My cousin John Jesse Jones was about 6 years older than me. He was a real character when he was growing up. He was an only child so he was spoiled rotten. His dad was my fathers brother. They lived about 4 miles north of our home. We saw them 3 or 4 times a week.
One Sunday afternoon, when John Jr. was 12 or 13 years old, they come to our house for a short visit. Uncle John had promised Jr. that he would take him up to the Ladd Bridge on the Cossatot River. My dad and uncle John were in the back yard just talking. There is no telling what they were discussing, but my guess is it was fox hunting. John Jr. was asking his dad about every 2 minutes when they were going to Cassotot. Uncle John's reply was, "In just a little bit." John Jr. just thought he couldn't wait. When you are that age it does feel as though time has stopped when you are wanting to do something or go some where. Uncle John and Aunt Maud had a Model A ford Coupe, that was almost brand new. It had a rumble seat and was in excellent condition. At that day and age all cars had the shift lever on the floor. They had a clutch and very little brakes. The brakes were referred to as mechanical brakes. Uncle John took of after the car. He was very crippled in his left leg. His left leg was somewhat shorter than his right. Running was a problem. Before he could catch the car Jr. let it veer to his right. He veered into a Sweetgum tree that was about three feet in diameter. It stopped the car. Uncle John he was was so angry he could have bitten a nail in two. He pulled Jr. from the vehicle and started to whipping him. Uncle John was a very high tempered man. The longer he whipped the madder he got. My Dad and Aunt Maud got to the car and told Uncle John to stop whipping him. He paid them no mind at all. My dad knew he had to stop him so he got him in a bear hug from behind. Aunt Maud promptly got Jr. back to the house and started checking him to be sure he was all right. As it turned out he was all right. Doubt he could sit for a week or two. Although his trip was short I sure he remembered it for a long long time. They did go to Cossatot later and I guess Jr. enjoyed the trip despite all of excitement he caused. Incidentally because of the better and heavier material with which the old cars were built the car was still in perfect shape after everything was over. Also it had hit the tree in the center of the bumper. Those bumpers would withstand a five mile an hour crash!!!!!