Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-28
~ MOTOR TRIP TO CITY PoINT.
Encounters Violent Thunderstorm,

l have had quite an interesting
experience recently. l lei. Richmond
at 4:3O p. M, Saturday, July ID,
1917 for CityPoint Va, via Peters
burg. l sat in a Ford car with
Robinson Davis at the wheel. With
me were DR.. E. II jefferson,
Col. Il. NJ. Crump and DR.. A. A. Ten
nant. Owing to the speed limit rules
and regulations of Virginia | am UNI
aplo 10 infinitely describe the trip.
Suffice 1t to say that it took lust
one hour to make the trip to Peters
burg III about fifty minutes from the
limits Of Richmond to the limits of
petersburg. l learned afterward tina.
chaulieur Davis had significantly an
nounced that he just wanted ito see
inc pike BY that HE meant the
petersburg Pike. We knew what he
meant when he got OH the pike. We
wended our way to Funeral Director
j. M. Wilkerscn's establishment His
recent experience In handling tho
funeral of the late Albert Moon wos
discussed. ...... t......
Funeral Director A. D. Price was
presumed to handle the remains
OH the Richmond end, but owing TO
some misunderstanding or forgetf1l
ness when NIaury Cemetery was
ieacheu, no grave had been dug. for
the reason no order had been given.
MT. Wilkerson took O charitabIe
Wow OF tho situation. Then we met
Mr. w. T. Stokes and we enjoyed soft
drinks. ''eu SUI
We met Mr. q. w. Wood ond .
low moments later were enronto IN
City Point. The concrete roadway is
iueal for automobile travel Az Ana
distance figured to be 0 miles when az
matter of fact it is IL miles we
were soon at our destination. ahead
OIL the threatening rain clouds tha,
we saw In the distance.
70 my surprise 7 saw Mr.. Charley
campbell! sitting in the doorway OF q
Tie Formerly ocat.
q la$ g ipsaa'sS 3RSaI 6 y s ~
NJ NJ were si1. utually pleased 10 see each
oiae AFTER few moments, we de.
LII ,auo tnae supper was essential as
go to Byrd's Hotel at HopeweII "
We were served and whiIe thoro
terrific rain-storm came on. whe,
we got into the car the electrical svsl
tenn failed us and the headl,pi,ts
were unusually dim. We returned TO
City Point. It was nearly ~ o,clocL
wneh we started on the return ionr.
hey The rain came down and tbe
4eadlights and the searchlight failed
l held the searchi1ght that 7 carried
over the wind shield, 1t enabled
hoDinson Davis to partially see his
way. "oe HIS
Following us was another chr that
nad come from Richmond with
Messrs. Albert Norrell, Jr.. and Mr.
NJ. Alphonso Norrell. They had light
arriving ut Petersburg, | deemed II
u i 10 proceed further and we de.
cloed to wait for day light at the
residence of Mr.. and Mrs. ". r.
stokes and Mr.. and Mrs. Edward
w. Wood. A'u""'
1t was about 1880 when Row. r. T
MOTIFS arrived and awoke us. We
were soon ready for the trip to Rich.
mond and our car took the lead.
oniilce 1t to say that Robinson Davis
ran that car. How we ever reached
nome safely is still a mystery. The
speed-o-meter was just out of commits.
SION ana later I found that one Of
the glasses to the headlight was gone
At times the other car could moi
De seen, although later As we slowed
ooWn 1t caught up with us We
ieached Richmond at o'clock despite
the mud N0'pA'e
JOHN MITCHELL, JR.