Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-22
PACTS READY HAS STRENUOUS TRIP
President Tells of Treaty With President Rides Through Mud
Two Nations. and Rain to Manassas.
OTHERS EXPECTED TO SIGN FINALLY ARRIVES THERE
Theme Of Address Yesterday Blue Stopped by Creeks Swollen
and Gray Reunion Cloud Burst i
STRENUOUS MANASSAS PASSES BY BATTLEFIELD
Addresses
Visitors Of Fifty Ago. Fought in i
Rum.
President Rides Through Mud
and Rain to Manassas.
FINALLY ARRIVES THERE
Stopped by Creeks Swollen by
Cloud Burst.
PASSES BY THE BATTLEFIELD
Addresses Survivors of Those Who
Fought in First Contest
at Bull Run,

President Taft will never again go to
Manassas by automobile He had
enough yesterday afternoon to last for
some time. SO did four United States
senator's and dozen others who were
in the party on their trip to the battle
field of Bull Run and the Blue and Gray
reunion at Manassas. What happened
on that journey would fill a small
volume. In all the Presidents expert
ences in travelling over the world he
ever had anything to compare with that
of yesterday afternoon.
-Four automobiles left the White House
at 12:40 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The first contained the President, Sem
ator Martin and Representative Carlin
Of Virginia, Secretary Hilles and Maj.
A. w. Butt. The second contained three
secret service operators. The third had
aboard President Taft's favorite stenog-
rapher, Wendell W. Mischief; Gus j.
Karger and several White House at
taches, while the fourth had the staff
of newspaper reporters on duty at the
White House.
Stopping fifteen minutes at Falls Church
for luncheon with DIR. T. e. Quick, where
800 people assembled to greet the Presl-
dent, the party hurried on to FAIRFAX
Court House luncheon with State Senator
Thornton A thunderstorm was threaten
ed as the party left Falls Church. ana the
run to Fairfax was made in a dOWnpOur
of rain. At Fairfax the presidential pat
terry automobile was Joined by another
belonging to Senator Brandegee Of Con-
necticut. Actuated by patriotic and SEN
timental motives, Senator Brandegee de-
cided to convey to the battleheid TWO
noted senators who had taken part IN
vryh<, n al.
ested in the exercises. The veterans OF the
first Bull Run fight were Senator Bacon
of Georgia and Senator knute nelson OF
Minnesota. Senator Overman OF North
Carolina, too young to have peen IN the
civil war; went along with Senator Bran
degee to keep the veterans straight
Swollen Streams Encountered.
Mud and swollen streams greeted the
party as it started for Manassas over
the fifteen miles Of terrific roadway from
Fairfax to Manassas. 1t was the worst
stretch of road President Taft's big
steamer had ever encountered. and for
once the chauffeur was compelled to
travel at a most careful rate of speed.
The machines behind were barely able
to keep up, but the spirit Of keeping close
to the President actuated all the drivers.
The WarrentOn pike, as 1t is called, got
worse as the party proceeded. The storm
had gone ahead, developing Into cloud
burst proportions the farther 1t went
Streams everywhere We're filled with
muddy water and the road, when not COW
cred with rocks, resembled miniature hog
ponds. Five miles from Fairfax Court
House, on the pike, is peaceful little
stream known at Willow Spring branch.
1t is ordinarily three or four feet wide.
Then it was sixty feet and roaring with
it's torrent of muddy water. Maj. Butt
looked it over and concluded that 1t
should be investigated. Pulling off his
riding boots, he waded across, finding the
depth to be above his waist The Presi-
dent gave orders that the big White
House steamer should attempt to ford the
waters. The chauffeur pushed 1t and at
the deepest part his fires We're drenched.
He had sufficient steam to reach the other
side, though. The two other White House
cars also managed to get across, but in
the middle Of the stream the senatorial
party stuck.
Senators Taken Across.
President Taft refused to go on and
leave the senators. Looking back at the
sad face of Senator Knute Nelson. the
President called out: Your trouble,
knute, Is that you are standpatter
1T was sickly sort OF smile the
President received in return.
"You evidently have a wooden nutmeg
car" the President told Senator Brande-
gee. nTOuSn the courtesy ol d II liz
ian who happened along in a buggy the
bedraggled senator's were conveyed to
the other side of the stream and scat
tered among the automobiles that had
managed to cross. The newspaper car.
u small one. could not attempt to make
the stream. The reporters thought the
joke was upon them, as the three big
cars SKINNED up the hills and away.
''You fellers needn't worry. Them cars
won't git nOwhar." was the statement OF
a native who had come Zip in time to
witness some Of the events.
1.-TWO miles further on Willow Spring
run empt.es into Rocky run and there
amt no automobiles built that can cross
1t after this Storm he went ON.
President Has to Turn Back.
He was right, too. Arriving at the run,
two miles from Centerville. the presi-
Dental party found raging torrent.
The President said that he proposed to
get to Manassas or bust and that was
hint enough for the secret service car to
enter the stream as a pilot to ascertain
what the situation was. It didn't get far
before 1t stuck good and hard and
those in it had to do the strenuous to
get out.
That left two cars for party that had
filed four. The President took aboard
Senator Nelson, and the remaining car
took on part of the Others leaving half
the party standing in the muddy roads
Inquiry revealed that by going back four
or five miles crosS-cOuntry road would
lead into another road that would reach
Manassas The President gave orders to
return and make for the other pike. When
the first creek, Willow Spring. was reach
ed, there was Brandegee trying to pull
his machine out with the team OF a near
by farmer.
''The next time I come into Virginia..
he told the President. II am going to
have an automobile with a pontoon at
tachment."
The Presidents car crossed tho stream.
still badly swollen, while the remaining
automobile, in attempt ng to make the
crossing. went deep into the rocks and
water and remained. leaving the Presi-
dents car and the little newspaper car
the only survivors Of the party. These
two managed, after a terrific run over
bad roads to reach Manassas about $50
O'Clock.
On the way there, however many
teams were passed. They became fright
ened at the automobiles. and Represent
ative Carlin and Maj Butt. in his bare
feet, alighted and led the maddened
horses past Maj. Butts socks orna-
mented the wind shield of the Presidents
car, and they were not dry when the
Presidents noted aid put them on so as
tn go into Manassas with his boots on.
Passes by Battlefield.
The President had intended to stop at
the battlefield Of Bull Run. six miles out
from Manassas. but no was an hour and
a half late in arriving, and went direct to
the sneakers stand in the town, where he
made a brief address
St1-x