The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-29
RODE ON AN ENGINE
Merry New York Heiresses
Show Real Western Daring.
WITH HAND ON LEVER
One Girl Guides Locomotive
at Mile a Minute Clip.


| It was Jim Hays that pulled train NO.
into Oklahoma on that menu able f2nd
of April, eleven years ago, when tee00
persons had broken camp on the border
and made the maddest rush and wild
est run" for homes witnessed in this
world since recorded history began
Jim was at the throttle again yester-
day. He is one of the best engineers on
the Santa F'e system and as fine a cava-
lier as ever sat oAthe right-hand side of
a cab.
! At Wichita three former Rough Riders
boarded the south bound passenger train.
They. were Charles Hunter of Enid, Pro-
fessor Johnson OF Shawnee and Frank
Frantz, who was made captain for brav-
cry on the CORY crest of San Juan hill,
where was written in blood and bravery
the brightest page in the history of the
Spanish-American war.
On that train was Colonel Alexander
Brodie of Arizona, the originator of the
famous Rough Rider organization, next
to Roosevelt in command, greater than
anybody IN achievement and first of all in
the warrior hearts Of the wild western
soldier. With Colonel Brodie were Mrs.
Brodie, Mrs. James Banks Reynolds of
New York. Miss Josephine Reynolds and
Misses Elizabeth and Louise Van Buren,,
members Of that New Holland stock that
gave to the United States its eighth
president. Mrs. Reynolds Is the aunt Of
the Van Buren, girls and they are joint
heiresses to s5o.000,O0o. They gave New
York City Union Square, they own every
thing from that point to Sixth avenue
and collect from the one firm of Tiffany
Bros. alone $4,000 annually in rentals.
Mrs. Reynolds recently gave $4,000 tow
ards the endowment Of an hospital in
West Virginia and is noted for other
quiet but liberal charities. She and her
daughter and nieces are warm friends of
Mrs. Colonel Brodie and hence warm
frineds of the Rough Riders. They &C
cepted the invitation Of Colonel Brodie to
be his guests at the Oklahoma City re-
union, where they will remain a week.
After that they will visit Indian schools,
missions, military posts and such other
places of interest as they can find in
Oklahoma
The young ladies are exceedingly hand
some and cultured and Notwithstanding
their wealth and social standing they are
charmingly democratic. Miss Reynolds
has been to Arizona, where she climbed
mountains, went into mines, talked with
Indians and rode bronchos, but this is the
first western trip Of Mrs. Reynolds and
the Misses Van Buren,. and you may be
sure they are enjoying it.
While Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Colonel
Brodie were enjoying the superb scenery
of the Arkansas valley-the immense
stretches of a green and gold landscape
the winding river, the painted houses
and immense shocks of grain, the girls
were listening 10 the romantic stories of
the three Rough Riders. They became
very much interested in that feature of
the program of the reunion where Miss
Agnes Mulhall is to ride a bucking pony
and rope a wild steer. Frank Frantz paid
a fine tribute to the girls Of the west in
connection with the details. Il believe"
said he, that Miss Mulhall is brave
enough TO vide on The engine of this train
going sixty miles an hour"
why, l. wouldn't be afriad to do that
myself" said Miss Reynolds.
Frantz wagered a box of candy that
she wouldn't attempt 1t.
Fortunately Henry E. ASP, attorney for
the territorial interests OF the Santa Fe,
was on the train and at the request Of
Mr. Hunter he promised TO put the young
lady's nerve to the test. when the line
was crossed.
At Newkirk Engineer Jim Hays gave
his seat in the engine to Miss Reynolds
and placed the lever in her hands. Fire
man Oscar Davis gave his seat to Miss
Elizabeth Van Buren,. Captain Frantz
and Sergeant Hunter sat on the coal box
Conductor Ed Kitchen gave the high
sign" TO start and the great engine began
to move. Engineer Hays gave his fire.
man the wink and soon the smoke stack
began to spit fire towards the sky. The
passengers saw the telegraph poles blend
and the shocks OF wheat shrink into the
stubble. Houses, like meteors, were gone
before you thought you saw them, and
square fields of corn looked round and
whirled like an electric fan The train
went four miles in four minutes. and
when the engineer saw the girls clapping
their hands with delight and wanting the
pace llttle faster. he saw It was use
less to test their nerve any farther. and
at Ponca City they thanked him with a
smile and returned to the Pullman look
ing Ike they had been riding the tail OF
a cyclone. The section hands will be
picking up the hair pins and shirt waist
buttons for d week and the girls VIII
think they have cinders IN their curls for
a month.
From P6nca City Mrs. Colonel Brodie
and Miss Louise Van Buren, rode on the
engine, and Ike the other ladies, they
stood a speed OF forty miles al hour
without fiinching. Mrs. Brodie blew the
whistle and Miss Van Buren, rang the
bell ~ crossings. Engineer Jim hays
and Fireman Oscar Davis said that many
a veteran engineer would blink his eyes
going around curves at such a speed.
How do you Ike IL" asked an Eagle
reporter 81 one OF the Misses Van Buren,
1t was delightful" was her response
Il wouldn't have missed such an expert
ence for anything The engineer and
fireman are true western cavaliers"
what feeling cid you have when the
train WAS makioy = clip OF a mile min
ure?'
1T was the feeling % one when the eie-
vator ef high building drst starts Gown
ward felt awful light but soon get over
Il I shall count K one % the mast de-
lishttul experiences az nv a.e"
Ter TO one The girl. vii be riding buck
ins bronchoes h-tora trey Leave the ter
Ti,cry ard going CD II bslSons II they
have al opportunity II New York they
would nos think - riding o. an engine
There - something IL the atmosphere Ct
tho west thas gives pSen.s Romantic ca--