Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-19
THOMPSON'S BLIND DRIVE
AND OTHER WEIRD STUNTS
PROVE UNCANNY INTUITION

he came, driving with a peculiar
dizziness and confidence. but always
giving other cars as much room as
possible, so that one of the cops
was heard to remark:
IF people with their eyes open
drove half as well as this bird with
his eye bandaged. there wouldn't
be any traffic wrecks
On to the Atlantic & Pacific store
at No. 60 Broad street. and there
he had to walk all over the store
to pick out the package of Red
Circle coffee for which he was look
ing. Once he got hold of a box with
a red circle on it.
Its a red circle" he said, ref1ec-
lively. But it's not what l want.
It's good tapioca, though"
And it WAS tapioca.
THAT guys got me whipped"
confessed one of the observers.
On he went, uD Broad street and
| down Marietta through Five Points,
and we had lost the photographers,
who got out and were going to head
him off as he came through town,
but Thompson never hesitated. He
drove directly to the Alexander
! Seew2ld company. on Pryor street,
| where he was to demonstrate the
! C-G bumpers with which his car
was equipped.
Deity Tests His Bumpers
He did this promptly and decisive
ly by running his car deity up on
the sidewalk and head-on against
an iron post, backing away and
! humping it again-pretty hard. too.
! showing the spring and rebound of
! the front bumper
And then on again. 1T was so
easily done that the effect might
! have been diminished, but for that
strange fascination of watching the
! blank, black-masked face of the
man who was handling his car like
a master -driver-without the use OF
| his eyes Some way, that never
lost it's grip on the observers. 1t
was like watching a miracle. Per-
haps it WAS watching a miracle.
North on Pryor into Peachtree
and on to Ellis street went the
strange cavalcade, 10 the U-Drive.lt
place for another demonstration,
driving one of their cars around the
| block with perfect certainty. Thomp-
sOn-who seemed to be enjoying
himseIf-said that he would bet he
| could drive any car they had. blind
| fold, and then on to the Capital
City Tire and SupplOy company,
where he stopped in the customary
/ place to have the pressure tested IN
the new Firestone Balloon tires ne
had spec fled for equipment during
this test.
Gas. Then More Coffee
Then to the No. 1 Station of the
Reed Oil corporation, where he park
ed at the exact spot to receive
supply of Wonder Gas, and ther
went flying out Peachtree street tt
thu A. & p. store at 347 where he
picked out another package of cot
fee-Bokar, this time, l think 1t
was.
81 like a variety" he declared, ant
specified that he wanted it ground
Across on Porter Place to Sprins
street he drove, showing signs o
w ,1rness this time-Dr. WoolarC
was close to him all the time he was
out of the car, and the marines form
ed a real guard through the thicL
Crowds-and back on Spring street. {
solitary, lonely, blind figure in The
shiny Studebaker. to the No. 8 station
of the Reed corporation, where h
got some oil.
I'm glad it's getting over with,
he said, under his breath, as he go
ready to start on the last lap.
The rest of the journey was sim
pie, He drove on back to Marriott;
street, thence through Five Point
to Edgewood avenue, and on owe
to the Auditorium, where he got
round cheer as he drew up smooth,
to the curb and stepped out. Tn
first thing lie wanted was a cigar
cite. Then ne said he would sc
something to eat-"pretty SOON
TASTED % Hours
Il haven't eaten in % hours now,
he explained. Il took a cup OF cot
fee this morning; that was all"
Thompson di0 not appear to be a!
much affected by the much hardei
and more complex test this tim,
as he was on the drive to BuckheaC
and back last year He is planning
10 settle and live IN Atlanta. thougl
he viii continue his drives in variou.
cities from time to time. The drivr
was pronounced a great success by
all who saw it, or any considerabl
part of it.
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