The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-09-24
FIRST DAY of
THE MOTORCYCLE
After a Most Pleasant Trip Through
Marion, Lake and Orange, the
Party Met a Royal We'll
come in Orlando


81 lendid day yesterday for making its
start through South Florida, and
t'ose composing the party made the
most Of it by thoroughly enjoying the
country through which they passed.
Everything went along smoothly
until shortly after passing the Lake
county line. when the road was roped
across in such a way as TO prevent
even a man on horseback from pass
ing. This looked extremely discour-
aging for few moments, until there
emerged from the bushes the smiling
| countenances of these two original
publicity boosters, Gilbert Leach of
the Leesburg Commercial, and Willis
3. Powell. at present secretary of the
Lake County Commercial Club, with
headquarters in Iayares, When the
whole party had arrived the obstruc-
| ton was removed and the march was
| taken up with the Lake county repre-
| sentatives plotting the way. A short
stop was made in Leesburg, and then
''on to Eustis." where the bunch was
tc be the guests of the Lake County
Commercial Club at luncheon. Eve
| rything had been prepared and in a
few minutes after arrival all were
invited to seats at bountifully spread
tables at the club'se headquarters.
Senator w. VI. Igou is president of
| the organization, and he was assisted
ii greeting the party by number OF
other lively citizens of Eustis. After
| the luncheon, Mr.. Igou and several
other citizens took charge of the
party and showed them the sights of
the city and suburbs, including the
splendidly appointed golf links.
i About o'clock the bunch started
on the journey to Orlando, via San
ford, and arrived in. the latter city
two hours later. Just outside Or
lando they were met by Mr.. N. NJ.
Smith, president of the local board of
trade and motor club, and also mem
Der Of the state highway commission,
Mr.. Van Valkenburg, secretary of the
State Automobile Association, and a
number of other prominent Orlando
road boosters. They took charge of
the aggregation and escorted it to the
county fair grounds, where a game Of
baseball was in progress between the
Tampa and Orlando teams. After the
game announcement was made that
the Marion county motorists were to
be guests of the Orlando Motor Club
at a banquet to be held at the San
Juan hotel at $50. The following is
an account of the affair from this
mornings Orlando Sentinel, and it is
placing it mildly when it says "The
dinner was pronounced good" etc.
sin the most enjoyable and most
laughable event ever pulled off in
Orlando, the Orlando Motor Club last
night made merry with their guests.
the live wire good roads boosters sent
out on d motorcade of the southern
part of the state by the best member
o. the Florida State Automobile AS
, scciation family, namely, the Ocala
Motor Club.
A dinner par excellence was laid
promptly at eight-thirty in the San
!, hungry guests fell to in a manner
which betokened energy and original
ity, nor did the omen fail, for no
sooner had the first course been dis
posed of than the fireworks started
After Mr.. Guernsey, speaking for the
mayor, who was unable to be pres
ent, welcomed the guests in dandy
talk, President of the State Associa-
ton NJ Nj. Smith, and POSTMASTER
made further address of welcome in
the name of the Florida State Auto
mobile Association. giving at the time
a short review of the history of the
organization.
"While Mr.. Smith was talking boy
. from the hotel PACED him with tel
: | egram, which read as follows: ere
. liably informed members of thai
: Ocala motorcade heavily armed. may
. cause trouble Orlando club, advise al
: . be searched. w. NJ. Igou." Mr.
Q Smith was so enraged and chagrineC
: that he called in the chief of police
o Chief Pounds, and every visitor wa
. searched with the result that one yer!
. large and one very small six-shoot
. ing revolver were found upon tn,
o person of A. G.. Blowers. of Ocala
= vice-president of the Florida Stat
. Automobile Association. Mr.. Blow
. ers, utterly bewildered, was led to tn
. head of the table and asked to ex
. plain. Judge Cheney. the "valian
. champion of the man in trouble" wa
. on his feet in an instant and in al
9 eloquent plea for ''our guest" sue
. ceeded in quelling the riot and III
. usual "acquittal" followed.
. "Short and snappy speeches wer
o made bR z. c. Chambliss, L. H. Cha
. zal, A. y Blowers. Mr. Christian, Nh
o lCarn and others of Ocala, and al
. were loud in their praises of Orland
. and her entertainment. One Ocal
% ..---.eG.....-.I