The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-03
AN EXCITING TRIP
The COlsOns and Chappelles
Had One to Colorado.
Made the Journey in an Auto
mobile.
ROADS WORST IN WORLD
Flooded Streams Caused Delay
and Danger.
Flirted With Death on a Rail.
road TreStIe.
ROADS WORST IN WORL[

Mr.: and Mrs. A. F. Colson and Mr..
ana Mrs. James ChappeIIe have lust
returned from a narrowing motor trip
" CoIorado. Although they were
gone little over a fortnight thew faced
| death couple of times. and have
! come back to Kansas with shaking
nerves and threats of vengeance to-
,a5s colorado thoroughfares. The
IoauS We're SO abominable that they
We're obliged to seek refuge on the
railroad tracks, and the tracks were
50 Lreacherous that they hung for ff-
teen minutes on cinder bank. with a
united number of seconds in which to
right their machine, cross a trestIe
ana escape from the path of an on
coming train. whose whistle was
shriInng around the corner.
An indignant quartette is stationed
at the Throop hotel. when the Dem
yer Commercial club stopped here last
year." they Stormed, zone of the men
made an after dinner speech and
scath!ngly observed that the Kansas
roads were all right, but the bridges
were mostly tin We are ready to
swear that the Colorado roads are i'm
quantity"
1t seems that the high water in
colorado is making the farmers rich;
they are reaping a harvest from
standed automobile parties if not
from potatoes and corn.
Paid $3.50 to Get Out of Creek.
to slip into a brawling stream; the
passengers Chamber to dry land, and
search frantically for a log or board
with which they can drag their car to
the nearest farm house.
Any sticks or poles we can Dor
row" they demand.
Nope, none" says the crafty son of
the soil only way you can get out
is to be pulled out. Seven dollars and
fifty cents is what I charge
The motorist swears, the farmer
grins, and the deal is over.
Tho first serious mishap that befell
the Colson-Chappelle party occurred
near Watkins. Rounding curve, they
came upon nine automobiles waiting
gloomily on one side of a river.
A contractor from Denver, thinking
he knew the position of the sunktn
bridge. had attempted to cross, and
been swamped by quicksand. He was
1oundering in the very grip of death, !
his car barely showing above the wa
ter, when his rescuers arrived. He |
had been in the stream for eight hours, |
end it took four more to bring his new
machine to safety. He was on the bank |
when the Topeka travellers arrived, ana |
the other nine cars were hopelessly |!
waiting. not daring to cross. An ever |
ready farmer was in attendance, with |
suaye offers of safety for the sum If /
a flyer.
Used Railroad Trestie.
After taking in the situation the To- |
pekans decided to cross by the tracks. |
Mr. Colson volunteered to go around |
about way on foot in order to flag the /
incoming trains. The party separated. |
Mr.. Colson, tramping the tracks, sud |
denly spied the swift approach of |
freight train. The same instant, he |
spotted his wife in the automobile, di- |
rectly in the path of the train. Fear
ing that his derby might not be seen.
he stripped off his shirt, and wildly I
h. Ion
train slowly stopped and a fireman
came to the rescue of poor Colson, who |
was almost fainting- At this dramatic
moment, the automobile hove in sight. |
Colsons eyes had deceived him; ia
stead of his trusty machine, it proved |
to be handcar, propelled by two i
darkies. Perhaps A. F. c. was able 70 |
grin. but that is doubtful. Also at this |
moment Mrs. Colson, far below spied her
husband in the firebOx; he looked hale |
dead wore no shirt, and almost cads-
ed his wifes heart to cease beating
Brought CoIson Out of Shadow Land.
At the end of the line it was as
certained that 40 trains, at odd hours, /
passed over the trestle. The party de-
cided it was fooIhardy to attempt 10 /
cross; Colson was resuscitated, and the
fated car returned to the nine auto
mobiles, still waiting on the edge Of
the stream.
A Denver man was on the opposite
side; he was anxious to get nome, ana
paid $3.50 to the farmer, who guided
him across Mr.. Colson watched the
path and decided he could keep on
the right track 1
Chappelle drove the car across, but the
ladies would not consent to go; they 4
rocked through the water in an old
cart. A German couple were with them
and the cupidious frau constantly con-
graduated her husband on his saving
OF a FIVE dollar bill. After the per1lous
trip was accomplished, instead II
thanking God for her safe trip: she
Ieaped to the land, clicked her heels to-
gether, and joyously chuckled:
Thank Colt! Saved five dollars!
The party had had calm, quiet day
at Estes Park. Secure in the valley Of
the stately mountains, luxuriously fed
on mountain trout (Chappelle caught
two) they had felt at peace with the
world. But trouble was in store for
them.
They spent the night at Byers. and
crossed half a dozen swollen streams
the next day. Finally they came to the
Byjo river, which was absolutely i'm
pa ssable. They decided to attempt the
railroad again. and chugged YEARLY up
the trestle.
Missed Death by Seconds.
Half way across the car slipped.
turned, and slid 25 feet Gown a bank of
ciDders. A train hooted around the
curve. With almost superhuman en-
ergy Mr.. Chappelle pulled the car to the
tracks, rocked over the rails, and clear
ed the road as the train wound around {
the corner
At this very place the year before.
an engine had skidded, tripped and ]
fallen into the quicksand. The fireman ]
was never found; neither was the en- /
gine
mud hols," groaned Nj. Colson. There
were some cinders on the railroad
near us. and we decided to carry them