An anecdote

The following story appeared in print, probably in the Rochester, New York Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. A clipping of the article is preserved in the Stewart collection at St. John Fisher College, but without indicating the source.

I have also heard this story from family members, but accounts vary as to whether or not it is true.

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ONE NIGHT, during the T Ford era, when he lived in a country house some distance south of Pittsford, the Rev. A. M. Stewart, local authority on the Seneca Indians, heard, in the middle of the night, the noise of someone trying to start a Model T Ford in the road in front of his house.

"The engine would pop, pop, pop a few times," said George B. Selden, a friend of Mr. Stewart's, who was telling of the incident, "and then poo out. Stewart listened to this for some time, then decided, if he wanted to get any sleep, he had better to out and help whoever was having trouble with the recalcitrant machine. He put on his pants and coat, opened the door, and found three men trying to start the car. They seemed, for a moment, startled by the intrusion.

"`I think I know what's wrong,' Stewart said to the trio. `I have one of these cars. You crank it, and I'll hit the coilbox with my fist. That usually starts mine.'

"`Okay,' one of the strangers agreed.

"He cranked, Stewart hit the coilbox, the motor exploded loudly, then settled down to a nice, smooth hum. `See, I told you,' Stewart called exultantly.

"'Thanks,' a couple of the guys said. They got in and started off. Stewart, pleased with his mechanical know-how, waved them on their way. He went into the house and went to bed.

"And the next morning," Mr. Selden said, after a pause, "Stewart found that his Model T Ford was missing from the garage back of his house. . . . No, the stolen car was never recovered."