Chauffeur drove his auto too fast
on Conduit Road; bike policemen gave chase
By Washington Post, 1905
Driver of Machine Thought the Pursuing
Officers Were a Special Guard and Let Her Go All the Faster - Mr. Roosevelt
Takes Incident of Great Falls Trip Good Naturedly - Men on
Lookout.
President Roosevelt's chauffeur narrowly
escaped arrest for fast driving on Sunday afternoon while conveying the
President, Theodore, Jr., and two of the latter's schoolmates along the Conduit
road to Great Falls, from which place the party walked back to the Chain
Bridge. Two special bicycle policemen, considering that the chauffeur was
going at a speed greater than is allowed by law, gave chase and overhauled
the auto. When they learned who the occupants were they hastily withdrew,
and the auto proceeded, after the President had cautioned the chauffeur to
slow up a little.
The incident occurred on the way to the Falls. The President rented an automobile
in the city to carry himself, Theodore, Jr., and two of the latter's school
friends from the White House to the Great Falls, up the Potomac. When the
party reached the Conduit road just beyond Georgetown, the chauffeur turned
the machine loose. The machine was of the largest horse power, and is said
to have done its very best.
Sylvester's Men on Lookout.
It happened that on Sunday Maj. Sylvester sent a detail of his most efficient
bicycle policemen to the Conduit road to be on the lookout for violators
of the speed regulation. There had been complaint that automobilists were
reckless on the road, particularly on Sunday. From the reservoir to the District
line Sgt. Headly had his men stationed. Two of them were wheeling toward
Cabin John at the rate of ten miles an hour when the President's automobile
dashed by. There was a flurry of dust and sand, and the officers started
in pursuit. It was an uphill chase, but finally they got within hailing distance.
"Stop!" one of them was heard to yell by a bicyclist who happened to have
been caught in the vortex behind the big automobile.
"Never mind. I've the number," one of the policemen shouted to the other,
but the chase continued.
Thought They Were Special Guards.
The chauffeur had noticed the policemen stationed along the road, but he
supposed they were there to clear the track for the President, and he was
willing to give the party their money's worth. When the two policemen started
after him, the chauffeur concluded that it was part of the programme to look
out for the President's welfare. Success at last came to the persistent policemen
and after a pursuit of half a mile the automobile came to a stop. It was
mighty warm Sunday afternoon about 3:30 o'clock, and those policemen were
not put in very good humor by their fierce ride in the hot sun.
"You will have to meet me at the Police Court tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock
sharp," said one of the officers as he wiped viciously at the sand in his
eyes. He was speaking ostensibly to the chauffeur. But a man in the rear
seat, one dressed in khaki riding trousers, a negligee shirt, heavy walking
shoes, and a slouch hat, made the response.
"For what reason?" he inquired.
"You have violated the speed regulation, sir," continued the policeman, still
rubbing his eyes and hunting for his note book to take the name of the offender,
according to custom in such cases. "You were going at least twenty-five miles
an hour and the regulation allows but fifteen."
Took the Incident Good Naturedly.
When informed that he was addressing the President the officer collapsed,
and the second policeman hastily carried him to the rear. The President took
the matter good-naturedly, and instructed the chauffeur to proceed at a more
moderate rate of speed.
At the garage where the auto was hired it was said yesterday that Otto Jacobi
drove the machine the President used. He admitted that he had been stopped
during the trip, but was unwilling to discuss the affair. He did not know
the names of the policemen.
The bicyclist who happened to be about the place where the automobile was
stopped said that he believed that one of the policemen wore the insignia
of a sergeant or a lieutenant. There are no lieutenants mounted on
wheels.
From the June 20, 1905, Washington Post |
