The Robesonian., 1918-08-08
VIOLENTLY DOWN STEEP
INCLINE ON TO THE FERRY
Mr.. T. L. Johnson's Auto, Unconfined
By Brakes, Romped on to Ferry at
80 Miles Per-Mr. Johnson Saved
His Neck and Partially Wrecked Car
BY Turning Into Dynamo House
Narrow Escape From Death in
Lowlands After Scaling Mountain
Heights.

Mr.. and Mrs T. L. Johnson, Mrs.
Annie L. Williams on, her daughter-in-I
law, Mrs. Jas. L. williamson, and the
| latters small son Jas. Jr., returned
home Monday afternoon. Mr.. John
son, the Mesdames Williamson and
James left Lumberton two weeks ago,
travelling in Mr. Johnson's auto, and
| went to Charlotte, where Mrs. John
| son, who had been visiting at the home
of her parents in Hickory, met them.
Mrs. Annie Williamson and James re-
named in Charlotte while M. and Mrs.
Johnson and Mrs. Jas. L. Williamson
went to Asheville, where they spent
about 10 days, making side trips from
there to mountain points of interest.
/ On the return trip a mlshap occur
red which partially wrecked Mr.. John
sons car and he himself escaped death
), or serious injury by hairs breadth
i Coming from Charlotte, the emergen-
!, cy brakes on his car got out OF fix
: waiting for some time on the road q
, machine came along who remedieo
, that but it was discovered later that
, he left both sets of breaks entirely
t out Of commission. In approaching
the ferry between Wadesboro anC
e Rockingham, coming down the Ions
s hill leading to the ferry Mr.. johnson
discovered that his breaks were no
: working properly and as a matter O
: precaution had the ladies and the DO.
t to get out before reaching the ferry
e He did not know that his brake
would not hold at all, though, so h
e started down the steep incline to tn
d ferry. Suddenly he realized that hi
r brakes were not working and his ca
n was running away. Striking the ferr
% at speed of about 80 miles an houl
le the only alternative to rushing off tn
ferry into about Is feet Of water
l. and Mr.. Johnson unable to swim, .co-
$ was to cut the car into the dynam
le house Of the ferry and probably
A. hurled through the windshield an
ia cut and broken up.
Mr.. Johnson thought he preferre
att dry death so he chose the latt'
81 alternative. He escaped injury hin
re self but what was done to the car W:
I'd plenty 1t was all "stove" up al
til the ferry and river house have n
tie quit staggering yet. With the a
to of some men who came along IN c;
d. about that time-about II o'clo
elk Sunday night-suficient repairs we
made to the car 60 eIdO1e CHe PaA
to resume the journey and reach Hal
er let about 1 a. m. Monday. IN
spent the balance of the night thel
the next morning garage man g
~ a lob on a battered spring and be
~ VI arie, and in the early afternoon t
~ party reached Lumberton, where t
o,1 od car was put in hospital for perm
in nent repairs.
"A "a ANY one who has ever been do'
'is ;s the almost perpendicular slope to tt
~, 10 ferry can we'll believe that a
10 10 thrown out of gear and coming DO
an ne that decline WITHOUT brakes VIC,
'sa, ~ Gain terrific momentum by the,
>S,r ne It reached the ferry and can well
,as ,os lieve that Mr.. johnson did the D.
va va thing that could have been done
w. that he was fortunate in escapl
W., 'nd without serious injury to himself
900 600 more serious damage to his car.
sn S.t But wasn't it the dickens and
e' 'ar for a car to run away down hi!
: the lowlands, comparatively speak
, +oa and put it's owners neck In grave q
fe, ee, GER Of being broken after serenely {
i1o Safely bearing it's load up mount
,s /" heights and down?