The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-23
VETERANS ENJOY
AUTOMOBILE RIDE
More Than Hundred Soldiers
Home Inmates Tour the
City.
FIRST JOY RIDE FOR MANY
Wartime Scenes Pointed Out
to Men Who Face Setting
Sun.

Seeing the sights of the city which
half century ago they had helped
TO defend against invasion. more than
hundred veterans of the War Be-
tween the States now inmates of the
soldiers Home. traversed Richmond
Yesterday afternoon in automobiles
furnished them for the little Joy ride
by number of young men of the
city.
II was the first 10y ride" of the sort
ever seen In Richmond, and 1t was
the initial ride many of the aged SOL
ulers had ever taken in an automobile,
ana the first time many of them had
ever really seen the city which was
once the capital OF the new republic
they fought to establish.
The automobilists called for them
at the home First they had a pho
tosraph taken on the home lawn. and
to the Lee Monument. There beneath
the statue erected in memory OF the
man they once followed, these grizzled
veterans posed for another photograph.
the last in which many of them will
appear. Some of them were so old and
feeble that they had to be aided to
positions beneath the famous memo
rial. They took off their hats. and.
with barred heads. took position on
the south side of the monument,
facing a dimming sun and a couple
for the man whose marble figure and
record is all they have. beside their
own memories, to remind them OF tho
past and the Lost Cause.
Route of Trip.
After the photograph WAS taken
the grizzled soldiers all In full dress
unifosm, embarked again in the new
fashioned means of locomotion. and
proceeded on their sightseeing tour.
From Lee Monument the party pro-
ceeded TO Fifth and franklin Streets.
and thence through the Capitol
grounds.
A turn was taken through the
square. and thence the old soldiers
went to Twelfth Street. down Mar
shall Street and across the viaduct Of
the Richmond and Henrico Railway
Company. The railway company
charged no toll for the soldiers. They
were allowed to cross without fee.
From the viaduct, the party circled
around Church Hi and went through
Chimborazo and libby Hill Parks. Tho
machines were uriven slowly. and the
veterans had ample opportunity to see
again the sights which some of Thorn
saw for the first time so many years
ago. But 1t was new to them. and
old places, where ,I~w new buildings
stand, had to be pointed out to them.
From Libby Hill Park the procession
proceeded down to Main Street, thence
to Grace and thence to franklin Street
From Franklin street the old tourists
went up Monument Avenue and tho
Boulevard and around Byrd Park and
thence back to the Soldiers Home
All Grateful.
AS they disembarked from the auto
mobiles. each old soldier expressed HIS
gratitude for the little ride. and the
owners of the cars. in turn. said they
hoped to take them out again next
year. Every man of them was dressed
In his best. and each carried a minia-
ture Confederate flag.
On the return trip. when the people
OF the city had learned that the an
Client defenders were riding again
through the city. crowds lined the side
walks and waved to them as they
passed. 1t was but a small tribute.
but the veterans appreciated 1t as if
it had been a measure OF gold to each.
The little trip was originated by W.
F. Gordon. who had no trouble in hav-
ing other automobile owners volunteer
their sirvices and their cars. There
were twenty-th three cars, and all were
filled.
Those Who Helped.
Those who loaned their cars for the
occasion and for the last ride. as IL
had been their first. VIII ch some of
the veterans Will ever take, follow:
r. B. Airport. E. II. Montague, Edgar
Taylor, Fritz Sitterding. j. A. Briggs.
Colonel John Murphy. Malcolm Bruce,
Edgar Ferguson, E. Rand. Williams.
Rufus c. Williams, j. r. Paschall.
Thomas Gresham. John B. Swartwout.
Vivian Farrar. John 4. Wilson, Luther
II. Jenkins w. +. Jenkins, w. F. Cor
don, John W. Harrison. Gordon Motor
Company. Foster Motor Car Company,
Jones Motor Car Company. B. A. Blen-
ner.
Blues Band to Give Smoker.
lnvitations are being sent out to a smoks,