LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- On May 23, 1903, Horatio Nelson Jackson was just two days into his grand adventure of becoming the first person . Somewhere near Caldwell, Idaho, Jackson and Crocker obtained a dog, a bulldog named Bud. Jackson had now been given two challenges - the time limit he was given and the two other drivers who believed they could beat him. Items continued to be lost, including another pair of Jackson's glasses. Way out West: H. Nelson Jackson at the wheel of his Winton. Sponsored by the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the trip began and ended in New ", Bud, wrote Jackson, was "the one member of (our) trio who used no profanity on the entire trip.". According to the Winton Companys numbering system, the car he bought was Number 1684 but he chose to christen it with the name. All day yesterday it was visited by admiring automobilists, and curious passersby peeped in upon it. [1] He graduated with an MD degree from the University of Vermont in 1893, became a physician, and practiced in Brattleboro and Burlington. H. Nelson Jackson (Vermont physician) In the spring of 1903, at a time when many people thought that the automotive industry had no future and that cars were merely an invention aimed at fun, Jackson accepted a $50 bet to prove that it was possible to drive a car from San Francisco to New York City. The axle crank and two connecting rods broke and they had to send to the Cleveland factory to replace them. But, 2 days after the bet, Horatiofinalized the purchase of his first car, a Winton that he dubbed The Vermont after his home state. You have done everything in the world to make me happy.I shall just tear up the ground until I can be with you. Thanks for stopping by my campfire to share a story. Dr. Jackson started his trek in San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car he called "Vermont" (honoring the state in which he and his wife Bertha lived), and the final destination was Burlington, Vermont. We focus on Mountain and Action Sports, Travel, Recreation, and the inspirational personalities that make up the New North American Western Lifestyle. As the nineteenth century came to an end, there were only 8,000 cars in the United States compared to 14 million horses. Horatio Nelson Jackson was a physician from Vermont who married Bertha Wells, the daughter of the richest man in Vermont. Between 1909 and 1975, Ramsey drove across the country On June 6, the car broke down, and they had to be towed to a nearby ranch by a cowboy on horseback. Want to know what other interesting things there are to see out on the road? Interested in having your company's ad featured on Basin & Range Magazine? "Discovering their loss, Jackson and Crocker determined that living off the countryside or starving was less to be feared than a return trip," wrote Jackson's friend Ralph Nading Hill in his book "The Mad Doctor's Drive. His beat includes earthquake research, marine biology, wildfire science, nuclear testing, archaeology, wildlife and scientific exploration of land and sea. York City. Keep in mind that the cars of 1903 were little more than expensive playthings for hobbyists and hadnt really been proven to be worthy of such a bet. Pin it so that others can experience the first American cross-country road trip and compare it to some of their own adventures! After removing the backseat to make room for more gear, they packed the following items to begin the long journey: Unfortunately, a lot of their gear bounced out the back as they drove without them realizing it and several things were lost including two pairs of Jacksons eyeglasses. Automobiles were in their infancy: The first American car had been produced only 10. At 30 mph, "Horatio Nelson Jackson didn't have to worry about someone going 75 mph on the highway and running him over," said author Dayton Duncan, who wrote and co-produced the documentary and companion book "Horacio's Drive," with Burns. The first effort to cross the country in 1899 ended inauspiciously for the car. Indeed had a flying machine lit down in their midst it would not have created greater astonishment. An automobile trip across the continent that will be watched with a great deal of interest will start from this city this morning. DriveBestWay.com is a route planner for car travelers, providing a lot of travel-related calculations like road distance, driving time, fuel cost Online route planner for car travelers - United States and worldwide - DriveBestWay.com We are spending most of the time trying to get out of water and mud holes. Just as soon as I can get decent tires we will make a record run. He was in San Francisco on vacation with his wife when, while sharing a few beers with some friendly strangers at the local University Club, he insisted that he had what it took to drive a car across the US. Jackson walked back to the last town to get oil, only to discover eventually that they had been stopped only a short distance outside of Vale. Dr. Jackson is a man of wealth, who is very fond of automobiling. "The majority opinion expressed was that, save for short distances, the automobile was an unreliable novelty," Jackson later wrote. . coats and sweaters and two small suitcases for their clothes In the spring and summer of 1903, Jackson and his mechanic, Sewall Crocker, drove this 1903 Winton touring car from San Francisco to New York City. Even before we had cars, Americans have been drawn out to explore the unknown horizons. She returned home by train, allowing him to take his adventure by automobile. Want to know what happened? He also served as a senior officer in the Officer Reserve Corps. ", Jackson had wanted a dog along on the trip and purchased the American bulldog, Bud, in Caldwell, Idaho. It is Near Soda Springs in Caribou County Idaho, 3. My darling Swipes. When we get there the worst will be over.I can run the car as well as Crocker & have rather surprised him We take 2 hours on and 2 off at the wheel. . It got people thinking about long-distance highways.". This is a carousel. Our car will now be as good as new.We have had hard luck, but I think it all came at once. At 4:30 a.m. on July 26, 1903, Jackson and Crocker crossed the Harlem River into Manhattan to their final destination of the Holland House Hotel. Hi, Im Sheila laid-back, sometimes creative, a little curious, and always ready for a last-minute adventure. At one point, Bud drank bad water and became ill, but survived. ), additional tanks to hold extra oil and gasoline for emergencies. "Ocean to Ocean in an Automobile Car," Stephen Sears, Bud grew so accustomed to his riding goggles that "he would not begin the day's drive without them. Darling SwipesOn our arrival here [I] was much surprised to find a man from the factory with a letter congratulating me and stating that they were willing to place men along the line with supplies at their expense.I have informed them that we have made the trip so far without their assistance & thought that perhaps [we] two greenhorns could do the rest of it. At one point he was ticketed for exceeding the 6mph (9.7km/h) speed limit in Burlington. Hmm, perhaps youve never stopped to think about it before. A significant historical date for this entry is July 23, 1903. , At the time of Horatio Jackson's trek, only 150 miles of paved road existed in the country, and gas stations and road maps were non-existent. All attempts heretofore to go overland in an automobile have come to grief either through the machines breaking down or because long stretches of sand were encountered through which the horseless carriages could make no headway. "The rubber tires on the machine were somewhat worn and a new supply was ordered from the East by telegraph to be sent to this place. After 63 days on the road, the expedition reached New York. she drove a Maxwell touring car from New York to San Francisco in 59 days. They left from New York and traveled so slowly that a one-armed bicyclist who started 10 days after them passed them before they made it to Syracuse at which point they abandoned the attempt. Keep reading to find out more Which came first, the snow or the passion? Outside of major cities, spotting a car then was almost the equivalent of seeing a UFO today. Ironically enough, I saw the headline for this story the night before I headed to the airport on, Read More The Voice of the AirportContinue, No trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, is complete without a visit to the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum. Roads are better here and they continue to make good time, often driving into the night just to log more miles and get themselves that much closer to home. In 1909, Alice Huyler Ramsey, of Hackensack, New Jersey, became the first woman to drive across the United States. "HORATIO CAM" DIGITAL FOOTAGE Allen Moore ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Susanna Steisel COORDINATING PRODUCER Pam Tubridy Baucom FIELD PRODUCER Craig Mellish NARRATED BY Keith David THE VOICE OF HORATIO. Except for its heavy coat of mud and dilapidated front tires, the car is little the worse for its rough usage. [7] Jackson and Crocker replaced it with the only spare they had, in fact, the only right-sized spare tire they could find in all of San Francisco. After suffering a flat tire on the bicycle, he returned with 4 US gallons (15L) of fuel (which Jackson complained cost him "nearly twenty dollars"), and they returned to Burns to fill up.[6]. Constitution Avenue, NW [6] Newspapers at the time gave a variety of stories of how Bud was acquired, including that he was stolen; in a letter to his wife, Nelson said a man sold him the dog for $15[9] (equivalent to $452 in 2021[3]). They include: Archival footage of Horatio Nelson Jackson is included. Contents 1 Early life and medical career 2 Cross-country drive 2.1 Wager and preparation 2.2 Journey 3 Later life Jackson (at the wheel) enlisted Sewall Crocker as his mechanic and co-driver, and bought a used Winton touring car. The canine was quickly fitted with a pair of goggles and, from then on, got second billing only to the "whizz wagon," as one newspaper called the "Vermont. Constantly working in the face of heavy machine-gun and shell fire, Major Jackson was most devoted in his attention to the wounded, always present in the line of advance, directing the administering of first aid, and guiding the work of litter bearers. All Rights Reserved. His traveling companions were Sewall K. Crocker and a bulldog, Bud. I feel confident we can make it.How I wish you were with me & that it was possible for you to take the tripWith a barrel full [of love], I am, as always, yours.Nelson. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. With them they brought little more than a couple of coats, some protective canvas suits, a couple of sleeping bags, some blankets, canteens, a water bag, an ax, a shovel, a telescope, some bicycle repair tools, a few spare parts, a block and tackle, extra cans gasoline and oil, a camera, a rifle, a shotgun, and a couple of pistols. This growing glimmer of hope eventually attracted the attention of the Press, who would anticipate their next town arrival and show up to document their adventures. Jackson was seated in a gentleman's club when he overheard a discussion at another table about the impracticability of automobiles. Everything that can break has broken already.". By CATHERINE SEIPP. This article about a historical documentary film is a stub. Horatio Nelson Jackson departed San Francisco on May 23rd, 1903 for what was to become America's first ever road trip - and all because of a 50 dollar bet made just 5 days prior. Its not until they reach Iowa that they finally begin to travel at a decent unimpeded speed, averaging nearly 150 miles per day. On May 23, 1903 the car was transported by ferry from San Francisco to Oakland and pointed eastward. Please give my best love to your mother & tell [my] father & mother that I love them as much as ever. We only made 45 miles in our direct route. Nelson Jackson, a physician and businessman from Burlington, Vermont, captured the nation's attention when he and Sewall K. Crocker, a mechanic, drove from California to New York. When the travelers reached Omaha, Nebraska on July 12 they were able to stitch together a few paved roads in between the stretches of older wagon trails. This we did the result being that we ran across the desert to Swanton Falls a distance, out of our way, 38 miles. Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson, otherwise known as "The Mad Doctor," had no idea what he was getting into in 1903 when he strapped a spare tire onto his 20-horsepower Winton touring car and started out from San Francisco's Palace Hotel on the first automobile trip across America. Churning dust irritated Buds eyes, and Jackson purchased this pair of goggles for him. Data by OpenStreetMap, under CC BY SA. Click on each stop of the journey to learn. They left San Francisco on May 23, 1903, loaded with gear and enthusiasm. What roads did exist, were holdovers from the wagon train trading routes of the 1850s, 60s, and 70s the Old West of cowboy and Indian lore. Jackson decided to take a more northerly route. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. I came pretty nearly having cold feet. California to New York. [6] The duo was also assisted in Sacramento by bicyclists who offered them road maps. Sign up for my occasional email updates! Funding provided by General Motors, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, and the Park Foundation. Jackson was unable to buy a new tire, but purchased some used inner tubes. My answer would probably be computer. The automobile was about to transform American life. Doctors were outnumbered by blacksmiths and most Americans rarely traveled than twelve miles from home because that was the distance a horse-and-wagon could cover to take them out and back home again in a single day. The technology nevertheless began to catch on, slowly. We leave in the morning for Oroville the last railway point we will have until we strike Ontario, [Oregon]. While crossing the Rocky Mountains, they were moving boulders by hand out of their path. Take good care of yourself & dont worry. He then hired a partner/mechanic, Samuel Crocker, who was a successful bicycle racer to accompany him on his journey east. The fateful bet was made during a club room discussion on May 19, 1903, when Jackson and his wife were on a stopover in San Francisco after they had traveled to Mexico and Alaska looking at potential mining investments. Ken Burns takes 'Horatio's Drive'. After twomore days ofplanning and preparation, the two began their unbelievable impromptu journey eastwardtowards New York City. A relay of young horseback riders rode non-stop at top, Read More The Mail Must Go Through!Continue, Quick question is the voice of the announcements in the airport a person or a computer? [12] While attached to the 313th Infantry, 79th Division as a surgeon, Jackson was wounded near Montfaucon during the MeuseArgonne Offensive. The soundtrack includes a variety of music, including some bluegrass instrumentals and a modern rendition by Bobby Horton of an old song called "He'd Have to Get Under Get Out and Get Under (to Fix Up His Automobile)". In 1903, he and driving partner Sewall K. Crocker became the first people to drive an automobile across the United States. - Behind Every Day, rubber mackintoshes for themselves and the car (remember no roof, no windshield! Copyright20062023,Somerightsreserved. He accepted, even though at age 31 he did not own a car, had practically no experience driving, and had no maps to follow. Steve Perkins, Executive Director of the Vermont Historical Society, gives us a little background, before launching into the fascinating story of Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson. Jackson's trip started in a hastily purchased Winton that he named the "Vermont" four days after he made the bet. [Horatio Nelson Jackson].[P.S.] Postcard from the mid-1920s of a scene near Pocatello, Idaho before the road was officially named U.S. Highway 30.; (map on right) Route of Horatio's journey, arriving in Soda Springs June 16, 1903. [6] They arrived in New York City on July 26, 1903, 63 days, 12 hours, and 30 minutes after commencing their journey in San Francisco, in the first automobile to successfully transit the North American continent. Horatio Nelson Jackson (March 25, 1872 January 14, 1955) was an American automobile pioneer. He'd Have to Get Under Get Out and Get Under (to Fix Up His Automobile), "The First Cross-Country Road Trip Took 2 Men and a Pitbull 63 Days", "Three Transports in with Men and Supplies", "Col. Jackson, Legion's Father in Vt., Is Dead", "Persons from Many Parts of Vt. to Attend Col. Jackson's Funeral", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Horatio_Nelson_Jackson&oldid=1135349527, Bertha Richardson Wells (m. 1899 d. 1954), first U.S. cross country trip by automobile, This page was last edited on 24 January 2023, at 03:30. Jackson is a "wealthy Vermont gentleman" who bet $3,000 on trip. If Im laughing, even at myself, then Im not crying, right? Have you ever wondered about the first cross-country road trip? It is displayed with reproductions of supplies and equipment that the men carried. Press Clipping from Horatio Nelson Jacksons road trip across America. Dr. H. Nelson Jackson and Sewall K. Crocker, his chauffeur, finished the first transcontinental automobile trip at half-past four o'clock yesterday morning. My darling Swipes,We expected our express on No. "I wanted paw and maw and my husband to see you," she said. Driving Directions to Omaha, NE including road conditions, live traffic updates, and reviews of local businesses along the way. 1st auto passed thru yesterday; came via Camas Prairie and Croy Gulch to Hailey, "hence to Bellevue and on to Blackfoot." Early life and medical career [ edit] As Burke and Richardson drove around the country, overcoming the challenges of rough roads and mechanical breakdowns, they showed that women could be at home in the masculine domain of machines. At Hailey, Idaho, Crocker wired the Winton Company for more parts. Jackson's bold adventure in a horseless carriage in many ways created the America we live in today, filled with a network of highways, thousands of motels, fast-food joints at every intersection and SUVs. Jackson had spent Horatio's Journey Marker marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. He purchased a 1903 Winton Long distance travel was done by train. "They were the visionaries and crackpots, which is sometimes the same person. It started with an animated chat and a $50 bet over drinks at the University Club in San Francisco 100 years ago and culminated in a bumpy cross- country car trip on rudimentary roads with a bicycle mechanic and a dog wearing goggles riding shotgun. In honor of its achievement it was decorated with tiny flags and draped with national standards. It was a fascinating story, full of experiences that I could totally relate to while at the same time it was an adventure I could hardly imagine. Following the railroad right-of-way seemed the best way to go as they headed out. Thanks! Documentary film maker Ken Burns produced a film, Horatio's Drive, for PBS. A map of Horatio's route and his 63-day itinerary The Gear After removing the backseat to make room for more gear, they packed the following items to begin the long journey: sleeping bags cooking gear rubber mackintoshes for themselves and the car (remember - no roof, no windshield!) PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Source: 'The Mad Doctor's Drive,' by Ralph Nading Hill; 'Winton 1903,' by Peter C. Kesling. About 15 miles (24km) from home his car once again broke down. Like Jackson, Ramsey and her three female passengers packed a block and tackle and used it often in the muddy Midwest. Basin & Range is the premier resource for living the Active Outdoor Western Lifestyle.
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