The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-03-28
Diary Of an Amateur Autoist.


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Diary of an Amateur AutOist.
Several new automobiles have been
purchased by residents cf this vlcin-
| ty; judging by the frantic efforts
to control them as we'll as Ethe lively
sprinting on the part Of pedestrians
J to escape death or accident, the exper
, fence of an amateur "autoist'' in
nelghboring city is on a par with
those Of several who are learning in
Morristown. THE amateur kept
diary Of his first week, with the ex-
ception Of the last day. This was
supplemented by the House. Physician
of the hospital to which he was taken
and where he will in all probability
remain until the June roses bloom;
Monday-Had my new auto out
today. She's beauty. Everybody
looked around as I passed. Took
Briggs along to watch things. I'll
get the requisite amount of nerve all
right after a day or two. Took it easy
today. Had little difficulty with
motorman, who persisted in running
his motor just where my auto wanted
to go. Motorman swore. l grinned.
Then he swore lot more
Tuesday Went out alone today.
Briggs was going with me, but ]
slipped away without him-wanted to
test my nerve. Ran slowly and hug
ged the curb. Gave one milkman
palpitation of the heart by crossing
his path suddenly. Guess he must
have been asleep. He wanted me to
come back and fight him, but /
couldn't have stopped just then if /
had wanted to- Got out to the park
finally and tried to enter. The en-
trance must be all of 100 feet wide,
butEit seemed good deal too narrow.
Got in after while by running up
on the lawn. IA sparrow cop saw me
and came over and asked me what |
meant by it. I said meant to back
off. I backed off so suddenly that ]
nearly knocked the cop galley west.
This disturbed me SO that threw the
thing over the wrong way and at once
whirled about and started out of the
park full tilt. She ran half mile
before could stop her. But / got
home all right.
Wednesday Beginning to like it.
Can t see very well: through my eye
protectors, sbut, of course, it's the
proper thing to wear 'em. A fire
engine was working in the avenue as
I passed up today. didn't know
how the auto would behave. Don't
think she had ever seen fire engine
before. We got by beautifully. how
ever. Put on little more speed as
we passed and almost ran over a
nurse girl and a baby carriage. She
was black nurse girl, but she
turned pale at the danger. Nurse girls
should be compelled by ordinance to
stay on the sidewalks. Rode out as
far as Maud's and then made a beau
tiful turn and rode back. Hope Maud
saw me-
/ Thursday Am acquiring more
nerve. Out loose several times today.
Caused grocer's horse to run away
and iuggernauted dog. Got into a
ditch and had deuce of time getting
out. There is good deal yet to learn
about this fractions steed. Met Charlie
Gage with his flyer. We had lively
brush. It ended by my providing
Charley into hedge where he stuck
fast. had to tow his machine back
into the highway. Am getting more
and more fascinated with the sport.
Friday--Great day. Went further
and Erode faster. Dodged two village
constables and butted over police
man. Ran down six chickens and
chased a strange COW for two miles
man came out and shot at me for
knocking down his calf. Missed. Heard
him swearing dreadfully. Looked
beck End saw that he was vigorously
rubbing hissshoulder. Guess the old
gun must have kicked. Nearly
knocked the tollgate house into kind
ling wood. Went by Maud's home
like a small whirlwind.I Machine
was so anxious to show off that.it ran
away. Maud couldn't have known
me from gray streak. Went around
side streets so as to escape the unwel-
come attention of any policeman who
might be looking for me and finally
reached home in safety.
Saturday-(Note: "The owner of
this automobiling diary was brought
into the hospital today suffering from
the too violent descent of a hill.
coupled with an abrupt stop at the
bottom. He has fractured nose, a
lacerated ear. three scalp wounds, six
assorted COMMISSIONS, seventeen widely
scattered bruises and twenty nine
classified abrasions. He will be lucky
if he leaves the hospital in less than
six weeks.
Fair Outlook for Fruit.