The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-09-27

embark today.
Mr.. P. S. Rogers. Mr.. Rogers left his
car at Lady Lake and those in the
car transferred to others. About this
time the big Buick of Mr.. Lee Priest
Of Anthony began to limp. On ar
irving at a garage in Leesburg it was
found that pinion was broken in this
Car. 1t was not possible to fiX the
car Immediately. Mr.. C.. R. Murphy
caught the train to Ocala by mar
row margin, got his Dodge, drove
back to Leesburg, picked up those
who were in Mr.. Priests car and re-
| joined the party that night at Or
lando. Mr.. Priest came back to Ocala
with his car, and when the motorcade
was waiting. having taken a train to
that city so as to complete the trip.
After the delay in Leesburg, the
r.otorcade got under way again. head
Ell toward Eustis. Just west Of Grand
Island the motorcade was met by
Senator Igou and others from Eustis
| At Eustis most delightful luncheon
was served. This was rendered the
| motorcade by the people of Eustis.
| The luncheon was served m the board
of trade room.
AT two o'clock the motOrcade, pilot
ed by Senator 1gou, drove around to
see the beauties of Eustis, and then
headed for Mount Dora and Sanford.
Thru Lake county the motorcade had
sped over sand-clay roads from the
Marion county line to Grand Island,
and from Grand Island to the Semi
mole county line the trip was made
over Lake county's fine sand-asphalU
roads. Lake county contemplates re-
rlacing it's sand-clay roads with sand
asphalt.
At Sanford members of the motor
cade stopped long enough to take a
look a. re big celery farms near that
place. The irrigation of the celery
farms b. means of artesian wells
was Ole of the interesting features
!o1ed
| The de over the brick roads of
SenliE@.e county was quickly made.
The n oto~cade reached Orlando about
$50 clock. At the city limits the
Earty was met by members of the
Florida State Automobile Associa-
ton.
| Arrangements had been made to
take the members Of the motorcade to
tie second game of the double header
icing played by Tampa and Orlando.
The motorcade drove direct to the ball
grounds, and enjoyed the game. The
members of the party then sought the
hotels.
/ Tuesday night the motorcade was
given a magnificent banquet in the
San Juan hotel, Orlando, by the Flor
ida State Automobile Association. A
most delightful dinner was served
and music was furnished by a jarI
orchestra. Speeches of welcome anO
OF response were made. Mr.. NJ. NJ
Smith, president of the Florida State
Automobile Association and chairman
OF the state road department, was
toastmaster. During the dinner &
telegram was received by Mr.. Smith
to the effect that the Ocala motor
party had come heavily armed. anc
proposed to start a rough house. Mr.
: Smith called in the chief of police anC
had the members of the Marion coun
ty party searched for concealed weap
ons. The chief found two guns in tht
hip pockets of Mr.. A. c. Blowers
One was a horse pistol of great size
and the other of about .22-calibre
The discovery created a sensation
Mr.. Blowers was placed under arres
by the chief of police and brough
before Mr.. Smith for trial. Judg,
Cheney of Orlando, general counse
for the state automobile association
prosecuted the case. Mr.. c. K. Sag
: represented the defendant. When Nh
: Blowers was found guilty. it was de
ciCed to hush up the entire matter
and the members of the dinner part.
were asked to keep the whole thing
quiet. Mr.. Blowers came back at hi
prosecutors by charging Mr.. SmitI
with having purchased his big auto
mobile out of the funds of the Flor
ida State Automobile Association
Mr.. Sage was prosecutor and Judg
Cheney represented the defendant
The defense made by Judge Chene
was to the effect that Mr.. Smith coul
| never nave IILS SG1I ONG y
the funds of the state association, be
cause the treasurer of the organiza
tion had never had a balance of NOR
than fifty dollars at any one time
The prosecution held that this sma
balance proved the case against Nj
Smith, but Mr.. Smith was cleared b
a prejudiced jury.
During a speech made by Mr.. NJ. \
Smith, in which he spoke on the ma
ter of good roads in Florida, he mao
a statement that is of considerab
Importance to Marion county. NJ
Smith called attention to the fat
that the state road department, {
which he is chairman, has allote
:, S250,000 to Marion county for use c
Y the Dixie Highway, on condition
:, THAT it be met by an appropriation IL
, this road on the part of the count
Mr.. Smith said that he hoped thu
Marion county would take some a
ltion very shortly in regard to tn