The Washington times., 1911-07-22

one yesterday to Manassas thI ough mud
and swollen streams and driving rain
was the most picturesque OF the lot.
The Presidential party left the White
House in high spirits. The sun shone
splendidly, the banners waved, the pho
tographers snapped their machines
gayly, the usual crowd clapped their
hands, the chauffeurs threw open their
throttles-if automobiles have throttles
and all were of.
That was at 1890. At l o'clock the
distinguished tourists turned the
crest Of Arlington Heights and just
beyond. a mile or so. about the most
threatening storm anybody in the
crowd had ever seen hove in view.
There was a quick order to detrain.
And the President. Secretary Hilles,
and their guests detrained. Hoods
were put UP. storm shields adjusted
and by the time the downpour came
the fast Presidential car dashed ahead
once more.
This was all very merry and fine-for
time. The storm was practically out
side the car. the car still moved, 80
why worry? But this Joy could not
last. 1t was too good to be true.
Heroism of Major Butt.
Just beyond Fairfax the Presidential
automobile came to q little stream,
now out OF banks and a raging tor
rent. To drive in meant perhaps that
the engines would stop. Not to drive
in meant getting nowhere. And here
Is where Major Archie Butt became
a hero.
Taking or his boots but not his socks.
the major waded into the stream to
see how deep II was. And he found
out. 1t was just waist deep. From the
car his travelling companions waved
cheerily to the major, and cried: "On,
On" With his information the major
returned to the car, and the undaunted
White House chauffeur plunged in.
This was simply the first adventure
of the party in the overland trip There
were others, scores of them. There
were more streams to cross and some
that had to be detoured. At one of these
places the President found a party OF
Senators in Senator Brandegee's car,
marooned in the middle Of stream.
Senators Rescued.
How long the Senators had been there
they would not say. All they would
vouchsafe was that they wanted to get
out. The President, as commander-in-
chief. ordered the bigger White House
car to mid-stream that 1t might pick up
| the survivors. Senator Nelson was TAX
en- Into the car with the Executive, but
the rest Of the statesmen were left be-
| hind to get seats in tha cars Of the
| Secret Service men.
One of these Secret Service cars was
left. up TO its lights, in a creek just
| this side of Manassas. These intrepid
| motorists didn't mind a little water.
| No. not they. And they dashed into the
boiling and fussing little river with
great show of bravery. First their
wind-shield. Then the water came a
little higher and their pants began to
| dampen. From that time II was all
over. They simply dived out, waded.
and swan ashore.
Cars Returned Here.
In the wake of the three Presiden-
! tial cars was one filled with news
paper men. This car left the White
House with a great show OF speed and
pep" But It had not reached Twen-
ty-first street before II broke down.
Another car was ordered for the
| writer's and with II they got nearly
out of the city. Then 1t went to
pieces. The third car managed to
few hours behind the President.
Today the dead automobiles came
| snorting into town one by one. First
came the Secret Service car. 1t had
|
night. Then Senator Brandegee's car
was rescued and later still the news
paper cars were sighted limping into
port.
Treaty With France.
After the trip to Manassas was COM
pleted, President Taft, arriving two
hours late and somewhat travel stained,
found great pleasure in announcing to an
audience Of 200 people that France and
the United States will sign an arbitra-
ton treaty within ten days similar to the
treaty between England and the United
States. The President gave hint that
three other important nations are to
enter similar reciprocal agreements to
arbitrate disputes.
| The Presidents announcement, most
appropriate at a peace jubilee. was re-
ceived with cheers by the veterans and
others present
II want all you veterans" said the
President, ito support the Administra-
ton in its efforts to secure peace the
world bver. / have a right to ask this.
for who is in a better position to ap-
nreciate the value Of peace than those
who have been through the inferno of
war. No nation so values peace as that
| WnlCn mas SIOOQ the lcSl VI COuilCI.
Governor Speaks.
Governor Mann of Virginia intro
duced the President after he had made
a short address of his own. The gov
ernor extolled Virginia saying:
"The soldiers of the South after the
war took nothing to their homes, but
the horses allowed them by the mag
nanimity Of General Grant. With these
horses, Virginians began to reclaim
the land that war had laid in waste
1t is easy to see what strides the
South has made since the war. One
sixth of the wealth Of the nation lies
in the South and prosperity and
wealth and enlightenment along ali
lines have come to US.
To-day we commemorate a battle
of the Blue and the Gray; commemor.
ate 1t with a renewal of friendship
and an eradication of the prejudice.
: that have existed. The discord anC
: |