The "devil wagon" claimed two more victims yesterday. It is strange that people who would be thought insane if they went about the streets whipping their horses into a wild gallop can see nothing strange in speeding an automobile forty miles an hour along the highway.
Mr. Mcintyre, of Auburn, May Have to Stand Suit for Damages Because of it.
The Marion Leader refers to a DeKalb county gentleman whose automobile has been seen here, as follows:
"The authorities here who were instructed to look out for a man named Mcintire from Auburn, who was traveling in an automobile, did not locate the gentleman. The instructions came from Huntington and the reaquest was made because McIntire was wanted there to settle for an accident of which it was claimed he was the cause. He was in charge of heavy four-seated automobile and it is said to be of different pattern from any other seen in this state. It is designed for swift travel and skims the earth like a locomotive. MeIntire was at Huntington and started out from there with a party of three to make the trip to Kokomo via Marion. Everyhing moved along nicely until the party was only a few miles out from Marion, when they encountered a teamster named Warren Howell, who lives near Dora and was en route from Marion to Huntington. The team became frightened at the auto, and despite his efforts to control it got away from him, the horses running into the rig of Mrs. D. W, Hamilton, of Mt. Etna, in which herself and child were seated. Mr. Howell was thrown out with such violence as to cause several very severe bruises.
"Mr. Howell went on into Huntington, where he consulted a lawyer in regard to the smash-up and desired to know what legal recourse he had under such conditions."
The automobile continues to maintain its position as the right bower of Death. The tragic ending of the wife of a United States senator goes to some extent to prove that while the "devil wagons" may frequently toss the poor who go ahead afoot into kingdom come, they are in reality not at all pantial as to which class their victims come from.
Movement on Foot for an Afternoon of Racing Without Horses at County Fair.
This morning Mr. A. L. Randall had a long consultation with Mr. William Fleming, in charge of the speed department of the coming Fort Wayne fair. A number of the Fort Wayne owners of automobiles are anxious to have at least one afternoon of horseless carriage races on the mile track and Mr. Randall has been selected as their representative. Mr. A. L. Randall stated this afternoon that if the Fair association would give the proper encouragement Fort Wayne may have automobile races during the fair week. These races at Cleveland a few weeks ago were features which attracted thousands to that city. A large party of enthusiasts from Fort Wayne were in attendance. Fort Wayne has a number of speedy machines and there are also a few in surrounding towns and at least three or four races might be arranged.
The term "devil wagon" now has local application, since an automobile has finally christened itself in human blood. The next thing in order is an ordinance to restrain the "devil wagon."
The lightning conductor by Williamson, C. N. (Charles Norris), 1859-1920; Williamson, A. M. (Alice Muriel), 1869-1933, Publication date [c1905] on Archive.org. [ Since a 1902 newspaper article references this book we know it would be published before 1902. ]
Their Arrival Gives the Sport a Big Boost- value Is $10,000.
Four big new Winton automobiles arrived in the city today for Dr. L. B. Davis, Will Peltier, William Griffin and Dr. N. L. Deming. The machines had been looked for for the past ten days and it was with eager expectancy that the quartet of gentlemen awaited the pleasure of the railway company.
[ Winton Motor Carriage Company at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia pioneer automobile manufacturer in Cleveland, Ohio. Sold to General Motors in 1930. See Winton advertisement on Automobile page. ]
The machines cost the modest sum of $2,500 each, and are the finest touring cars made by the Winton people. Dr. Davis looked over his beauty and told the many friends what he would do. Will Peltier, who is something of a chauffeur himself, piled in his new car and showed the boys how the trick was done.
The race track was the scene of more activity today than since the fair. The new drivers were out taking lessons, so that they might be able to pilot the cars on the thoroughfares in perfect safety. It is to unnecessary, to state that there is a general cessation of business today in the houses represented by the four gentlemen who received the cars. They are taking a day out. There has been more gasoline burned today, no doubt, than would be required to make a five hundred mile drive.
"I am going to push that machine of mine over the Rocky mountains," said Dr. Davis.
In the first hour after the cars were in, enough touring expeditions were talked of to cover the continent. The machines all showed up well. There was not a fault in any of them, and the owners were more than satisfied. It means a great deal to the automobiling sport of the city. Turning four as fine rigs loose as grace the streets of any city in the country, in a day, is a whirlwind of enthusiasm in the ranks of the autoists. There is not a man in the city today that has a few thousand not working, but he is talking auto. They meet in groups and can give a lot of chorus girls cards and spades in talking shop. The Meyer Cycle company and the Randall Wheel company have surely had a busy time of it. They have been busy as flies in harvest time, explaining the points of the machines they have for sale. The Winton seems to have taken the fancy of all, and the popular roundabouts that sell for $630 to $1,000 are lost in the shuffle for the day. The dealers say that there has never been anything that has awakened so much interest as the introduction of the four large touring cars. They can see that in the next few days there will be more sales, that is, more bargains cinched with those who have had the matter under serious consideration.
It will be several days, howerer, before the gentlemen will feel confident enough to get out on the main streets, but it will not be long before there will general dodging of the "devil wagons," as they roll along.
Permanent Quarters Will Be Engaged and Regular Meetings Held.
The local automobilists met at the Anthony Wayne club last night and organized the Fort Wayne Automobile club with the following officers: President, Will Peltier; vice president, D. B. Ninde; secretary, A. L. Randall; treasurer, Harry Meyer, During the winter season the club will be a social organization. Committees were appointed as follows:
Constitution and By-Laws-D. B. Ninde, W. M. Griffin, A. C. Alter.
Legislation and Good Roads--Drs. A. E. Bulson, L. P. Drayer, J. E. McOscar, Wright Dodez and Mr. D. B. Ninde.
House and Entertainment - Peter Benson, Barney O'Connor.
Runs and Racing- William Bostick, Fred Hoffman, L. B. Davis, Dr. G. A. Ross, Thomas Baxter.
Another meeting of the club will be held one week from tonight for the purpose of adopting a constitution and by-laws. Permanent club quarters are to be engaged.
A number of gentlemen who own automobiles, together with several prospective buyers of "devil wagons," will go to Chicago next Monday to attend the automobile show, which opens a week from today. Those who have arranged to go are: Dr. G. A. Ross, Dr. A. E. Bulson, Harry and Cary Meyer, C. J. McLain, Gus Steger, Will Peltier, Will Bostick, E. B. Kunkle, L. B. Davis, Will Griffin, A. L. Randall, Louis Curdes, Dr. L. P. Drayer, Frank Edmunds, H. G. Keegan, Mr. Wing, Mr. Malle and others.
The French psychologists have traced speed craze among automobilists to a disease that grows like the appetite for alcohol or morphia. The indulgers in scorching in devil wagons lose control of themselves finally, and cannot resist the intoxication of turning on full power. Examples were cited where speeding had brought automobilists into trouble with the courts, but so relaxed had become their will power that when once released the old passion was pursued in intensified degree. Possibly an extension of the Keeley care will be necessary in the near future.
Insects Created Lively Scenes on South Calhoun Street at Noon Today.
A big swarm of bees held undisputed possession of South Calhoun street, near Murray, for some time shortly after the noon hour today, and made things decidedly interesting for pedestrians, cyclists and passengers upon the street cars. Unsuspecting drivers who urged their horses along the street at that point suffered with their animals the displeasure of the insects.
The swarm closely massed was hovering about ten feet above the earth when north bound Belt line car hit the colony. The windows upon the motorman's platform were open at the time, and the buzzers literally filtered through the car in an angry horde,keeping motorman, conductor and passengers dodging at a lively rate. There were but few passenger upon the car, and all escaped.
The interruption served to spread the bees in every direction and they took entire possession of the street. A moment later several bicyclists, who attempted to ride through, were stung in a number of places, and when drivers of delivery wagons drove unsuspectingly into the square their horses were attacked by the bees. The animals were rendered frantic by the stings, and a number of runaways were narrowly averted. For half an hour passers-by were subjected to attack by the enraged insects, and several persons were stung though none seriously. The bees finally reassembled and moved on to a more quiet neighborhood.
There are two ways by means of which motor vehicle tends to supersede the horse. It may scare him off the road, and it may do his work better, or cheaper, than he does it.
Anyone who goes about in the country must notice this summer increasing numbers of motor vehicles, put to strictly family use. A family may go out in a devil wagon, but those conveyances smack incurably of sport, and the processes of domestication are sluggish with them. They cost so much, too, that they could never compete with family horses. But the low power vehicles that carry man and wife and a child are of quite a different order. For one thing they are inoffensive. They don't go faster than the law allows, no reasonable horse has any objection to them, and persons who use them are not subject to the disagreeable consciousness that the average observer regards them as enemies of the public peace. For another thing they are comparatively cheap; cheap, that is, compared with the big touring cars. Four or five hundred dollars will buy one. But, alas! that is not cheap compared with the horse and buggy, or two-seated wagon of familiar country use. Farmers and native villagers are not going to have them yet awhile. The great advantage of them at present to men of moderate incomes is that they can be kept in a small shed, and do not absolutely necessitate the maintenance of a hired man. They wear out and they break down, but they don't eat, and when funds are low you can lock them up in a shed and wait, if necessary, for pay day, without inhumanity or loss. And when winter comes there is no problem about wintering them. Put them away; that is all.
The low price and low-power vehicles are sure to come into very wide use. My venerable friend, who shrinks from guiding a hired horse past a devil wagon, admired and praised the inoffensive domestic motor vehicle. He would gladly have one, I think, and would feel safe in it, for it doesn't get scared no matter what passes, nor how fast. But the family motor wagon must arrange to carry more children. You take out one child; what becomes of the rest? It must clear itself of all suspicion of being a promoter of race suicide. -Ward Sanford, in The Illustrated Sporting News.
Interesting article discussing how farmers and autoists attitudes differed towards automobiles and each other.
Only part of it is posted here but should be able to read it online.
MORNING. AUGUST 13. 1905. GOLDEN RULE SHOULD GOVERN
WOULD SOLVE DIFFERENCES OF FARMER AND AUTOIST.
Enmity of Ruralist. Towards Devil Wagons fs Not Because He Love? Auto Less But Horse More--Two Sides to Matter.
There are two sides to the automobiling business, one the exhilarating pleasure of the person who rides in machine and the other the strenuous discomfort, not to say danger, of the person who doesn't ride. One would naturally suppose that one who drives an automobile or who rides in one would know more about a machine than a pedestrian, but if you just stop for a little while and observe, you will readily see that some of the persons who drive cars know less about handling them than you do. It doesn't make any dufference whether you know anything about a motor car or not, you still know more than some people who are turned loose on the streets with one of the devil wagons.
The first thing that a man, or woman for that matter must learn when he begins to tour--you must say tour -in an auto, is to learn how to pronounce the names of things connected with the machines. There is the chauffeur, for instance -but everyone knows how to pronounce that. The autoist and the farmer, according to the popular idea, are the bitterest of enemies and some autoists are fond of making sarcastic remarks about the farmer, whose occupation, by the way, was an honored one many centuries before a chauffeur was even dreamed of. But, to get back to the point, even the autoist's bitter enemy, the farmer, is able to rattle the term chauffeur off so glibly as to sometimes cause that individual to shake with terror as he imagines the horrible ordeal of having the tines of a pitchfork thrust through a vital portion of his anatomy merely because he happened to scare a farmer's team or kill a few chickens that didn't have any business in the road anyhow.
A peculiar folklore story about automobiles stranded in the snow while horses and Hoosier delighted in their troubles. Not clear whether is real based on an actual event or where it may have occurred?
Threatens to Shoot Holes in the Tires of Several "Sporty" Devil Wagons When the Drivers Refuse to Come to Stop.
Patrolman James Smith showed that the law was just a little above the "unwritten law" of the speeding autoists of this city, yesterday, when he stationed himself, under orders, out on Lake avenue in Lakeside with instructions to see that all automobiles were driven not more than six miles an hour on the way to the fair grounds. In obedience to his orders, Patrolman Smith took his stand about a block east of St. Joe boulevard and he had hardly turned around before along came several autos at high speed, racing.
Smith stepped into the middle of the street and raised his arm to signal the drivers of the machines to come to a halt, but with a great "tooting" of horns the machines came tearing along. It was then that Smith showed the kind of stuff he is made of, for his orders were to shoot the tires when a machine driver refused to come to a stop, and he pulled his gun when the machines were about twenty feet away. The dust of Lake avenue flew high in the air and the machines almost turned a somersault as the drivers jerked their machines to a sudden halt and asked about what the minute matter was.
It took about a minute for Smith to a tell the speeders where to back in and he used pretty plain language at that, and told them that if they went faster than a crawl down Lake avenue he would shoot a hole in a tire if he was fortunate enough to hit the tire-but he would shoot anyway. Every auto coming along the avenue was stopped by Smith and instructions as to the speed limit given to the drivers.
Such quiet, yet such noisy times! If all the automobiles were suddenly done away city would seem like some quiet country town. But the ceaseless rush of the horseless carriage is one of the signs of the times which old fogeys find it hard to get used to. The measured beat of a horse's hoofs is a soothing hint of more peaceful and peaceable yesterdays. Time was when children reveled in pony carts, but they are deprived of this pleasure now, for no parent will think of allowing children on the streets with pony carts with all those "devil wagons" flying around, and we know of at least one disappointed child in this city who would like very much to have a pony, but cannot for just that reason. Children seem to get more diversion out of their school work nowadays, and less out of their play-time. When we hear of all the things children are taught to do in the schools we wonder that there are any children any more, and in fact, they are looked upon as little men and women, and are not expected to remain babies for any great length of time. Whoever talks "baby talk" any' more to a child over a few months old? The tots are much with their elders, and one father boasts that his little son's vocabulary contained a great number of words at a surprisingly tender age. So, with mothers of today looking more like sisters of their daughters as they swing along the street together, or go motoring in the family car, or enjoy the same theatrical performance together, times are all very much changed. It must be a good thing that the belief of old age should grow less, yet poets have found beauty even in age, when it is borne with gentleness and grace. To be sure, it is doubtless a conspiracy of Father Time, in which the heavenly Father, being "the same yesterday, to-day, and forever," has no part, but the vesture of the material world must indeed be "rolled up as a scroll" in order to see that "as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be," and that "His work is finished."
