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Old Pacific (continued)

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(left) Old Pacific in the Sierra's, June 1903. Wagon and horse drivers often despised early motorists and would try to force or block them from the road. Marius Krarup did comment that the horses of Nevada take more kindly to the automobile than those of eastern states (right) Tom Fetch on "Old Pacific" Tom Fetch Collection

Packard began planning for their transcontinental trip in the spring of 1903. They chose Tom Fetch, a factory superintendent to pilot the car. Marius Krarup (kra-roop), an editor for the fledgling The Automobile magazine was asked to meet the car at railroad stops to report and take pictures of the event along the way. Originally a guide was hired to accompany Fetch to navigate the unmapped trails of the West, but upon the start in San Francisco Krarup replaced him as Fetch's riding companion and experienced the entire journey first hand. It is unclear whether the guide failed to show up or was fired by Packard to make room for Krarup. The unsatisfied guide filed suit in Utah which caused several days delay when they reached Salt Lake and the car was impounded until a bond was posted. Packard's endeavor was to be more than simply a transcontinental crossing, it was to be a severe test for the machine to publicize that a Packard could go anywhere (and paranthetically where a Winton had not). The advertising which Packard placed while the attempt was underway (and before success was assured) was "carrying a message to Garcia" - a reference to a popular essay about a soldier shouldering the most difficult task with competance and no complaint. The route chosen for Old Pacific detoured to find the highest mountain passes and difficult desert sand. In the midst of their planning, however, fate dealt a wild card: An unknown doctor from Vermont, Horatio Nelson Jackson lit out from San Francisco in a 4 month old Winton with the intent to be the first to cross the continent.

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