The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1919-07-02
SAVES $4,000 BY
SINGLE MINUTE
F.. w. ATKIN TAKES CHANCE ON
LOSING OR DRIVING 100 MILES
IN FIVE HOURS
PROMINENT METHODIST lay
MAN ANXIOUS TO DELIVER
HIS MESSAGE LAST SUNDAY

Taking chance at losing $4,000
in cash if he failed to drive from
Maryville to Chattanooga in five
hours in an automobile, Mr.. F. W.
Atkin, noted manufacturerer and
Methodist layman, remained in Mary
vile Sunday morning to address the
congregation of the M. E. Church on
the Duties of the Church to the
Community" Mr.. Atkin came from
Jacksonville, arriving here Saturday
afternoon. This was his third trip
to Maryville to encourage the rais-
ing of the church building fund and
the centenary quota. Upon his ar
rival here, he stated to friends,
though he did not announce publicly,
for he is not a boaster, that he
wanted to find taxi car man who
would drive him to Chattanooga to
catch the Dixie Flyer which left that
city for Jacksonville at 80 o'clock
Sunday afternoon. Mr.. Atkin said
he would make an address and leave
the church at 11:15, thus having five
hours to drive the more than 100
miles to the Hamilton County
Capitol. He was successful in en-
gaging G. W. Camper to make the
trip. He said to friends that the
reason he must make that train was
that unless he was in Jacksonville
Monday morning at 1000 o'clock he
would lose $4,000 cold cash in deal
he was to close at that hour. But
the fact that he had 100 miles of
rough and muddy road to travel over,
or lose the $4,000, did not worry him
ii TIE least. for ~ delivered AZ eas-
cellent address at the church Sunday
morning and waited ten minutes at
ter he had finished before leaving to
get into the Buick which was stand
ing in front of the church, oiled and
filled with gas, and with new tires on
the rear wheels.
AT 11:25 o'clock the car started to
pull out for the long trip and Mr.. At
kin swung onto the running board
after it had started moving, for ne
was bidding friends goodbye.
The route chosen was by way OF
Madisonville, Sweetwater, Cleveland
and to Chattanooga. The distance IS
100 miles or more. The road was
rough and in some places the mud
was so deep the car had to be run IN
low gear. But she kept pulling away
and when good road was hit lost time
was made up for the throttle OF the
motor was opened wide and she hit
the fastest speed.
Mr.. Camper said upon his return
here Monday morning, that when ne
came to the paved road this side OF
Chattanooga, it was five minutes al
ter four. The garage signboard SAID
If was fourteen miles to Chattanooga,
though he said he believed he did not
travel more than 13 miles. Anyway,
the train was due to leave at 4:20,
thus giving him fifteen minutes to
make the trip, about a mile minute.
Mr.. Camper said it didn't sound rea-
sonable, but he got over the distance
and nut Mr.. Atkin in the station at
4:19 o'clock, just one minute before
Al,a4 Nv
ply ran over the gateman and swung
onto the train as she was putting
away to leave the depot.
Mr.. Atkin is member of the Ma
tional Cash Register Co. and an arr
nlane manufacturer. For five months
he gave his time without charge to
the great Methodist Centenary. tie
has had interesting experiences. Ills
services with that campaign are now
ended, but he is interested IN seeing
Marvyille have new church and put
over the Centenary drive, and for
this reason he has already made three
trips to Maryville and will return
here Sunday morning for the fourth
time to help wind up the campaign
for S51 10000. He has message
that will interest you, and you are
invited.
The trip to Chattanooga was made
without mishap. Not a puncture, not
a blowout and not minutes delay
with motor trouble. But this man
who has vision and foresight and sees
a great future for Maryville, aHd
wants to see a great Methodist church
here, gambled on losing $4,000 IN
cash that he might speak here Sun
day morning. Luck was with him, Tor
a puncture would have delayed him