My father, Joseph “Joe” MacDonald was one of the first motorcycle policeman in the state of Maine, along with Earl Chase. With predominantly dirt roads and very little vehicular traffic, time sometimes hung heavy for the young officers. At the same time, George Maxwell was an engineer on the Interurban Railway Train. The tracks ran parallel along Route 100 through Danville, one of the roads patrolled by the State Police. Naturally, the question arose as to which was faster, the train or the motorcycle, so Joe and George put it to the test.
On the day of the “Great Race,” George had the train running at full speed ahead and Joe had the motorcycle at full throttle. They were neck and neck along the straight away. Joe began to pull ahead as they approached the hill; and as the motorcycle and rider came over the brow of the hill, Joe saw to his consternation a large jersey cow straddling the tracks, contentedly chewing her cud! There was no way to warn George!! The roaring trolley car projected “Old Bessie” to bovine heaven, and it was quite a while
before another “Great Race” was attempted!!!
Jane MacDonald Donnel
[Editor’s Note: Article published by the Portland Evening Express, Friday, Nov 12, 1920; Page 2]
