The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-07
BELL HIT FLOOD
AND PUMPED WAY
BACK ON HAND:CAR.
Temporary Chairman Waded.
Up to Knees, Dragged
Through Mire and May
Miss First Session.

FAIRVIEW, LINCOLN, NEB., July g..
will Theodore A. Bell, Of California;
temporary chairman of the Democratic
National Convention at Denver. reach
the Colorado capital in time to open
the convention tomorrow, after his
hurried visit to w. J. Bryan and his
difficult departure. due to floods?
This was the question which more
than platform or vice-presidential cans
didacy agitated w. j. Bryan and local
Democrats tonight.
The First Act. n
e Mr.. Bells arrival stay and depart:
-ure constituted a melodrama. The first
act brought him to Lincoln to-day
anent '.the papers inevitable In dra-5
matte plots. and in this case meaning,
the platform and his speech as TEN M =
porary chairman of the conventions
William J. Bryan. the kindly old gen-
tleman,' in the play, occupied the Gals.
cium light when the patter of hoofs
introduccd the hero, Mr.. Bell, his car-++
riage despatched with mud and his
clothing limiting of the flood condl-i
lions in which the scene was set.s,ls
salt Creek was on rampage; the
bridge over Antelope Creek had peen
partly washed away and the nero haaS
arrived through remarkable diIIiculs1es
at the .'Old Homestea d. the ~, act !e.
closed with hurried ANNOY nc l, asul ., ~
the part Of the Kindly Old Gentle
man" that II the hero wished to save
the situation "he must away on the
first train.
Train after train was chosen, only.
ia fail as a possibility Of egress as
the flood was everywhere around Lin
coin. Finally, the low comedian N
tho person of General Manager Mel-ss
cher, OF the Chicago. Rock Island ana .Il
tV,.-f rot Il ~
medium of telegam and proffereds
n special tain to ovecome the machina-
tons OF the flood. sse
The Second Act. >.
THE curtain on the second act rose
with Theodore a. Bell pumping away
on q hand car in company with four
brawuy railroad hands and q news
raper correspondent in the direction
OF set scenery, representing a 1000 ana
inundated alfalfa crops. M
They were straining every effort III.
an endcavor to reach the special train
povided by Mr.. NIalcher on the other
side OF the washout. This act closed
with the flood passed and the nero
on board the special train. 81, 81
The Third Act. ; ss
The third act was laid at Fatrvtew.s
with W.gJ.s Bry an awaiting news OF the
hero. who WAC reported at last safely.
and the situation saved. In others,
words, 1t scented certain that Mr.. Bell
would arrive at Denver In time TO
bring down the gavel which would
open the Damceatic National Conven-i
ton at Denver at noon Tomorrow
the hour set for this ceremony.
The foundation for the play was as,
follows: Mr.. Bell. a passenger on e.
train, bound from California. to the
rar, WI a
by California delegates to visit Fair
view and notify Mr.. Bryan that Ma
than Colo had been ss.ccted as ma
tional committeeman for California;
ana that Cole a.ll Fell, after heated /
argument, had finished BIZ a greeting to-
work shoulder 10 shoulder in support
of the ticket to be chosen at Denver
Water Up to Knees.
f In pursuit OF this mission, Mr.. Bell
TO !. Omaha and from. oma ha. vi tn many
difficulties, to Lincoln. Ten hours We're
consumed by Mr.. Bell In covering tn
sflfty-fve miles between-,,:D mana !. ana l,s
half dozen points for other ,trains.s
and was held five miles from Lincoln ol,
for seven hours because OF g. noo ~;
5Railroads out 4 of business. Grips M
hand Bell started to walk to the city,.
He encountered half q mile as OF SF :a,ss
under IVA ter, ana SIaueqi pdt = Us WIZ
time up TO his knees. he flnally reac y 81
ed the Lincoln Hotel, and. after ca tlng
started for i lssli ryie W I'm ~
}carrla &c. reaching that place at, noo3...s
z deluge OF rain which had faltsns
Tor nine hours. made the journey
:nerilous. and when the driv o.. the
CAB, in whieh6Alr. Rellsyas seated fin rNl.
IN reached the subur ban farm OF all
Rrya1l mis- team was ia Il but e1h aust a-ls3
a EsIs1 some Fast Talking, gh$ IN
Z, Ia that haa#na0s less
than a Il half hour In which TO. confer
WITH the Democrat tic lea der, " Isei MI
covered the questions OF his speecn
IantEother matters he had IN. mind when q
he left Ogden, Principal OF these VAS
his address as temporary 9 na irlnans
Patticular8 attention was given 10 the
PARTON of, it which ref erred to tfIe Il
campaign publicity plank. Mr. He'll
took OCCASION also during his - ayssS a
iEniryiew to acduatntt sAIr.s Bryan Nv 10 n
conditions In California; Il SyS$
ss An sel ephant works from the are oS *
lastof so. He ca haul ISL tons. IA ft In DIV
SaS ton. and carry eN tota On Mn
back 4, " 81 ssss ~