The Sentinel=record., 1911-07-22


 citor General Lehman. Senator Brandegee of Connecticut, owner of the car. had abandoned his friends in mid stream and gone ahead to secure the services of a horse or two to pull them out.
 Major A. W. Butt, the presidents personal aide, took one look at the |stream and another at his shining yellow boots. Then the boots came orr and the major was in the torrent up to his waist. He secuted right and left and finally waded across land back.
 We can get across" said he as he came back to the waiting White House car, 'bedraggIed, but happy. The president raised his hat in Idignified fashion.
 Thank you, major, he said. Get lin and we'll try it." As he passed
 Senator Brandegee's machine the president gravely saluted.
 How do you do, senators?v ne |sald.
 The two machines that had started from Washington with the president made the ford in short order.
 On the further bank they stopped. Passing carriages were called into service and those maroened were lightered to shore.
 Senator Nelson was taken into the presidhnes car. He took glances lat his colleagues. sat back comfort |ably, took fresh chew of tobacco land was prepared for the worst. Two miles further the scene was repeat ed. This time the attempt at ford ing failed miserably, in spite of Ma jor Butts gallant efforts to firyl a crossing. One of tine presidential cars was sent ahead manned by Secret Service men only. It died in the channel and the Secret Service men waded back to shore Major Butt wet to the armpits, came back disconsolate to meet the presidential salute. At this cross ing few neighborhood farmers with their wives had gathered, checked ai- so in their efforts to get to Maanas- sas. They looked at the president in awe and the major in amusement. Hasn't he got handsome feet" said one as he gazed at the unshod feet lof the presidential aide.
 Back over the same road they had ljust travelled the White House car now containing another senator trav- Ieled with care. Behind 1t came a second car loaded with more sena- tors and Secret Service men. At the ford they had crossed short time before they had to resort once lagain to horse aud carriage but once Iacross they got into the machines lagain and by another road sought the battlefield. Major Butt, wet to the Isxin, hung his socks on the wind shield of the presidents car. At times he was forced to quit the car Ito quiet frightened horses, for the law of Virginia requires an automct lbilist to perform this duty and the president would obey it. Represen- ltative Caran of Virginia, who start e6 with the president, alternated with the major in calming horses and try | ing to look happy.
 When the president finally chug- lged into Manassas, Senator Martin and Nelson, Representative Cariin, Secretary Hilles and Major Butt with his boots on again-were the only survivors. The rest We're some where in the disastrous rear-stuck in the Virginia roads or the virginis creeks.
 President Taft was introduced by Governor Mann. When the crowu had stopped cheering the president laughing glanced down at his be spattered clothes and said:
 Tt is a great pleasure for me so be here today. We ordinarily do not enjoy those things we get without effort and 1t has been some effort for me to get here today. We came down very slowly, bringing senators and representatives. We came down much more slowly than some of the senators and representatives who came down here fifty years ago and then went back to Washington. The president referred with fee1lg to the loss of life and suffering dur ling the Civil war and declared he ldeplored armed strife and wished it could be abolished.
 Saying that men who have been to war know what it is and want no more of it, the president added: Therefore, I look to you veterans of the Civil war to aid in the move ment for peace. am glad to an- nounce here today that as England has agreed to enter into an arbitra- ltion treaty with the United States, I. ~..ctt