The Monroe journal., 1921-03-29
A Trolley raneIe.

An American soldier sends 10 ne
Companion this account of an adKen-
tuTc. III several OF the German vii
lages that our division occupied. he
rites, there are troliy cars that.
though clumsy. arr capable OF con
siderable speed. As Swift and chug-
ged with our motorcycle side car
through the main street OF a village
one afternoon. We overlook one of
those trolley cars. For several mo-
ments We ran along on the right side
of il; and then Swift. who was my
driver, seeing that the street was
smoother ON the left, decided TO
cross the track.
We could have crossed safely be-
hind the trolley ear. but Swift is not
the man to BE- influenced by that con-
sideration. He sac III machine
more gas. raced ahead and turned
To the left Then. perhaps because
the trolley car had picked up speed.
something went wrong. The car
struck our motorcycle just as we
were crossing the track There was
a rattle of tin and succession of
loud squeaks: then our engine went
dead. Blu, We did not stop, nor were
we tossed 10 one side: the left han
dlebar OF the motorcycle had become
fastened in the iron work ON the
car. To make matters worse, the
motoIman did not know our predica-
ment; for he was high up in his cage,
and we We're down low, close TO the
wheels.
For thirty or forty yards the noisy.
rafting street car dragged us over
the uneven coblestone IL is a won
der that our wheels held up under
the strain. Swift tried to shake the
left handlebar loose. but, finding that
he could not move ii. he grasped the
right handlebar with both hands and
tried TO steer. | clutched the edges
OF the side car, clenched my teeth.
held my breath and waited for the
crash. As we whizzed along | saw
several German civilians looking
down al us from the car window in
frightened wonder: | saw Swift, now
with one hand against the car. ready
TO push outward ii our wheels col
lapsed. saw drab houses rushing
by In doorway | saw "A woman
with several frightened children
clinging to her skirt standing with
hands upraised. Then in front of us
| saw a pudgy civilian suddenly take
his long porcelain pipe from his lips
and wave frantically at the motor
man.
glanced up. AT the same moment
the motorman leaned over and looked
down. His jaw dropped. His eyes
became as round as saucers. Then
his head popped back. mad he went
to work al his brakes as If he We're
grinding coffee. The car stopped,
and our circus" ride was over
The motorman and several white
faced passengers jumped down. Ev-
erybody began talking at once. The
motorman was actually trembling,
and his face was the color of ashes.
Perhaps he had had vision what
could happen TO him II he killed a
couple OF Americans. Our motor
cycle was not badly damaged; Swift
had ii mended a few minutes after
the trolley car started.
We overlook the trolley again, and
| saw in Swift's eyes that he meant
to pass In front of II. AS we drew
up. beside the car the second time
apparently all the passengers caught
sight OF us at once. They jumped up
and rushed toward the front door.
shouting and waving their arms. The
motorman applied his brakes and the
car slowed down. We shot ahead
and crossed the track.
Swift looked at me and grinned:
then he turned in his seat and
glanced back al the trolley car. which
had stopped. He waved his hand.
"All right" he shouted, you can
go ahead now!"