Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 269, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1918 — WOMAN DRIVES AN AUTO TRUCK [ARTICLE]

WOMAN DRIVES AN AUTO TRUCK

Makes Better Time on Long Trip Than Man. Machine Works a Little Hard So She Takes It Apart and Fixes It. By ELOISE ROBINSON. Paris. —The lieutenant looked worried and a little apologetic. “I don’t like to ask It. I know that isn’t what the Y. M. C. A. is for. But if It is possible^—” “How about It, Miss Gow? You’re the one to say.” The divisional secretary turned to the woman in the mo-, tor transport uniform. “Why certainly, lieutenant. If you’re not afraid to trust me. I’ve never driven a Fiat truck, or any car as heavy as that, and you’re taking a risk. “I’ll take It!” The lieutenant’s fiown disappeared. ’“Gosh, that sets my mind at rest! If I sent the only man I have down to Paris for the truck he would be a month getting hack with it, and goodness only knows what condition it would be in when It got here. But I’ll rest easy If you undertake it. If you can get back inside of two weeks I wish you’d do it.”

So Miss Ella Gow, a Scottish woman’ serving with the American Y. M. C. A., who, by the way, has been decorated for distinguished service to the Serbian government—went to Paris and brought back the truck. She isn’t very big herself, and everybody said she couldn’t do It. They didn’t know her. She came driving up the hill Into V In just a week from the time she had left, and one day and night of

that time had been spent on the train getting to Paris. “She works a little hard, lieutenant,” Miss Gow told the officer. “You have to shove her clear through to fourth and then bring her j&ack to where you want her.” The lieutenant tried to shove her. He couldn’t. He, pushed and panted and became red in the face and used bad words. But nothing worked. “She’s a beast,” Miss Gow admitted. “You have to get on to her. But I think I can make her'nil right if you don’t mind my taking her apart.” “Do anything ly ou want,” growled the lieutenant. So Miss Gow took hei* apart, and now the lieutenant can drive her.