Norwich bulletin., 1911-07-22
Journey to Manassas Made Over Flooded
Roads and Through Swollen Greeks
BRANDEGEE STRANDED IN A STREAM
Car Connecticut Senator Containing Party of States
men Passed as Presidents Auto Fords the Creek
Attempt to Ford Second Stream Unsuccessful
Party Forced to Return and Take Another Route.

Manassas, Va, July 21.-Mud-be-
spattered from a strenuous trip from
Washington by automobile over 1000
ed roads and swollen creeks, Presi-
dent Taft today faced an audience
made I'D in part of veterans who wore
the blue and the gray within a few
miles of the scene of the great con-
flict of the civil war and was ap-
pIauded and cheered when he made a
plea for international peace.
Arbitration Treaty with France.
The president said that general
arbitration treaty both with Great
Britain and France probably would be
signed within the next ten days. He
added that he hoped within the next
few days to announce that three other
great powers would enter into similar
agreements with the United States.
Rough Trip to Manassas.
President Taft reached Manassas
late this evening after a tempestuous
trip. 1t was so rough going that the
motor cars and returned to the cap
ital by train. Mr.. Taft laughingly
likened his troubles in getting to Bull
Run to those which some persons so
years ago experienced in getting away.
Taft's Strenuous Experience.
The presidents trip from Washing
ton to Manassas would have thrilled
tne nearl Oh a. moving picture eHlnuS-
last He left a trail of stranded au-
toAobiles in his wake, made risky
voyages across streams out of their
banks; stopped en- route to rescue
party of marooned senators, and de-
rnanded votes for reciprocity as a re-
ward; plowed his way through rain
storms and mud, and finally wheezed
into this historic little village at sun
down.
Autos in a Roaring Brook.
The car containing the secret serv-
fee men which started braveIy beside
the president as he left the White
house, held to the race gameIy uStil
within a few miles of the battlefield,
and then gave a despairing gasp and
stopped in the middle of what once
on a time was a peaceful brook, but
which had become today a muddy tor
rent.
A Shallow Point Found.
This stream had daunted the cour-
age of the presidents chauffeur, who
up to this time had successfully en-
compassed three or four fords. So the
secret service car was sent ahead to
test the depth of the water but the
effort to make the crossing failed. By
a detour the president managed to ne
gotiate the stream at a shallow point.
Senators Abandoned.
Several of the rescued senators
men after their automobile shipwreck
at an earlier ford, were left stranded
this time, with the declaration by the
president that they were lot of
"stand patters."
StenographG Also Left Behind.
One of the White house stenogra-
piers who had followed the president
from coast to coast and from Puget
sound to the gulf Of Mexico, likewise
was abandoned in midstream, and Mr.
Taft, for the first time since he be-
came the chief magistrate Of the ma
ton, spoke without Official record be-
ing made of his utterance.
Bright Skies When He Started.
When the presidents party started
kom Washington to attend the culmi-
nation exercises of the Manassas semi
centennial and peace jubilee, the sun
was shining brightly. He had not gone
far on his way. however, when the
storm clouds began to gather followed
by a deluge.
Senators Stalled in Midstream.
Five miles out of Fairfax the presi-
dents car mounted hill dipped
down into a valley and discovered a
pig touring car stalled In the middle
of a stream that in ordinary days is
two feet wide, but which today had
broadened into a hundred feet of yell