Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-07-07
WILD AUTOMOBILE RIDE
TOURING CAR DESCENDED AMEs
HILL At FEARFUL RATE.
Georqe M. Holbrook and Party from
Springfield, Mass, Occupants OF
Runaway Machine-Brakes Failed to
Work Properly.

N'~''N
A ride of a mile in an automobile is
seldom long enough to satisfy ones
craving for that kind of sport, yet
George NJ Holbrook OF Springfield,
Mass. and a party of three friends
from that city had their fill OF fast
riding Sunday afternoon in a Urine
less than that distance. II is nothing
short of miraculous that they are alive
to tell of the trip in view or the ract
that their automobile coasted from the
top to the bottom of Ames hill AT a
speed which must have far exceeded
the speed limit.
Mr. Holbrook and his friends. two
men and one woman, left his cottage
near the top of Ames hill in his Stew
ems -Duryea touring car intending to
run to their home in Springfield. Mass.
Mr. Holbrook started the car on It's
high speed, attempting when the high.
way was reached to retard the speed
suddenly by applying the emergency
brake. This brake. however. failed TO
hold for some reason or other and the
machine began its course down the
steep grade at fearful rate. Mr. Hoi-
brook tried to stop 1t by using his reg
ular foot brake but the friction was
so great that the brake was demol-
ished In no time, and 1t looked as II
the car and its occupants must GER
tainly come to grief. As the car con-
tinued down the hill its speed increased
until it was almost impossible for the
occupants to remain in 1t, and 1t Is
probable that those in the tQnneau
would have been thrown out had II
not been for the canopy top. As II
was they were thrown about violently
whenever a water bar was passed and
all received numerous bruises.
Mr.. Holbrook clung 10 the steering
wheel and kept the car as nearly as
possible in the center OF the high
way. expecting every moment that II
would be overturned and he and his
friends would meet with instant death.
During the descent two teams were
met and one narrowly escaped colli-
sion. 1t being impossible TO. turn the
car one way or another When w.
ID. Newton's place was reached Mr..
Holbrook managed to steer into the
yard and bring the machine to stand
still but when he started again the
car for the second time became un-
manageable and ran nearly to Frank
Richardson's farm before 1t was un-
der control.
The party reached II. R. Browns
were close to nervous prostration. Mr..
Holbrook told Mr.. Brown TO get some
body to run the car to Springfield, add !
ing that he and his friends had had
enough of automobiling to last them
the remainder of their natural lives
They went home on the afternoon ex-
press and Mr.. Brown and c. A. Har-
ris ran the car to Springfield that
evening
II Is said that the man who occupied
the front seat in the machine with Mf.
Holbrook stated that the speedomete'
registered So miles an hour during the
trip down Ames hill, but 1t is doubt
full that any of the party took notlce
of the meter during the descent The
speed, however must have been tefrit-
lie, for Mr.. Newton went over the road
soon afterward and found several
places where the car evidently hao
made jumps of over 10 feet. r. l.
Putnam was in one of the teams which
met the car on its downward course
and was barely able to get TO one
side of the road in time TO escape be-
ing run down. He said that the ca'
went by him so fast that ii looked llke
something with two horns and tal
rather than any earthly creation.
The car itself stood the ordeal muct
better than its occupants, showing ne
i'll effects except on one side Wher|
were several scratches as If II hat
smashed against something. Nothins
about the machinery seemed at al
strained and 1t ran perfectly on tht
return trip to Springfield, which Wa'
made in something over four hours.