The Washington herald., 1910-08-28
THOUSANDS CHEER
MUNSEY TOURISTS
AT FINISH OF RUN
Scores of Capital Motorists Escort Returning
Automobiles Into City After Reception.
Fitting Tribute to Drivers Skill.

greatest automobile tours IN the history
Of the country. plloted their cars into
Washington yesterday afternoon to re-
ceive reception which was a fitting
tribute to the skill and courage necessary
throughout every mile Of the l'55O miles
OF the Munsey historic tour.
From the moment the tour started in
Philadelphia. August 9, the tourists have
been greeted with enthusiasm IN every
village. hamlet. and city. but the recep-
ton given the returning automobilists on
the outskirts OF washington was such
that every driver. observer, passenger.
and official was made to feel that the
Capital of the nation was his very own.
Scores Of automobiles. with every seat
occupied and every passenger enthusiast
ticany waving an American flag, went
out to Soldiers Home. the last checking
station Of the tour, and lined up in dou-
BILE column to form a court Of honor
through which the contestants passed TO
receive the homage which their fellow
Automobiles wished 10 offer them.
Met at Soldiers Home.
Although scores Of cars assembled in !
front OF the MuHs@y building at o'clock /
TO form the official escortfng party. |
large number OF cars went directly TO
the Soldiers Home and lined up at the
checking station. As the escorting party
whirled out Michigan avenue the bugiers
suddenly gave a fanfare OF welcome and
a cry OF Car coming" went up from
the waiting throng and automobihsts as
the EMF pilot car. with Lee Oldheld
at the wheel and Harry Ward. pilot Of
the tour. came up to the checking sta
ton in a cloud of dust-the first car TO
finish the 1,55O-mile run.
Close on the heels Of the EMF
came the Selden, the second pilot car.
with Jack Harrigan at the wheel. The
pacemaking Columbia, driven by Ray
Wilcox, was right on the heels Of the
pilots. anu Referee E L. Ferguson
scarcely had time to get out Of the ma
chine before he was called upon to check
in the stoddard-D Dayton, driven by Leo
Schabb. OF Baltimore. the first con-
testant to finish the run.
Then followed in rapid succession the
Mathewson. driven by D. A. Hall: the
Pierce-Racine. with Louis Suang at the
wheel; the Crawford. with A. A. Miller
alternating as driver with Walter Scott.
Greeted by Committee.
BY this time the Washington automo-
biHsts forming the escorting party had
lined up in Michigan avenue. and as the
contestants came in they were greeted by
the official reception committee, consist
ing OF Commissioner CunO II Rudolph,
Mai. Richard Sylvester William F.
GUIDE. president OF the Chamber Of Com
merce; Henry L. West, president Of the
Columbia Golf Club; w B. Duval. pres
ident Of the Washington Automobile
Club: John X. Heyl. secretary Of the
Automobile Club; F. c. Graham, presi-
dent Of the Commercial Club. and Arthur
Dodge. president OF the National Press
Club
While a number Of the contestants
came on from Baltimore at top speed in
an effort 90 have the honor Of finishing
first, the drivers of several Of the cars
with perfect scores did not care TO risk
penalties on the final dash by taking the
thank-ee-mums at full speed, and con-
sequently came along sticking closely to
their schedule
As each tourist hove into sight there
was a roar Of gabriel horns. trumpets
bugles, bells, &C When the little Brush
car was espied IN the distance Referee
Ferguson gave the word TO start down
town. The escorting party moved ahead
each car decorated with several big
American flags. the tourists bringing uI
the rear. From the gate OF the Soldiers
Home down to the Munsey Building there
we're lines Of people on either side Of
the street, wildly cheering the contes
tants.
Crowds Line Avenue.
AS the cars swung into Pennsylvania
avenue the demonstration reached IL
height. From the Peace Monument, a
the foot Of the Capitol. to the Munsel
Building there was solid line OF people
Mai. Sylvester had ordered a specia
squad OF police 70 keep traffic out Of tn
way and 10 assist Royce Hough, marsha
Of the parade As the first two cars il
the double columns reached the Munse,
Building a halt was called. The car
extended from Fourteenth street t
Tenth street, and through this lane o
cars and fiutterinE American flags tn
tourists drove. amid the cheers OF tn
assembled throng.
The party disbanded az the Munse
Building. and the tourists sped on up
Bartram's Garage. where Referee Fergr
son and his staff Of assistants put III
cars through the final tests.
Dinner in the Evening.
The Forty Cent Club" was the no
at tho final feature OF the run, dinn'
20 car owners ard drivers last night
the New Willard. More than $50 person
sat down at the dinner, with F. L Fe
guson, of New York, the official refere
as POSTMASTER
The members OF the club qualified {
the rolls OF the organization by CO
tributing 40 cents a day during the to-
toward having a good time at the end
H. II had been intended at first 20 ha
the Munsey banquet last night, at 4
New willard. but the Forty Cent Cit
had their invitations out first. so Z
more formal dinner viii be held to-nigf
The Forty Cent Club dinner was giv'
20 the owners and employees OF the Mu
sey papers. The Munsey banquet W
be rendered 70 those who entered ca
in the run. and the men who sat at q
wheels Of the entries.
Referee Ferguson made a brief but el
quent speech last night. declaring the
had never been a more congenial gat
ering Of knights OF the throttle and clut
than those who fooled their machin
over the 1900 miles OF the run just col
pleted He said the tour was the me
important held during the last three yea
and that the social features and capabili
Of the entries made It unique in the a
nails OF motoring.