Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-04-23
AN UNEASY FEELING.

I am frank to state that I am al.
ways uneasy when have females in
an automobile party. The inconveni-
ences. the unexpected break-downs.
and the like 'are liable 70 cmbarrass
me ana to test them. However, they
were all ready and we finally decided
to take our chances. We went out
Broad Street to the Hermitage road
and then detourcd through Lakeside
to the pike beyond. The car was steam
Ing fine and we were soon well on our
way TO Fredericksburg. We passed
Spottsylvania G. H., the scene of Gen.
Joseph Rockers battle during the Civ
IL War and then on to the battle
SCARED outskirts OF Freder.
icks-bnrgh, wher Meagher's Irish
Brigade won imperishablc fame be.
fore that stone wall in front Of tho
NaIional Cemetery which wall still 70
mains.
THE SCENE OF THE FORMER
TROUBLE.
We did not larry in Fredericksburg
hut hurried on to Falmouth. Toll Is ex
acted of all who now cross the Kappa
hammock bridge. We soon passed the
scene Of our former experience, where
our party had spent two nights under
Il tent IN cornficld on account Of n
broken axle. But Iherc were no brols.
en- aXles now for the car was run
ming finely. We soon reached the
Chappawamsic Swamp, which has
been robbed of its terrors by the erect
ion of a concrete roadway through it.
We had left fredericksburg at $3.50
and 1t was IL O'clock when we reach
cd Washington after crossing the
Long Bridge across the Potomac. I
had found ont that my generator was
not working and that the battery had
given out.
BATTERY FAILED
This worried me, for while I had
auxiliary flashlights, did not know
but what I might find myself at night
OH the road and I could not make
any progress without this necessary
aid in automobile travel. Moreover,
the .orn was out of commission and
If there Is anything that Robinson
1
went to the Willard Service Sttion
in Washington and secured rental
leaving my battery there. Then we
went to 2205 Fl. street, n. w, to see
Mrs. Fannie Smith sister of Mrs.
William e. Brown OF this city. We
did not tarry long and at about 100
we were ION our way to Berryville by
way OF Langley and Lccsburg. If my
foresight had been as good as my
hind-sight, ] would have chosen the
longer but better route.
We were in a hurry and we thought
that the shorter route would be far
better. All went well until we got near
or to Lccsburg. Everywhere the steam
car ahtracted attention. Then from
dirt roads we went to mud-roads. We
could see the mountain ranges in the
distance, kissing the clouds" Then
Robinson got out, the pilot had gone
out. We went little fur.Lcr, the pi
lot was out again.. The car was steam
ing all right. but the light worlI 90
out from time ia jim whom the
main burners went Off 1'ilis worried
Robinson and I became .u0rehensiye.
Then l heard roaring SOUND in tho
boiler. "Mr. Mitchell, il seems as
though the feed line is bursted.:." 7
did not say anything. I was thinking.
Here we were aNONt thirtv miles from
our destination In q white section OF
The country and with not q single
black face in sight and with three
ladies to be looked after. What was I
to do?
PIPE BURSTED.
l listened again. 'Robinson," said
!, "the super.heater that carries
steam to the engine is bursted under
the boiler and that IS what is putting
out your fire every time you open
the throttle. I hoped that tho heavi.
] Confined on Fourth Pagc)