The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-18
AN EvENTFUL TRIP
Congressman HefIln Escorted
Over SpotsyIvania BattIefields.
SOME OF THE INCIDENTS, ETC.


gresham j. Thomas Heflin, Of Ala
bama. over the Spotsylvania battle
fields from Fredericksburg Friday ar
ternoon had royal time, notwith-
standing a few miscalculations and
some mishaps.
Two o'clock had been set for the
time of starting. but Is was nearly
three when the party composed Of
Congressman lIeflin and Mr.. Mullins
his secretary; Prof T.. II. Russell.
Prof. j. p. Neff Prof 4. h. Chand-
Ter. Jr.. Messrs. Ice j. Graves, Henry
Warden. COL T.. ID. Cole Isaac llirsh
W. d. Scott and \. T.. Rowe started
on the trip in two automobiles one
owned by Mr.. Graves and the other
by Mr.. Warden. which had been
kindly rendered for the trip.
All went smoothly. happily and
well for a time Arriving al Spot
sylvania G. II. after a delightful ride
over the new road, brief stop was
made to enable Congressman Helm
To visit the courthouse. see some Of
the old records and inspect The His
toric Hotel.
Among the records inspected wcr"
those showing that while George
Washington. then 10 years Old, was
bathing in the Rappahannock river
his clothes were stolen from the
bank by a woman. whose name was
Mary Daniel The latter was tried
by JusticeWaller for the offonso and
it was ordered that she be given -
lashes on her naked back.
Goodbycs were finally said TO
Clerk y. A. Harris. Mrs Harris.
Commonwcalth'sAttorncy T Stokclcy
Coloman.T. \. Harris. Jr.. Mr. II. 4.
Garner. proprietor OF Historic Hotel.
and others who extended every pos
sibic courtesy 10 the visitors and
the automobiles were pointed to-
ward Bloody Angle.
Bloody Angle is not on the main
road II is back in the woods and
reached by a rough. narrow road.
The first delay occurred in these
woods Owing TO the number Of
siderOads and the fact that only
few of the party were familiar with
the neighborhOOd. the wrong read was
taken. but the mistake was soon dis
covered and rectified. Arriving at
Bloody Angle the entire party visit
ed the monuments, looked over the
grounds and went TO the residence
of Mr. Edward Landram. who cXhib-
tied number OF war relies and
was persuaded to part with some
of them. Considerable time was
spent at this point. and through tho
thOughtfulncss OF Prof Ncff picnic
feature was enjoyed \ big freezer
of icecrcam was hauled out from un
der the scat of one OF the au-
tomObilcs with cake and numborlcss
bottles of ice cold gingeralc This
covered the fun list OF articles sCrv-
ed. This is mentioned for the ben
eft OF a few who might assume
that the delay in returning TO Fred
ericksburg WAS possibly caused 10y
over indulgence in other refresh
mcnts.
Carrying out the original inicn-
tiOns Of the party. the automobiles
when they LEFT Bloody Anglo We're
started toward the Wilderness. Just
before the start was made from this
point Congressman Helm changed
automobiles so that the entire party
would enjoy the pleasure OF his com
pany on portions of the trip. The
ride through the woods by Brock
road station TO the Plank Road
vas enjoyodby every member OF tho
party Tho road was good. the pace
fast and the atmosphere pure and
cool
All realized that 10 was getting
late and that no time could be- lost
il Congressman Helm was To meet
his appointment TO speak a. the
courthouse az night. but all wanted
TO stop few minutes az the Jack
son monument
When the Plank Road was reach
ed The biggest mistake Of the evening
was made when Mr. Graves auto
mobile I'm the lead turned 10 the left
instead o. TO the right Not until
several miles had been Travelled and
some OF the natives were met up
with was IL discovered that tho
autos were hOnking towards Orange
C.. II instead OF in the direction Of
Fredericksburg. The turn-about was
quickly made and the machines made
AS rapid progress as rough places
in the road would admit Jackson s
monument was finally reached. a
short stop made and it was thought
that a quick trip could be made
from there TO Fredericksburg.
Mr.. Graves machine started out
and he and his companions were i'm
such hurry that they never thought
TO look back to see If the other mem
bers Of the party in the second au-
tomobile were keeping up the pace
Notwithstanding that all realized
the delay and inconvenience Of the
people who had gathered AT the
courthouse at Fredericksburg await
ing the arrival OF Congressman llef-
lin and that Congressman Helm
would miss his train that night and
would not even have time TO get his
supper. the best was made OF the
situation and those in the autOmO-
bile with Congressman Helm could
not have enjoyed more the splendid
jokes he told under any other cir
lcumstances He told not only many
from his own great fund Of stories,
but many Of former Congressman
John Aliens and Senator Bob Tay-
| lor's and others of the wits and hui
morists OF Congress. as well as a
number of Southern stories Prof
/ A. b. Chandler. Jr.. who is also one
OF the best OF story tellers. did his
full duty in adding to the pleasure
Of the party by relating n number
OF splendid anecdotes
While climbing a hill about one
mile from Fredericksburg. Mr.. War
lden'g machine. which contained the
larger portion of the party and In
which Congressman Helm was seat
ed. stopped. Mr.. Warden exhausted
himself trying to crank IT and sew
eral others took a turn, but like all
cranks this one was obstinate and
the machine could not be made tc
move. A horse and buggy was Sc
cured nearby from Mr. Solan Taylor
the mail carrier, and Prof. Neil
hurried to the city with Congress
man Heflin. They went to Hote
Frederick, where Congressman Hef
lin donned a white duck suit at tho
same time eating n sandwich and
then hurried to the courthouse II
Mr.. Graves auto.
Prof. Russell and Col. Cole, viii
Mr.. Mullins, had gone ahead with MI
Graves in his automobile. Prof
Neff and Congressman Helm reach
- .e.,,.,, ,,,ftb borca and huqpv Mr.