automobiles

COP PUSHED INTO ARRESTING SELF

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

MGM could’ve made a 2-reeler based on this incident, with Edgar Kennedy — AKA “Master of the Slow Burn” — playing the soaking-wet policeman badgered into arresting himself for spitting on the sidewalk during a downpour.

The charges against Officer Lindley were dropped the next day, but methinks Fred J. Wiseman didn’t hear the last of this.

The aggrieved Mr. Wiseman later became famous for his love of fast machines. He won third place during the California Grand Prize Race of 1909, which started and finished in Santa Rosa, and in 1911, earned a footnote in history for making the world’s first airmail flight with a hop between Petaluma and Santa Rosa.

OFFICER LINDLEY ARRESTS HIMSELF
FRED J. WISEMAN CHARGES OFFICER WITH BREACH OF ANTI-EXPECTORATION LAW
A Few Days Ago the Officer Filed a Complaint Against His Accuser For Speeding His Automobile on Fourth Street

Police Officer L. N. Lindley arrested himself on Wednesday afternoon on a complaint sworn to by Fred J. Wiseman, charging him with violating the anti-expectoration ordinance on Fourth street.

It will be remembered that Policeman Lindley filed a complaint against Wiseman at an early hour Sunday morning, charging the latter with speeding along Fourth street at a rate far in excess of that allowed by laws.

Policeman Lindley not only arrested himself but booked the arrest on the register at the police station. The arrest was made without any resistance on the part of the defendant. The hearing will be heard before Judge Bagley this afternoon. It was during the tremendous rainstorm Tuesday night that the alleged offense is said to have occurred.

– Press Democrat, March 30, 1905

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LUTHER BURBANK, CHAUFFEUR

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

Automobile models are rarely specified in the newspapers of the day, so while the Burbank ancedote is charming, it’s not the reason for inclusion of this item. The Olds runabout (not “roundabout”), was the best selling car at the time. It cost $650, and its 7 horsepower engine had a top speed of 18MPH.

BURBANK TO BE A CHAUFFEUR
Auto Arrives For the Horticulturist Wednesday — Secret of His Desire for Machine

Luther Burbank is to possess an automobile. The famous horticulturist is to cast aside his arduous work with flowers and fruits just long enough to become initiated into the mysteries of the horseless carriage; just long enough to become an expert chauffeur; and this to save time for his favorite pursuit in the end.

George C. Schelling went to Petaluma Wednesday morning to obtain the automobile which Mr. Burbank is to own. The machine was shipped to that place by steamer Tuesday and Mr. Schelling will guide it to Santa Rosa. He will also instruct Mr. Burbank in its proper guidance. The auto is an Oldsmobile of the roundabout [sic] variety.

There is really a little secret in connection with Mr. Burbank’s desire for an auto. To be sure it will save considerable time in trips back and forth from the local grounds to his experimental grounds at Sebastopol, but Mr. Burbank confesses that this advantage is not the only one which influenced his decision to become a chauffeur. The electric railroad was a potent factor in influencing that decision. While Mr. Burbank’s association with natural life in its milder forms has been perhaps closer than that of any other man living or dead, he has somewhat neglected the sterner forms, including the equines. The prospect, therefore, of racing along the Sebastopol road, not knowing whether his horse or the electric cars would beat, has no allurments [sic] for him, hence the automobile, guaranteed not to frighten at trains, no matter what may be its fondness for fences.

– Santa Rosa Republican, July 27, 1904

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FIRST AUTO ACCIDENT IN TOWN?

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

Cars were rare things in 1904 Santa Rosa, and collisions were unheard of — this was the first mention I’ve found in the Press Democrat. Note that although the “Chaeffeur” was driving too fast to stop in time, the newspaper doesn’t chide the driver for recklessness, as it did a horse rider a few months earlier. Also: why that reference to a “noiseless machine?”

Enough was enough, however, and on Dec. 7, the City Council took up “the speed at which autos are run through the streets of the city and around corners,” and set the speed limit at 6MPH within city limits, despite the protest of auto drivers who said it was too slow.

AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
Noiseless Machine Bumps Into Wagon on Fourth Street Yesterday

Mrs. B.S. Kennedy of Sebastopol was thrown from her wagon yesterday morning in front of Seibel’s store on Fourth street by reason of an automobile colliding with her rig, and the mules she was driving scaring at the automobile. She escaped with a sprained tendon and slight nervous shock.

The accident occurred while Mrs. Kennedy was about to turn her team around. The street was completely blocked by teams when Chaeffeur [sic] Shirley Burris came around the corner in his automobile. The mules becoming frightened, stopped and began to back and before young Burris could bring his machine to a stop it collided with the wagon. The sudden cramping of the wagon threw Mrs. Kennedy out. She was picked up and taken in the auto to Dr. McLeod’s office, where an examination was made and the bruises she had sustained were treated.

Mrs. Kennedy’s team ran around on Hinton avenue and were stopped by F. Marion Cooper. The only injury to the vehicles was the breaking of the auto’s lamps.

– Press Democrat, September 28, 1904

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