By E.B. Pittman
Dr. D. Keystone, world-famous blind-folded driver of automobiles, performed another of his mysterious drives in Johnston and Harnett counties today, sponsored by W. Jesse Stanley, Four Oaks dealer in the Chrysler motor cars, and driving one of the famous Chrysler (Six) coaches.
Dr. Keystone and his party left Four Oaks at 3:42 p.m. Despite the numerous folds of heavy black cloth which had been tightly bound over his eyes, obscuring all light, the driver headed the “car with the human eye” toward Smithfield, arriving there without mishap. Thence the party proceeded back to Four Oaks, Benson, and Dunn, where the trip ended at 4:52, taking the trip in one hour and 10 minutes.
W. Jesse Stanley and H.C. Stanley of Four Oaks and E.B. Pittman of Smithfield accompanied the driver. Great throngs heralded by the auto horn greeted the approach of the precarious journeyers in every town. All were greatly astonished at the careful precision with which Dr. Keystone drove while blindfolded, and many voiced their admiration of the wonderful performance of the car he drove. The car was a stock car, and was absolutely devoid of any freak devices that could have served to explain the phenomenon of a blind-folded man driving it with such precision, stopped at railroad crossings and maneuvering very skillfully seems beyond comprehension.
Dr. Keystone modestly attributed his ability to certain great teachers under whom he studied in Bombay and Calcutta, India, years ago. He was born in Newport, Ky., but it was an aunt with whom he was living in South Australia who saw his unusual mental capacity and sent him on to those mental alchemist, but whom we would call psychologists, to study. After taking certain degrees in India, Dr. Keystone with some fun-seeking pals, joined the English troops in Australia. Transferred to the Canadian troops and subsequently to France in 1915, soon took the fun out of being in the army. In August, 1918 a “Jack Johnson” busted too near, causing Dr. Keystone to become shell-shocked, “gassed,” and a blood-clot to form on the brain. He was blind for six months. However, his knowledge of the ocular science and the Indian philosophy still remained, and these were practiced to self-restoration through believing, as he says, that “man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.”
Since regaining his health, he has traveled over this country and England performing publicity stunts and driving automobiles while blind-folded in every principal city in America.
Dr. Keystone was very much pleased with Smithfield and the courtesies extended him by the officials.
From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday morning, July 7, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073982/1925-07-07/ed-1/seq-1/
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