Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-10-04
THE AUTO-TERROR.
nay WITH ONE on HANCOCK
COUNTY ROADS.
,vu.v1oR OF HORSES MET ~ FIFTY
,rur RuN-HoRsEs IN MANY CASES
LESS EXCITED THAN DRIVER.

country 0ltNI3ttE Va iiaHtNNk COUNTY
- much disturbed just at present over
.se advent Of the ''suto-terrorn. After a
-, on the country roads of Hancock
unity in an auto, the writer is bound to
s.y-snd he begs the reader to believe
Nm absolutely impartial in so saying
,hot as far as this day on the road in
s;csted. the auto-terror is more imaginary
Than real: more disease of the man be-
hind the horse than an epithet appropri-
ate to the auto.
This trip was made by a representative
~ TaE AMERICAN for the express pur-
r.se of noting Just how horses which met
The auto acted, and with no intention Of
entering into the discussion OF the "ter-
mr.. record was kept OF each team
met and the result is given below.
The trip was one OF some fifty miles.
aver good roads and bad roads, wide roads
and narrow roads, in the towns OF Els
worth. surry, Bluehiil, Sedgwick, Brooks
vile and penobscot.
The auto was that of b. T. sowle, about
which most OF the auto-terror tempest in
this section ecnters. Ex-Sheriff l.. f.
Hooper completed the party.
No record was made OF the many horses
passed on Main street, Ellsworth. These
horses are familiar with the auto, and to
include them in the list would not afford
a fair comparison. The record begins at
the top OF Bridge hill, the beginning of
the surry road. The teams met or passed
are given in order.
No. double team met, driver stopped
horses and auto passed. Horses SHE'D
slightly.
No. double team met; passed with
out stopping; horses undisturbed.
No. 3-Single team met; quiet.
No. g. Single team, met; ladies driving;
suto stopped, horse driven by without
difficulty.
Nos. and g. Single team and double
team passed; horses unconcerned.
Nc Single team met; horse SHE'D
slightly.
Nc s. Single team passed; quiet.
No g. Double team met; driver held up
hand to stop auto, and then drove out OF
road short distance. Horses eyed auto
curiously, but did not show fright,
No. 10 Double team passed at good
speed horses unconcerned.
No. ll-Single team met; driven past
without trouble.
No. IL Colt met ON long hill into Blue
hill village. The auto came upon this
horse rather suddenly after passing an
other team. Horse backed, and driver
turned him down hill and into q field;
quickly controlled. This was the narrow
est escape from accident on the trip.
No. i3-Double team passed. horses I'M
concerned.
No. 14-ln Bluehill village, after dinner,
W. /. Partridge had his colt out Tor a look
at the auto. Spirited horse, but acted
quiet, and followed auto short distance out
of village.
No. l5-on Biuehill Falls road, met sim
gle team. Auto stopped; horse led gradu-
ally up 10 IL, and smelied it over. Owner
said it was first time the horse ever saw an
auto, and was glad he met il. After first
curiosity, horse stood perfectly quiet be-
side auto.
No. 10 Horse and cart met; auto
stopped, horse led by without difficulty.
No. lion Sedgwick road, met man who
showed evident excitement; grabbed whip
and started to force horse by the auto.
Stopped by Mr.. Sowle, and horse led
gradually up to and past the machine.
Horse less excited than driver.
Nos. IS and 49, In front OF North Sedg-
wick grange store, two single teams were
standing as auto passed and turned corner.
Driver of one covered horses head with
blanket. Man stood at head of other,
which showed but little uneasiness.
No. D-Short distance beyond grange
store, on Penobscot road, met woman
alone driving. She jumped from wagon
as soon as she saw auto and before IL was
near her. Auto stopped at once and Mr..
Hooper went to assistance of the lady, who
insisted on turning and driving back to
another road up which she drove but
short distance. Horse did not look around
as auto passed.
No. 2l-Austin Dority met with young
morse which had never seen auto. Led to
machine, smelled it over and passed
quietly.
No. 2-single team met. Horse held
while auto ran by; little frightened.
Nos. % and 2i--Two single teams, led to
and by machine quietly.
No. 25-At turn into North Brooksville
road, met an Ellsworth horse, which was
excited, but was led by without difficulty
and was quiet as soon as the machine was
passed
No. a-Frank Gray, OF North Brooks
vile, was next man met. His comment as
ne drove by is noteworthy as coming from
the horse side of the suto-terror argu-
ment. Asked if horse was frightened, he
replied: ''Guess not; If a horse is afraid
OF one of those things, he ought to be
killed.
During stop of an hour near Durgain's
inlI, North Brooksville, with engine of
the auto not running, half dozen teams
passed, horses showing little or no curios-