466 --> 01:25:32,666 ALONG THE GREAT LAKES TO BUFFALO, 1429 01:25:32,666 --> 01:25:35,266 THEN TO ALBANY ON A NEW STATE ROAD 1430 01:25:35,266 --> 01:25:40,900 BEFORE TURNING SOUTH AGAIN TO FOLLOW THE HUDSON RIVER INTO MANHATTAN. 1431 01:25:40,900 --> 01:25:43,566 IT WOULD ADD SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES TO THE TRIP, 1432 01:25:43,566 --> 01:25:46,366 BUT AS JACKSON TOLD A REPORTER, 1433 01:25:46,366 --> 01:25:49,800 "WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF MOUNTAINS." 1434 01:25:51,433 --> 01:25:55,300 THEY COVERED THE 200 MILES TO BUFFALO IN LESS THAN 2 DAYS, 1435 01:25:55,300 --> 01:25:58,933 DESPITE RAIN SO FIERCE THAT JACKSON TELEGRAPHED, 1436 01:25:58,933 --> 01:26:02,833 "IF IT CONTINUES, WE'LL ASK YOU TO SEND PADDLES FOR THE WHEELS 1437 01:26:02,833 --> 01:26:05,733 AND A RUDDER FOR THE REAR OF THE CAR." 1438 01:26:17,633 --> 01:26:20,333 THE VERMONT, HE TOLD A REPORTER, 1439 01:26:20,333 --> 01:26:21,966 WAS NOW SPLATTERED WITH SAMPLES OF MUD 1440 01:26:21,966 --> 01:26:24,033 FROM EVERY STATE THEY HAD CROSSED, 1441 01:26:24,033 --> 01:26:26,933 AND HE DIDN'T INTEND TO WASH ANY OF IT OFF 1442 01:26:26,933 --> 01:26:29,400 UNTIL THE TRIP WAS FINISHED. 1443 01:26:29,400 --> 01:26:32,633 RUNNING ON ROADS THAT PARALLELED THE OLD ERIE CANAL, 1444 01:26:32,633 --> 01:26:36,000 THEY PUSHED ON ACROSS NEW YORK STATE, 1445 01:26:36,000 --> 01:26:38,266 SOMETIMES DRIVING WELL INTO THE NIGHT, 1446 01:26:38,266 --> 01:26:41,833 SIMPLY TO PUT MORE MILES BEHIND THEM. 1447 01:26:41,833 --> 01:26:45,933 HE WAS SURE HE COULD MAKE NEW YORK CITY IN LESS THAN A WEEK, 1448 01:26:45,933 --> 01:26:47,166 WIN HIS BET, 1449 01:26:47,166 --> 01:26:49,733 AND BECOME THE FIRST PERSON TO DRIVE ACROSS THE CONTINENT... 1450 01:26:49,733 --> 01:26:53,833 UNLESS THE VERMONT BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY. 1451 01:27:04,266 --> 01:27:06,466 Man as Jackson: EAST OF BUFFALO, TRAVELING IN HIGH-- 1452 01:27:06,466 --> 01:27:09,533 AT LEAST 20 MILES AN HOUR-- 1453 01:27:09,533 --> 01:27:13,433 THE MACHINE STRUCK A HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD. 1454 01:27:13,433 --> 01:27:17,333 CROCKER, BUD, AND MYSELF WERE THROWN HIGH IN THE AIR, 1455 01:27:17,333 --> 01:27:21,400 BUT FORTUNATELY, NONE OF US WAS HURT. 1456 01:27:21,400 --> 01:27:23,800 Narrator: THE VERMONT WAS BRUISED, 1457 01:27:23,800 --> 01:27:28,533 BUT TO EVERYONE'S RELIEF, STILL ABLE TO RUN. 1458 01:27:28,533 --> 01:27:33,733 THEY DROVE ON THROUGH SYRACUSE, UTICA, SCHENECTADY, 1459 01:27:33,733 --> 01:27:36,533 DETERMINED NOW NOT TO STOP FOR ANYTHING. 1460 01:27:42,566 --> 01:27:44,933 THEY CROSSED THE HUDSON AT ALBANY 1461 01:27:44,933 --> 01:27:48,733 AND TURNED SOUTH TO FOLLOW THE EAST BANK OF THE RIVER. 1462 01:27:48,733 --> 01:27:52,566 NEWS OF THEIR APPROACH BROUGHT OUT CHEERING CROWDS 1463 01:27:52,566 --> 01:27:54,800 AS THEY PASSED THROUGH THE TOWNS OF HUDSON AND POUGHKEEPSIE. 1464 01:27:58,400 --> 01:28:02,733 IN PEEKSKILL, THEY WERE DELAYED BRIEFLY TO PATCH A PUNCTURED TIRE 1465 01:28:02,733 --> 01:28:06,000 BY THE GLOW OF A HOTEL'S OUTSIDE LIGHT. 1466 01:28:06,000 --> 01:28:08,833 THERE, A DELEGATION OF REPORTERS, 1467 01:28:08,833 --> 01:28:13,433 WINTON COMPANY OFFICIALS, AND JACKSON'S WIFE BERTHA 1468 01:28:13,433 --> 01:28:16,866 MET THEM IN A FLEET OF CARS TO JOIN IN THE FINAL MILES. 1469 01:28:25,166 --> 01:28:29,100 IT WAS 4:30 IN THE MORNING ON SUNDAY, JULY 26, 1470 01:28:29,100 --> 01:28:30,633 WHEN THEY CROSSED THE HARLEM RIVER INTO MANHATTAN, 1471 01:28:30,633 --> 01:28:34,600 DROVE DOWN THE CITY'S DESERTED STREETS, 1472 01:28:34,600 --> 01:28:38,100 AND FINALLY, HONKED THEIR HORN TO AWAKEN THE NIGHT PORTER 1473 01:28:38,100 --> 01:28:42,766 AT THE HOLLAND HOUSE HOTEL ON 30th STREET AND FIFTH AVENUE. 1474 01:28:42,766 --> 01:28:45,633 JACKSON HAD MADE IT FROM SAN FRANCISCO 1475 01:28:45,633 --> 01:28:49,300 IN 63 DAYS, 12 HOURS, AND 30 MINUTES, 1476 01:28:49,300 --> 01:28:51,833 WELL WITHIN HIS WAGER OF 90 DAYS, 1477 01:28:51,833 --> 01:28:54,533 AND HAVING BECOME THE FIRST TO DRIVE A CAR ACROSS THE NATION. 1478 01:28:54,533 --> 01:28:58,566 ONCE NEW YORK WOKE UP TO THE NEWS, 1479 01:28:58,566 --> 01:29:02,866 HE AND CROCKER AND BUD WERE THE TOAST OF THE TOWN. 1480 01:29:10,966 --> 01:29:14,566 Man: THE NEW YORK HERALD: DR. H. NELSON JACKSON 1481 01:29:14,566 --> 01:29:17,566 AND SEWALL K. CROCKER, HIS CHAUFFEUR, 1482 01:29:17,566 --> 01:29:20,733 FINISHED THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL AUTOMOBILE TRIP 1483 01:29:20,733 --> 01:29:24,033 AT HALF PAST 4:00 YESTERDAY MORNING. 1484 01:29:24,033 --> 01:29:25,533 ON THEIR ARRIVAL, 1485 01:29:25,533 --> 01:29:27,800 THE MUD-BESMIRCHED AND TRAVEL-STAINED VEHICLE, 1486 01:29:27,800 --> 01:29:31,133 WHICH HAD BORNE THEM SO FAITHFULLY AND STURDILY 1487 01:29:31,133 --> 01:29:33,866 OVER 5,600 MILES OF ROADS, 1488 01:29:33,866 --> 01:29:38,200 WAS HOUSED IN A GARAGE IN WEST 58th STREET. 1489 01:29:38,200 --> 01:29:40,500 ALL DAY YESTERDAY, 1490 01:29:40,500 --> 01:29:43,200 IT WAS VISITED BY ADMIRING AUTOMOBILISTS, 1491 01:29:43,200 --> 01:29:47,133 AND CURIOUS PASSERSBY PEEPED IN UPON IT. 1492 01:29:47,133 --> 01:29:48,566 IN HONOR OF ITS ACHIEVEMENT, 1493 01:29:48,566 --> 01:29:52,000 IT WAS DECORATED WITH TINY FLAGS 1494 01:29:52,000 --> 01:29:54,900 AND DRAPED WITH NATIONAL STANDARDS. 1495 01:29:54,900 --> 01:30:00,800 A THICK COATING OF MUD GAVE EVIDENCE THAT IT HAD BEEN SOMEWHERE, 1496 01:30:00,800 --> 01:30:04,500 AND THAT SOMEWHERE, A LONG WAY OFF. 1497 01:30:13,200 --> 01:30:18,233 Narrator: NEWSPAPERS ALL ACROSS THE NATION RETOLD JACKSON'S STORY, 1498 01:30:18,233 --> 01:30:20,300 SOMETIMES EMBELLISHING DETAILS, 1499 01:30:20,300 --> 01:30:25,100 INCLUDING ONE REPORT THAT CLAIMED THE VERMONT HAD FLOATED ACROSS RIVERS 1500 01:30:25,100 --> 01:30:28,833 USING ITS REVOLVING WHEELS AS PROPELLERS. 1501 01:30:42,966 --> 01:30:47,133 JACKSON HAD LOST 20 POUNDS DURING THE LONG JOURNEY, 1502 01:30:47,133 --> 01:30:50,466 AND HE HAD SPENT $8,000 OF HIS OWN MONEY-- 1503 01:30:50,466 --> 01:30:55,333 THE PRICE OF THE CAR, A SALARY FOR CROCKER, FOOD AND LODGING, 1504 01:30:55,333 --> 01:30:59,400 THE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS NEED FOR NEW TIRES AND REPLACEMENT PARTS, 1505 01:30:59,400 --> 01:31:06,133 800 GALLONS OF GASOLINE, AND THE $15 TO PURCHASE BUD. 1506 01:31:06,133 --> 01:31:07,433 "BUT," HE SAID, 1507 01:31:07,433 --> 01:31:10,166 "IT WAS WORTH EVERY CENT AND EVERY POUND 1508 01:31:10,166 --> 01:31:12,933 TO WIN THAT $50 BET." 1509 01:31:12,933 --> 01:31:14,566 AND YET, WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER, 1510 01:31:14,566 --> 01:31:19,233 HE NEVER BOTHERED TO COLLECT HIS WINNINGS. 1511 01:31:19,233 --> 01:31:21,600 HE NEVER COLLECTED THE $50 BET. 1512 01:31:21,600 --> 01:31:22,866 NEVER. NEVER. 1513 01:31:22,866 --> 01:31:24,866 IT WASN'T THE MONEY. 1514 01:31:24,866 --> 01:31:28,866 I DON'T THINK THAT WAS WHAT DROVE HIM TO DO THIS. 1515 01:31:33,666 --> 01:31:35,766 Narrator: ON THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1516 01:31:35,766 --> 01:31:38,133 JACKSON AND HIS WIFE, WITH BUD ON BOARD, 1517 01:31:38,133 --> 01:31:40,833 HEADED HOME TOGETHER IN THE VERMONT. 1518 01:31:52,400 --> 01:31:53,733 THE TRIP TOOK A WEEK 1519 01:31:53,733 --> 01:31:56,033 AND WAS PUNCTUATED BY THE PROBLEMS AND DELAYS 1520 01:31:56,033 --> 01:31:58,700 HE HAD BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO BY NOW. 1521 01:31:58,700 --> 01:32:00,866 THE LOW-SPEED CLUTCH BROKE IN HUDSON, 1522 01:32:00,866 --> 01:32:04,033 THEN THE HIGH-SPEED CLUTCH GAVE OUT IN ALBANY, 1523 01:32:04,033 --> 01:32:07,700 AND THE BREAKER BOX FAILED IN MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT. 1524 01:32:07,700 --> 01:32:11,866 NEAR SHELBURNE, JACKSON'S TWO BROTHERS 1525 01:32:11,866 --> 01:32:13,866 SHOWED UP IN THEIR OWN AUTOMOBILE 1526 01:32:13,866 --> 01:32:17,700 TO ESCORT HIM AND BERTHA THE FINAL 10 MILES. 1527 01:32:17,700 --> 01:32:20,666 BUT THE CYLINDER BLEW OUT IN THEIR CAR, 1528 01:32:20,666 --> 01:32:23,733 SO JACKSON CHAINED IT TO THE VERMONT 1529 01:32:23,733 --> 01:32:27,233 AND TOWED THEM THE REST OF THE WAY INTO BURLINGTON. 1530 01:32:30,033 --> 01:32:31,700 HE REACHED HIS HOME AT LAST 1531 01:32:31,700 --> 01:32:34,433 IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OF AUGUST 7, 1532 01:32:34,433 --> 01:32:37,500 AND WENT TO PARK HIS TRUSTED CAR IN THE STABLE. 1533 01:32:40,800 --> 01:32:43,900 JUST AS THE VERMONT CROSSED THE THRESHOLD, 1534 01:32:43,900 --> 01:32:45,500 ITS DRIVE CHAIN-- 1535 01:32:45,500 --> 01:32:49,266 ONE OF THE FEW PARTS THAT HAD MADE THE ENTIRE JOURNEY WITHOUT A PROBLEM-- 1536 01:32:49,266 --> 01:32:51,066 SNAPPED IN TWO. 1537 01:32:56,500 --> 01:33:00,100 TWO WEEKS LATER, TOM FETCH AND MARIUS KRARUP 1538 01:33:00,100 --> 01:33:01,900 FINALLY MADE IT TO NEW YORK, 1539 01:33:01,900 --> 01:33:06,033 HAVING COMPLETED THEIR TRIP IN A DAY AND A HALF LESS THAN JACKSON'S TIME, 1540 01:33:06,033 --> 01:33:08,900 BUT FINISHING SECOND NONETHELESS. 1541 01:33:08,900 --> 01:33:12,066 THEY WERE ESCORTED INTO THE CITY BY A HOST OF PACKARDS 1542 01:33:12,066 --> 01:33:15,066 AND GREETED BY A CHEERING CROWD. 1543 01:33:15,066 --> 01:33:18,666 "THANK THE LORD," ONE OF THEM SAID AS HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, 1544 01:33:18,666 --> 01:33:20,766 "IT'S OVER." 1545 01:33:20,766 --> 01:33:22,433 ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1546 01:33:22,433 --> 01:33:23,833 LESTER WHITMAN AND EUGENE HAMMOND 1547 01:33:23,833 --> 01:33:27,733 REACHED NEW YORK IN THEIR SMALL OLDSMOBILE RUNABOUT 1548 01:33:27,733 --> 01:33:31,866 IN THE SLOWEST TIME OF 73 DAYS. 1549 01:33:31,866 --> 01:33:35,000 BUT IN A GIMMICK TO GAIN GREATER PUBLICITY FOR THEIR COMPANY, 1550 01:33:35,000 --> 01:33:37,533 THEY THEN DROVE UP THE COAST TO BOSTON, 1551 01:33:37,533 --> 01:33:41,600 WHERE THEY DIPPED THE OLDSMOBILE'S FRONT WHEELS INTO THE ATLANTIC 1552 01:33:41,600 --> 01:33:45,800 AND CLAIMED TO BE THE FIRST TRUE SEA-TO-SEA DRIVERS. 1553 01:33:49,133 --> 01:33:52,500 MEANWHILE, BACK HOME IN VERMONT, 1554 01:33:52,500 --> 01:33:56,266 JACKSON SOON HAD HIS CAR UP AND RUNNING AGAIN. 1555 01:34:01,066 --> 01:34:06,933 Man: OCTOBER 3, 1903: DR. H. N. JACKSON, 1556 01:34:06,933 --> 01:34:11,266 FIRST MAN TO CROSS THE CONTINENT IN AN AUTOMOBILE, 1557 01:34:11,266 --> 01:34:14,133 WAS ARRESTED IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT, 1558 01:34:14,133 --> 01:34:17,700 AND FINED $5.00 PLUS COURT COSTS 1559 01:34:17,700 --> 01:34:22,700 FOR DRIVING THE MACHINE MORE THAN 6 MILES AN HOUR. 1560 01:34:37,133 --> 01:34:43,333 Man: LO, SOUL, SEEST THOU NOT GOD'S PURPOSE FROM THE FIRST? 1561 01:34:43,333 --> 01:34:47,666 THE EARTH TO BE SPANN'D, CONNECTED BY NETWORK. 1562 01:34:47,666 --> 01:34:51,833 THE OCEANS TO BE CROSS'D, THE DISTANT BROUGHT NEAR, 1563 01:34:51,833 --> 01:34:55,000 THE LANDS TO BE WELDED TOGETHER. 1564 01:34:55,000 --> 01:34:58,833 WALT WHITMAN. 1565 01:34:58,833 --> 01:35:03,566 Duncan: 3 CARS HAD NOW CROSSED THE CONTINENT IN THE SAME YEAR, 1566 01:35:03,566 --> 01:35:05,466 AND THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT. 1567 01:35:05,466 --> 01:35:08,666 IT MEANT YOU CAN DO IT. 1568 01:35:08,666 --> 01:35:12,700 PRIOR TO 1903, IT WAS A QUESTION OF WHETHER AN AUTOMOBILE 1569 01:35:12,700 --> 01:35:14,866 COULD MAKE IT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. 1570 01:35:14,866 --> 01:35:18,066 AFTER 1903, THE QUESTION BECAME, 1571 01:35:18,066 --> 01:35:19,466 "IN WHAT TIME CAN YOU MAKE IT?" 1572 01:35:19,466 --> 01:35:21,633 "IN WHAT COMFORT CAN YOU MAKE IT?" 1573 01:35:21,633 --> 01:35:25,066 SO THAT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT YEAR-- 1574 01:35:25,066 --> 01:35:27,866 JACKSON'S TRIP AND THE OTHER TWO-- 1575 01:35:27,866 --> 01:35:31,266 OF SAYING THAT THE CAR IS GOING TO BE 1576 01:35:31,266 --> 01:35:34,066 THIS VEHICLE OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM 1577 01:35:34,066 --> 01:35:37,066 AND OF DISTANCE; 1578 01:35:37,066 --> 01:35:39,100 THAT IT COULD HAVE THIS POTENTIAL 1579 01:35:39,100 --> 01:35:40,500 TO REPLACE THE RAILROAD AND THE HORSE 1580 01:35:40,500 --> 01:35:44,433 AS THE MAIN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. 1581 01:35:44,433 --> 01:35:46,866 AND IF YOU WANTED TO SAY WHAT DEFINES THE 20th CENTURY 1582 01:35:46,866 --> 01:35:51,000 IN TERMS OF CHANGES UNDERTAKEN IN THE UNITED STATES-- 1583 01:35:51,000 --> 01:35:52,300 SOME GOOD AND SOME BAD-- 1584 01:35:52,300 --> 01:35:56,433 IT'D BE HARD TO GET PAST THE AUTOMOBILE AS THE FIRST THING. 1585 01:36:01,466 --> 01:36:02,900 Narrator: IN 1903, 1586 01:36:02,900 --> 01:36:07,000 AS THE NATION CELEBRATED THE CENTENNIAL OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE 1587 01:36:07,000 --> 01:36:10,200 AND LEWIS AND CLARK'S FIRST EPIC JOURNEY ACROSS THE CONTINENT, 1588 01:36:10,200 --> 01:36:15,833 AMERICANS SENSED THAT THEIR WORLD HAD SUDDENLY GOTTEN MUCH SMALLER. 1589 01:36:18,833 --> 01:36:21,966 IN 1903, PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT 1590 01:36:21,966 --> 01:36:25,100 SENT A NEW YEAR'S GREETING TO ENGLAND'S KING EDWARD VII 1591 01:36:25,100 --> 01:36:28,233 USING MARCONI'S NEW WIRELESS RADIO 1592 01:36:28,233 --> 01:36:32,233 THAT COULD TRANSMIT SIGNALS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. 1593 01:36:32,233 --> 01:36:36,766 IN 1903, A CABLE WAS LAID ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 1594 01:36:36,766 --> 01:36:38,600 THE LAST LINK IN A WEB OF WIRE 1595 01:36:38,600 --> 01:36:41,033 THAT ALLOWED ROOSEVELT TO TELEGRAPH 1596 01:36:41,033 --> 01:36:43,933 THE FIRST MESSAGE SENT AROUND THE WORLD. 1597 01:36:43,933 --> 01:36:46,866 THE COMPLETE CIRCUIT TOOK 12 MINUTES. 1598 01:36:46,866 --> 01:36:52,333 IN 1903, TWO BICYCLE MECHANICS FROM DAYTON, OHIO, 1599 01:36:52,333 --> 01:36:54,166 NAMED ORVILLE AND WILBUR WRIGHT 1600 01:36:54,166 --> 01:36:55,600 MADE THE WORLD'S FIRST AIRPLANE FLIGHT, 1601 01:36:55,600 --> 01:36:59,066 SOARING IN THEIR GASOLINE-POWERED MACHINE 1602 01:36:59,066 --> 01:37:02,600 OVER THE BEACHES AT KITTY HAWK, NORTH CAROLINA. 1603 01:37:03,833 --> 01:37:07,733 AND FARTHER DOWN THE COAST THAT SAME YEAR, 1604 01:37:07,733 --> 01:37:09,833 ALEXANDER WINTON DROVE ONE OF HIS CARS 1605 01:37:09,833 --> 01:37:15,866 AN ASTONISHING 68 MILES PER HOUR AT DAYTONA BEACH. 1606 01:37:15,866 --> 01:37:20,166 Least Heat-Moon: I THINK OF ALL THE NATIONS ON EARTH, 1607 01:37:20,166 --> 01:37:21,733 PERHAPS NONE HAS A HISTORY 1608 01:37:21,733 --> 01:37:24,666 THAT'S MORE CLOSELY TIED TO TRAVEL-- 1609 01:37:24,666 --> 01:37:26,666 AND PARTICULARLY THE OPEN ROAD-- 1610 01:37:26,666 --> 01:37:28,166 THAN IS AMERICAN HISTORY. 1611 01:37:28,166 --> 01:37:33,866 WE ARE A NATION IN WHOSE HISTORY YOU MUST UNDERSTAND MOVEMENT... 1612 01:37:36,133 --> 01:37:38,666 NOT ONLY MOVEMENT OF THE MIND, 1613 01:37:38,666 --> 01:37:42,700 BUT CLEARLY A MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE PHYSICALLY THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE. 1614 01:37:44,233 --> 01:37:48,266 Man: AUGUST 4, 1903: 1615 01:37:48,266 --> 01:37:52,233 WHAT IS ADMITTED TO BE THE GREATEST AUTOMOBILE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR 1616 01:37:52,233 --> 01:37:55,466 WAS THE TRANSCONTINENTAL TOUR OF DR. H. NELSON JACKSON 1617 01:37:55,466 --> 01:37:59,166 FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW YORK. 1618 01:37:59,166 --> 01:38:00,566 THE TRIP IS CONSIDERED AS A SIGNAL TRIUMPH 1619 01:38:00,566 --> 01:38:03,766 FOR THE COMPARATIVELY NEW MEANS OF TRAVEL. 1620 01:38:03,766 --> 01:38:07,233 THE JOURNEY WAS MADE PURELY FOR PLEASURE 1621 01:38:07,233 --> 01:38:10,200 AND TO SATISFY AN ENTHUSIASTIC MOTORIST 1622 01:38:10,200 --> 01:38:12,866 THAT IT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED, 1623 01:38:12,866 --> 01:38:16,366 BUT IT HAS DEMONSTRATED MUCH MORE THAN THIS. 1624 01:38:16,366 --> 01:38:20,400 IT HAS SHOWN THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE AUTOMOBILE, 1625 01:38:20,400 --> 01:38:23,566 EVEN WITH THE GENERALLY DISREPUTABLE HIGHWAYS 1626 01:38:23,566 --> 01:38:28,200 WHICH ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF NEARLY EVERY RURAL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY. 1627 01:38:28,200 --> 01:38:30,400 BUT WHEN GOOD ROADS SHALL BE THE RULE 1628 01:38:30,400 --> 01:38:33,166 INSTEAD OF THE EXCEPTION, 1629 01:38:33,166 --> 01:38:35,066 IT MAY BE PREDICTED WITH CONFIDENCE 1630 01:38:35,066 --> 01:38:38,566 THAT SUCH JOURNEYS AS THAT MADE BY DR. JACKSON 1631 01:38:38,566 --> 01:38:41,333 WILL BE FAR FROM EXTRAORDINARY. 1632 01:38:41,333 --> 01:38:43,900 THE BOSTON HERALD. 1633 01:38:47,100 --> 01:38:49,100 Narrator: WITHIN A FEW YEARS OF JACKSON'S TRIP, 1634 01:38:49,100 --> 01:38:51,900 AN ORGANIZED MOVEMENT BEGAN IN THE UNITED STATES 1635 01:38:51,900 --> 01:38:56,433 TO IMPROVE THE NATION'S ROADS TO ACCOMMODATE THE AUTOMOBILE, 1636 01:38:56,433 --> 01:38:59,833 TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES, BETTER MAPS, 1637 01:38:59,833 --> 01:39:04,100 BETTER WAYS FOR PEOPLE IN CARS TO TRAVEL WHEREVER THEY WISHED TO GO. 1638 01:39:04,100 --> 01:39:09,433 IN 1904, AN AUTOMOBILE WOULD BE DRIVEN ACROSS THE CONTINENT 1639 01:39:09,433 --> 01:39:10,900 IN HALF OF JACKSON'S TIME. 1640 01:39:10,900 --> 01:39:15,933 TWO YEARS LATER, THE TIME WAS CUT IN HALF ONCE MORE. 1641 01:39:15,933 --> 01:39:20,533 IN 1908, JACOB MURDOCK LOADED HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN 1642 01:39:20,533 --> 01:39:22,966 INTO HIS NEW PACKARD MODEL 30 1643 01:39:22,966 --> 01:39:27,900 AND DROVE FROM PASADENA TO NEW YORK IN 32 DAYS, 1644 01:39:27,900 --> 01:39:31,066 BECOMING THE FIRST FAMILY TO DRIVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY 1645 01:39:31,066 --> 01:39:32,933 AND BEGINNING A TRADITION OF ROAD TRIPS 1646 01:39:32,933 --> 01:39:37,400 THAT GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN FAMILIES WOULD FOLLOW. 1647 01:39:37,400 --> 01:39:41,100 MURDOCK REFUSED TO LET ANYONE ELSE BEHIND THE WHEEL, 1648 01:39:41,100 --> 01:39:42,466 DIDN'T LIKE TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS, 1649 01:39:42,466 --> 01:39:47,566 AND SOME DAYS, KEPT ON THE MOVE FOR MORE THAN 12 STRAIGHT HOURS 1650 01:39:47,566 --> 01:39:50,800 IN ORDER TO PUT SOME EXTRA MILES BEHIND HIM. 1651 01:39:50,800 --> 01:39:53,033 "I KNOW NOTHING MORE DISHEARTENING," HE SAID, 1652 01:39:53,033 --> 01:39:57,133 "THAN TO SEE THE SUN JUST ABOUT TO SET BELOW THE HORIZON 1653 01:39:57,133 --> 01:40:01,300 WHEN ONE IS MANY MILES FROM THE PLACE HE HAD HOPED TO MAKE THAT DAY." 1654 01:40:02,700 --> 01:40:08,900 BY 1913, THE NATION'S FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL MOTOR ROUTE, 1655 01:40:08,900 --> 01:40:10,200 THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY, 1656 01:40:10,200 --> 01:40:11,933 HAD BEEN CREATED COAST-TO-COAST 1657 01:40:11,933 --> 01:40:14,233 THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY, 1658 01:40:14,233 --> 01:40:18,400 AND BY 1916, AN AUTOMOBILE HAD RACED ACROSS ITS ENTIRE LENGTH 1659 01:40:18,400 --> 01:40:20,833 IN JUST 5 DAYS' TIME. 1660 01:40:25,366 --> 01:40:28,300 JACKSON'S TRAVELING COMPANION SEWALL CROCKER 1661 01:40:28,300 --> 01:40:31,366 DID NOT LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THAT DAY. 1662 01:40:31,366 --> 01:40:34,833 IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS AND JACKSON'S JOURNEY IN 1903, 1663 01:40:34,833 --> 01:40:36,800 HE HAD LOOKED FOR SOMEONE TO SPONSOR HIM 1664 01:40:36,800 --> 01:40:39,700 ON AN AUTOMOBILE TRIP AROUND THE WORLD, 1665 01:40:39,700 --> 01:40:42,633 BUT NOTHING EVER CAME OF IT. 1666 01:40:42,633 --> 01:40:43,966 HIS HEALTH BROKE, 1667 01:40:43,966 --> 01:40:46,633 AND HE DIED IN HIS HOMETOWN OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, 1668 01:40:46,633 --> 01:40:53,566 ON APRIL 22, 1913, AT THE AGE OF 32. 1669 01:40:59,966 --> 01:41:06,433 Duncan: BUD WENT HOME WITH JACKSON AND SWIPES TO VERMONT 1670 01:41:06,433 --> 01:41:13,600 AND APPARENTLY LIVED A FULL LIFE AND DIED AND WENT TO DOG HEAVEN. 1671 01:41:13,600 --> 01:41:18,600 Narrator: HORATIO NELSON JACKSON NEVER STOPPED MOVING. 1672 01:41:18,600 --> 01:41:21,200 HE BECAME A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN, 1673 01:41:21,200 --> 01:41:24,733 NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER, RADIO STATION OWNER, 1674 01:41:24,733 --> 01:41:25,833 PRESIDENT OF A BANK. 1675 01:41:28,966 --> 01:41:31,866 DESPITE BEING IN HIS FORTIES, 1676 01:41:31,866 --> 01:41:36,000 HE INSISTED ON GOING OVERSEAS WITH THE ARMY IN WORLD WAR I 1677 01:41:36,000 --> 01:41:38,400 AND RETURNED A DECORATED HERO, 1678 01:41:38,400 --> 01:41:41,900 HAVING RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 1679 01:41:41,900 --> 01:41:45,333 AS WELL AS FRANCE'S CROIX DE GUERRE. 1680 01:41:45,333 --> 01:41:48,300 BACK IN THE UNITED STATES, 1681 01:41:48,300 --> 01:41:50,666 HE HELPED FOUND THE AMERICAN LEGION 1682 01:41:50,666 --> 01:41:53,800 AND LATER RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR GOVERNOR OF VERMONT. 1683 01:41:58,000 --> 01:42:03,500 IN 1944, JACKSON DONATED HIS CAR TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 1684 01:42:03,500 --> 01:42:05,933 AND FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, 1685 01:42:05,933 --> 01:42:08,800 NEVER TIRED OF TELLING ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN 1686 01:42:08,800 --> 01:42:11,966 THE STORY OF HIS GREAT ADVENTURE CROSSING THE CONTINENT 1687 01:42:11,966 --> 01:42:14,833 IN A 1903 WINTON CALLED THE VERMONT. 1688 01:42:20,166 --> 01:42:24,333 Wall: OUR GRANDPARENTS TOOK US TO SEE IT. 1689 01:42:24,333 --> 01:42:26,066 WE "MOTORED," AS THEY CALLED IT. 1690 01:42:26,066 --> 01:42:27,166 AND SO WE WENT IN, 1691 01:42:27,166 --> 01:42:31,133 AND WE GOT UP INTO THE CAR. 1692 01:42:31,133 --> 01:42:33,600 HE WANTED US TO SIT IN THE CAR-- 1693 01:42:33,600 --> 01:42:35,633 ON THE CAR. MM-HMM. 1694 01:42:35,633 --> 01:42:38,166 AND THE LITTLE ATTENDANT CAME BY 1695 01:42:38,166 --> 01:42:39,933 AND SAID, "OH, NO, YOU CAN'T GO NEAR IT." 1696 01:42:39,933 --> 01:42:40,933 SO WE GOT DOWN, 1697 01:42:40,933 --> 01:42:43,000 AND HE WENT UP AND SAT IN IT. 1698 01:42:43,000 --> 01:42:44,833 HE SAID, "I GUESS I CAN SIT IN THE CAR 1699 01:42:44,833 --> 01:42:46,433 IF I DROVE IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY," 1700 01:42:46,433 --> 01:42:49,500 AND I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT. 1701 01:42:52,400 --> 01:42:54,266 Narrator: BY THE TIME JACKSON DIED AT AGE 82, 1702 01:42:54,266 --> 01:42:58,100 ON JANUARY 14, 1955, 1703 01:42:58,100 --> 01:43:00,433 HIS NATION HAD ALREADY BEGUN PLANNING 1704 01:43:00,433 --> 01:43:01,666 AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM-- 1705 01:43:01,666 --> 01:43:04,633 A SERIES OF ROADS THAT WOULD SOON CARRY 1706 01:43:04,633 --> 01:43:06,700 MILLIONS OF CARS AND TRUCKS FROM COAST TO COAST, 1707 01:43:06,700 --> 01:43:10,533 MOVING AT SUCH SPEEDS AND IN SUCH COMFORT 1708 01:43:10,533 --> 01:43:13,700 THAT ANYONE TRAVELING THEM WOULD FIND IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE 1709 01:43:13,700 --> 01:43:19,566 TO IMAGINE ANYTHING LIKE HORATIO'S DRIVE. 1710 01:43:19,566 --> 01:43:21,233 Man: ♪ HE'D HAVE TO GET UNDER ♪ 1711 01:43:21,233 --> 01:43:22,500 ♪ GET OUT AND GET UNDER ♪ 1712 01:43:22,500 --> 01:43:27,266 ♪ TO FIX HIS LITTLE MACHINE... ♪ 1713 01:43:27,266 --> 01:43:29,900 Man as Jackson: WE HAVE HAD HARD LUCK, 1714 01:43:29,900 --> 01:43:33,300 BUT I THINK IT ALL CAME AT ONCE. 1715 01:43:33,300 --> 01:43:37,333 THE WORST OF IT IS OVER, AND WE WILL GET THERE FIRST. 1716 01:43:37,333 --> 01:43:41,133 JUST WATCH ME NOW. 1717 01:43:41,133 --> 01:43:43,000 HORATIO NELSON JACKSON. 1718 01:43:43,000 --> 01:43:45,666 Man: ♪ AND THEN THE DARNED OLD ENGINE, IT WOULD MISS ♪ 1719 01:43:45,666 --> 01:43:48,666 ♪ AND THEN HE'D HAVE TO GET UNDER ♪ 1720 01:43:48,666 --> 01:43:49,466 ♪ GET OUT AND GET UNDER ♪ 1721 01:43:49,466 --> 01:43:52,666 ♪ AND FIX UP HIS AUTOMOBILE ♪ 1722 01:44:00,666 --> 01:44:04,300 ♪ JOHNNY O'CONNOR BOUGHT AN AUTOMOBILE ♪ 1723 01:44:04,300 --> 01:44:07,000 ♪ HE TOOK HIS SWEETHEART FOR A RIDE ONE SUNDAY ♪ 1724 01:44:07,000 --> 01:44:10,933 ♪ JOHNNY WAS TOGGED UP IN HIS BEST SUNDAY CLOTHES ♪ 1725 01:44:10,933 --> 01:44:14,500 ♪ SHE NESTLED CLOSE TO HIS SIDE ♪ 1726 01:44:14,500 --> 01:44:16,800 ♪ THINGS WERE JUST DANDY TILL HE GOT DOWN THE ROAD ♪ 1727 01:44:16,800 --> 01:44:21,233 ♪ THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE OLD MACHINERY ♪ 1728 01:44:21,233 --> 01:44:22,966 ♪ THAT ENGINE GOT HIS GOAT ♪ 1729 01:44:22,966 --> 01:44:24,800 ♪ OFF WENT HIS HAT AND COAT ♪ 1730 01:44:24,800 --> 01:44:27,800 ♪ EVERYTHING NEEDED REPAIRS ♪ 1731 01:44:27,800 --> 01:44:29,733 ♪ HE'D HAVE TO GET UNDER ♪ 1732 01:44:29,733 --> 01:44:31,766 ♪ GET OUT AND GET UNDER ♪ 1733 01:44:31,766 --> 01:44:35,233 ♪ TO FIX HIS LITTLE MACHINE ♪ 1734 01:44:35,233 --> 01:44:38,566 ♪ HE WAS JUST DYING TO CUDDLE HIS QUEEN ♪ 1735 01:44:38,566 --> 01:44:39,466 ♪ BUT EVERY MINUTE ♪ 1736 01:44:39,466 --> 01:44:41,400 ♪ WHEN HE'D BEGIN IT ♪ 1737 01:44:41,400 --> 01:44:42,433 ♪ HE'D HAVE TO GET UNDER ♪ 1738 01:44:42,433 --> 01:44:44,533 ♪ GET OUT AND GET UNDER ♪ 1739 01:44:44,533 --> 01:44:48,033 ♪ THEN HE'D GET BACK AT THE WHEEL ♪ 1740 01:44:48,033 --> 01:44:51,366 ♪ A DOZEN TIMES THEY'D START TO HUG AND KISS ♪ 1741 01:44:51,366 --> 01:44:54,866 ♪ AND THEN THE DARNED OLD ENGINE, IT WOULD MISS ♪ 1742 01:44:54,866 --> 01:44:56,866 ♪ AND THEN HE'D HAVE TO GET UNDER ♪ 1743 01:44:56,866 --> 01:44:58,633 ♪ GET OUT AND GET UNDER ♪ 1744 01:44:58,633 --> 01:45:02,233 ♪ AND FIX UP HIS AUTOMOBILE ♪ 1745 01:46:43,266 --> 01:46:45,000 [WOOF]