The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-07-27

Ben G. Price, delegate of the local
lodge of Elks to the last national con-
vention, who has been touring Colo
RADIO, has written the following OBJ
servations
Manitou Col, July %, 1914.
Raining as usual every day. Nat
urally it is cold with it. One day
there fell on the peak six inches of
snow. Yesterday we took the Wild
Flower-trip UP the Ute mountains and
believe me until we got to the divide,
] never saw prettier flowers. Over
the divide we struck snow storm,
which covered the entire surface Of
the earth, then the cloud burst and say
1t was Understandable.
Sheets of water came down and 1t
kept it up for one-half hour, the peace
full mountain streams becoming rag
ing torrents that swept everything be-
fore them; two bridges went out on
our railroad, and one place the water
dashed the track until it dug out the
ill for twenty feet lengthwise and the
width of the track. leaving the rails
and ties suspended in the air; looked
as if it were impossible to get it fixed
for twenty-four hours but we backed
to little station called Floirsant,
there they sent one of our locomotives
flat car loaded with timbers and
men, all they could command and
strated to make repairs.
Commanders Food.
AS soon as | realized our predica-
nent, l struck out for the only general
store to get something to eat, as every
thing had been eaten up on the So
called diner We got two cans of sar-
dimes and package of Uneeda bis
cults, four oranges, four peaches and
went back to our train to await prog
ress in reconstruction of our road bed
and bridges. People were searching
everywhere for something to eat. We
had coffee taking hot water out of the
locomotive boiler and a package of
coffee bought at the store.
Some folks took sick from chill and
fright. About II o'clock we were mott
fled we would try to get back and be.
lieve me it was dangerous, the engi-
neers would every once in while
stop, get off and walk ahead feeling
the track before going on with their
engines, and finally we got out of
those mountains. l have had about
enough, don't like snow any time OF
year but in July it seems doubly nasty
Mountain Accident.
They had an accident on the cog
road, blew out a cylinder head, lost all
their steam; the engineer and fireman
Jumped off, leaving the engine and
coach to run wild down the mountain
The brakeman tried to set brakes tc
save them from crash at the bottom
next to our hotel and partially sue
ceeded; otherwise there would have
been lot of people killed. AS it was
they were only bruised and knocked
about lot. Fortunately the train
was not very far up the track when
1t happened or there would have been
nothing to it, but death.
Dear old Manitou has lost its charm
In a way, and If she wants me to visit
her again she must improve in the
weather. The business people on the
street are very blue; people come one
day and skidoo. Bad weather has nc
charms for people out for pleasure. Il
1t had not been for the jolly good Elks
there would be very few people about
This Is most quiet hotel, too Quie1
for John, but we have not been here
to sleep once, except for today, anC
we did not get up very early, for We
did not get to bed until morning on &C
count of our Wild Flower trip. We
are thinking-if our laundry comes
OF going to Denver tonight remaining
there long enough to secure berths fol
Sioux City. Iowa; that may take 9