GREAT MOTOR DASH FROM CAIRO TO CAPETOWN

Shannon News, 30 November 1928, Page 4

GREAT MOTOR DASH FROM CAIRO TO CAPETOWN

6000-MILE BUN IN 40 DAYS. The epic speed dash of Gerry Bouwer, the intrepid South African motorist, from Cairo to Capetown by car has been compared, in the risks taken, the endurance of the human element, and the skill and determination of Mr Bouwer himself, with the, famous ex-

ploit of Colonel LindbeTgh. When Mr Bouwer set himself to per-fc-im this 8,000-mile run in 40 days ; ‘ few thought he could succeed and many feared, that he had underestimated the hazards of the enterprise. The dan-

gers from fever, bush fires, hostile tribes and wild animals had all to be .faced and, in addition, there was the ’peril of tearing at a high speed through ■what was ofteu virgin bush and swamp and across badly-built, improf. . vised bridges and treacherous drifts. The outward journey to the Cape was made at a comparatively leisurely pace and was deliberately, planned, to challenge the difficulties iof driving through Central Africa in the rainy season, and to plan out the course of the great African highway of the futv.ro. England was reached without mishap, the hundreds of miles of rainsodden country being negotiated with

• steady perseverance. Occasionally ,and particularly between Mongalla and Khartum, the ex- . pedition found it necessary to abandon the road for the river, but this was

only done when it "was found to be utterly impossible for any road vehicle to make progress without, continuous assistance in the shape of gangs of native labour. Wife Joins Her Husband. From the first Mr Bouwer decided to make the .return journey a speedy dash and .after the announcement of his departure from London his progress was followed with, considerable interest by

the whole of the African Continent. A touch, of romance was imparted to the effort by the cryptic statement that Mr Bouwer had- , discovered a stowaway “on board'’' shortly after leaving Cairo. The, stowaway turned out to ba his wife, to whom he had said goodbye, in Paris,, but who had flown to Cairo in order to accompany her hus- , band on this dangerous dash down the , African ..continent. - Bftsh; fir.es and lions were encountered near the equator; and, driving sometimes .16 hours a day, Mr a'nd Mrs. Bouwer. arrived at Johannesburg. Mr . Bouwer was then in an exhausted condition. He had them 39 hours left to r<}ach Capetown, 1000 miles away, and Me pluckily attempted to go right on without taking any rest. At Potchefstroom, however, he collapsed at the wheel and some hours elapsed before Le was strong enough to continue the journey. Once on the road again Mr Bouwer

made a big-hearted final effort, and . tearing through the Free State and the Cape Province at a .speed which some- ' times k reached 75 miles an hour, he eventually reached Capetown only an hour and a-half behind his scheduled time. A, crowd of many thousands wore there to greet him, and a civic reception, at which the Administrator, Mr Fourie spoke, had been arranged in his honour. *

Descendants of Old Voortrekkers. “I speak on behalf of the whole Cape, Province in extending the most cordial welcome to Mr and Mrs. Bouwer on the safe return to their home,” said Mr. Fourie. “They have completed, a feat which most of us considered impossible. Determination and dogged 'will-power made them finish ,> what they , set out to do. Ido not know what, better assistance Gerry Bouwer could have had than the help of his : little wife. Certainly he would never-have arrived so near to .time without her. She, like Gerry, is a descendant of the old voortrekkers, who dared to do anything and always accomplished what they set out to do. I am glad to see the spirit of the voortrekkers alive in'the present generation. We have had many famous rides, but .this will go down to history as one of the most famous in Africa.” Mr Bouwer, who looked completely worn out, said that he would never do the -trip 1 again, and would never have succeeded this time without the en-

couragement and help of his wife. “In two or three years' time,” he said ' “you will be able to go through Central Afriea-f-a wonderful country. The groat North Bond will be open and you will be able to visit the Great Lakes and the Mountains of the Moon by car without any discomfort.”