Evening journal., 1913-09-23
STORM ENDS
PLEASURES OF
CANOE PARTY
Lost in Woods, Society Folks
are Feared as Bandits"
Until Story is Told
AT DINNER WHEN
RAIN ROUTS COMPANY

Winding its way slowly down the
Rockford road, the motor chugging |
and smoking under the strain, and
the rain dashing against the wind
shield a big automobile driven by
Frank Buck and containing Mrs. Mary |
i. Bullock and her daughter, Miss
place in the road about o'clock Sun
day evening. The storm seemed to
grow more severe as the big machine
came to the place. There was bright
fash Of lightning followed by a ter
rife clap of thunder, and as the party
stirred uneasiiy in their seats, the
bushes along the road parted and two
men suddenly jumped into the middle
Of the road and began to waive their
arms up and down. Their hair was
matted on their foreheads. One Of
them was without hat. Their clothes
we're wet and seemed to be tattered
and torn. The women in the car gave
an exclamation of fright.
"Highwaymen," said one; auto
bandits" gasped another Visions of
the car barn and other robberies pass
ed through their minds Mr.. Buck
quickly surveyed the scene and de-
cided with the women in the car to
take no chances. He stopped. The
men. with water pouring from their
clothes, little streams OF II running
down their faces. approached the car.
What do you want" was the fright
ened question asked them.
One man, who wore a pair of silver
trimmed glasses, through which he
could hardly see, had the presence Of
mind to gasp that the party were not
highwaymen.
We're not highwaymen, he gasp
ed We are with some girls on a ca
noe trip, and are lost. Can you tell
us where we can get to telephone,
so that We can have an automobile
come for US"
His explanation cleared things
considerably. The women in the car
stopped to catch the breath that had
almost left them when the men put in
appearance. About that time four
young women, their skirts clinging to
them, and presenting half drowned
appearance. came through the bushes
followed by two other young men
They were drenched 10 the skim their
clothes torn and their hair half down
their backs. The girls quickly clear
cd up the situation by telling how
they had been eating luncheon on
the banks OF the Brandywine, whe1
the storm came up, and they decided
20 60 through the woods until they
found a telephone. that they might cal
an automobile TO take them home
When going through the woods. dark
ness fell. and the party became lost
They did not know where they were.
Miss Bessie Dunham, Miss Eleanor
Pyle Miss Mary Biggs, Miss Con-
istance Moore. W. d. Bradford, Nell
son Leach, Coleman Johnson and
James Freeman, all of this city
formed the happy party that started
on the canoe trip from Chadd's Ford
down the Brandywine towards Will
mington early Sunday afternoon
The canoe had been shipped to the
Ford the night before Several o
the girls had prepared dainty lunches
and one had even brought a cake
from Philadelphia, for the occasion
Two Of the party Miss Pyle and Mel
son Leach we're having their first ex
periences as canoeists. II was
Jolly crowd and all was going we'll
the sun which earlier in the day hat
intimated that it might be hid behin'
clouds, was shining brightly Abou
four miles down the creek as even
ing came on and mist began to form
on the creek the party decided t
cat luncheon.
The canoes were run ashore and
fire started while the girls sprea
hemstitched tablecloths on the grount
Soon the place looked like brillian
dinner party The party began o
the meal unmindful Of the appoachin
clouds and the darkness that wa
stealing upon them. Suddenly a lin
of fire shot through the heavens fo
lowed by a terrific crash of thundei
that seemed to rent the sky, an
through the torn place flowed tn
rain in torrents.
The rain fell in torrents on the diner
Crash went another clap of thund
and the girls began to scream The bo,
pulled the canoes high upon the shor
In some way Miss Biggs fell into Il
water, the mud was much deeper thg
the water. which was not any wor
than the rain. Mr.. Freeman went to h
rescue and succeeded in getting her ol
Of the mud. Then the crowd start
Through the woods in search of farr
Continued on Page Ten.