The Detroit times., 1910-08-29
MAYOR HAD CLOSE
GALL IN NEW YORK
Pitched From Auto Going Down
Steep Hill-Home, But Declines
To Discuss Politics.

Mayor Breitmeyer, wearing his GUS
tomary radiant smile, returned nome
Monday morning from his 2,4O0-miie
motor trip through the east, accom-
panied by Mrs. Breitmeyer and Mr.
and Mrs. John Gillespie. In spite Of
his smiling countenance, however, the
mayor considers himself lucky 10 be
alive for he fiirted with death on the
celebrated Fort George hill, just out
of New York city.
1T is remarkably steep hill and
none of us knew how dangerous 1t was
until we had started down it and it
was then too late to go back" related
the mayor. Gillespie slowed down as
much as he could, but at that we were
going at pretty good clip. Nearing
the bottom We found that the road
took us over narrow railroad cross
ing with stone wall on one side and
high curb on the other, but imagine
our predicament when we found that
the way was blocked by an express
wagon and a team OF horses.
II said to myself, It's all up with
us now for | didn't see how theer
was possible chance to avoid a
smash. / figured that the tongue OF
the wagon would catch me squarely
in the pit of the stomach. so | pre-
pared to jump. Just as l raised my
self up in the seat John turned the
machine sharply to the right to run
1t on the sidewalk and | pitched out
headforemost. Fortunately l escaped
with a whole skin, but they say was
a sight when | picked myself up"
Gillespie's version Is even more
graphic.
"All at once | heard Mrs. Brett
meyer scream. Oh Philip Brett
meyer | looked around and the
mayors seat was empty. AS soon as
could bring the machine to stop |
looked back and there was the mayor
rolling down the hill like ball and
doing better than 20 miles an hour.
/ thought he would never stop rolling,
and IL would have been funny If the
danger had not been so great. II was
great relief when the mayor finally
picked himself up and came hobbling
over to the machine without anything
more serious than rip in his trous-
ers."
The machine was not damaged in
the slightest and the party was able
to proceed after the mayor had
cleaned up a bit The rest of the trip
was made without further incident.
The party learned afterwards that
this is the spot famous in automobile
circles and the scene Of many hill
climbing contests.
Mayor Breitmeyer was absolutely
mum on politics and the street car
problem. The mention of William II.
Thompson's name as his opponent for
the mayoralty brought only a smile.
mo politics today, boys" he said.
Give me chance to dream on these
matters first
The mayor. however, Is preparing
to launch vigorous campaign i'm
mediately after the primaries, using
the same car I'm which he took his
vacation tour. to cover the city. Water
Commissioner Gillespie. as usual, will
be his campaign manager.
Bota the mayor and Mr.. Gillespie
were greatly impressed with the ex-
cellent road conditions in the east and
the spirit everywhere apparent OF
civic cleanliness
I'm Massachusetts we found the fin
est roads In the world" said the
MAYOR. We found great stretches OF
road. 100 miles long in some instances,
that we're just AS smooth az asphalt
and not "a particle OF dust was raised
''In all the eastern cities there
seems to be a tendency to clean up
the streets and this was very crafty
ing I secured a great many pointers
on my trip which will help me in
hi milling the problems here as they
corle up. Altogether | think 1t was
the most enjoyable trip / have ever
foEan