Life — September 8, 1904 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

242 A GREAT RUN. Life’s Chauffeur on His Tooting Terror Spreads Consterna- tion on His Trail. HIT OR MISS ALL THE WAY. Men, Women and Children Panic- stricken as Our Motor Car Speeds Westward—Rec- ord of the Run—A Glorious End. ILLIAM PLUNGER, the chauf- feur engaged by Lire, has made the most successful run westward ever speeded, popular indignation never be- fore having been so fully aroused. He is now in the St. Louis jail rest ing on his laurels. Our great touring car, with a steel cowcatcher in front, and covered with the blood of countless victims, is on ex- hibition at the Exposition. A life-sized statue of Plunger, rep- resenting him on a famous motor car, in the act of defying three judges, being made, and, when completed, will be unveiled at Newport. Crowds il daily. tons of flowers are left every morning. Following is a partial record of the trip: Saratoca, Thursday, —1 came through from Albany this morning at the rate miles an hour, Swerved a little at 1 consequence of which [ ran right through a collar factory, Coweatcher did great work, Several shop-girls broken up, but no damage to machine. Was fined here fifteen dollars by Judge for exceeding the speed limit, but when he found out who I was, and that f had money to burn, he reduced it to thirty cents, We millionaires are fined too mu way. any The Judge told me privately that he'thought I ought to have been promptly shot, but was afraid if he didn’t treat me right the Automobile Club of America would pass reso: lutions of regret. And he said, with tears in his eyes, that he couldn't stand that, Well, I'm off for Chicago, Plunger. CLEVELAND, sand. Saturday.—Send me ten thou- a bill for new sprockets, cow- new gears, new carburetor, new Tenclos catcher, “TRE chain, new tires, radiators, new body, new engine, new crank-sha(t and fly-wheel, wbra- tor, muffler, four cylinders and ignition coil. Also for painting and varnishing. Aside from these few items, machine is all right, Yester- day I disputed the right of way with a Nickel Plate locomotive. It was a toss-up, but the locomotive won, Fortunately I had on my new rubber in- flated suit (patent applied for) and merely bounded up in the air and came down again. The fact is that these locomotive engineers are too fresh, It's getting to ‘be so that they don't even stop when they see a party of society people crossing the tracks I shall mention this to the Mresident of the Automobile Club, and get him to censure the railroads, We automobilists must stand together, or the men, women and children of this country will run right over us, A dioner-party is to be given to-night in my honor by one of the most prominent judges here. Chicago to-morrow, Plunger. Ciicaco, Monday, 4 P. M.—Just got here amid the most tremendous excitement. Ma- chine never went better, In a run of two hundred miles L only had to lay cn my back six hours. Getting near the outskirts | ran through a line of farmers’ wagons bringing vegetables into town, I scattered corn, potatoes and onions over the State. Also ran through a funeral, Made the hearse look like an ebony kindling pile. Undertaker was wild, but I turned on all the smell I could and scooted away. Tenclose clipping from Chicago paper: “Tne Lar, “A man calling himself William Plunger has been touring in a big motor car from New York, He claims to have a perfect right 0 run over people, and terrorize the wholc country, because he is a Newport ‘society man and a millionaire, “But we think differ “We pleasu: don't believe any irresponsible and -seeking automobilist has a right to make himself obnoxious, and if Plunger stays here much longer, he will be put through one of our slaughter-houses and shipped on East in cold storage.” So that’s why I'm off for St. Louis. Plunger. Sr, Louts, Tuesday,—At last Iam a popular hero, I was thrown into jail last night, and my machine, covered with blood and dust, is now on exhibition on the Pike, Tam a childof destiny, Whatever happens to me now, I feel that I have fulfilled my mission, Please send my goggles to the Automobile Club as a memento, Farewell ! Plunger. Special to Life. St. Lours, M. — Chauffeur William Plunger, ‘tthe most reckless of them all,” received your representative to-day with a cordial smile. “1 firmly believe,” he said, ‘that I have made myself immortal, having shown some of these millionaires that they have much to learn yet. [shall meet my fate calmly, in the proud conscientiousness that I have died in a good, anstocratic cause,”” uesday P, The Game of Philanthropy. HIS is a long game, usually taking a lifetime. As many players can enter as want to. The idea is to begin as young as possible, and beg, borrow or steal enough to get a start. Then get a lot of widows, orphans and suckers together and stack the cards. Also have the tariff raised. By and by, when money enough has been raised, ‘Philanthropy, Phi- lanthropy,’’ and then everybody knows that he has arrived at the goal. ae W/E do you want to see the Czar for?” “I'm the agent for a bomb-proof baby carriage.” THE WRONG ROOM. comicbooks.com