The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-11-04
GREATEST
hike IN
HISTORY
OF Y.M.C.A.

NJ. C. A. Monday night will go down
in the chronicles of the association as
one Of the most memorable events of
the kind that has ever taken place
in Canon City. There are several
reasons why the event was a notable
one. among them being the large num-
ber Of boys that took part in 1t, the
unexpected adventures it developed,
the hiiarity and fun it inspired and
the surprise it brought out in their en-
tertainment by Dali Deweese at For
est Home on Lincoln Park.
The hike" was planned by General
Secretary Chas. w. Van Patten and
Physical Director H. H. Maxwell and
was participated in State Secretary
Hopkins OF Denver. Prof. w. H. Ray
and c. H. Rau OF this city. in addition
to more than ninety young men The
affair was carried out under the aus
picies of the members of the boys
cabinet OF the Y. NJ. C. A. and its
splendid success was due in a very
large measure to the very complete
arrangements that had been made for
II and the enthusiastic spirit In which
the hikers entered into IT, A larger
number OF young men took part in IL
than had ever participated in a like
excursion given by the local associa-
ton.
All OF the plans were made sub-rosa
and nothing was known by those who
were to take part in 1t except two or
three young men who had TO be let
into the secret to make IL a success,
beyond the fact that they we're to
start from the Y. NJ. c. A. building
promptly at 6 O'Clock and that they
would return to town at an early hour
OF the night. At the appointed time
the mixers under the leadership OF Mr..
Maxwell left the corner OF Fifth street
and Macon avenue for an unknown
destination. They proceeded to Fourth
street and then south to the viaduct.
where they experienced their first
thrill. When about half way across
the structure they were met by a man
dressed in the uniform OF the peni-
tentiary who informed them that q
couple OF convicts had escaped from
the prison and that he was on the
lookout for them. After an inspec-
ton OF the bunch with the apparent
view OF ascertaining whether the
escaped men were disguised among
its members the excursionists were al
lowed to resume their tramp.
The hikers were led down the via
duct steps to the platform in front OF
the Santa Fe station, thence east
along the railroad tracks to Ninth
street As the rear guard OF the pro-
cession was passing the plant Of the
Diamond Fire Brick company q couple
OF men wearing the rarb OF convicts
or the penitentiary. wnom II was sub
sequently learned were Harry Duntsch
and George Strong. jumped out from
the shadow OF freight car and at the
point OF n gun compelled Howard
Cooper and Donald Hoiekvam. who
had been apprised IN advance of what
was going to happen. to step out Of
the ranks into the darkness and hasti-
ly swap clothing with them. Although
the transaction required but two or
three minutes II resulted In an i'm
mediate stampede and from bne end
of the marching line to the other pro-
duced the utmost confusion and ex-
citemeut. The whole thing was SO
wonderfully realistic that everybody.
except Messrs. Van Patten. Maxwell.
Cooper, Hoiekvam and one or two
others. were convinced that they had
been held up" by "sure-enough" con-
victs. To add still further to its
piausibiiity Mr.. Maxwell ran to the Of
fice Of the Diamond Fire Brick com
pany and made pretense of telephon-
ing to the penitentiary authorities Of
what had taken place and to ask for
assistance in running down the escap-
ing prisoners.
Some OF the boys got "cold feet
during the adventure at the brick
plant and one young man decided that
home was the safest place for him and
he took French leave OF his compan-
ions and made hasty departure for
town by the nearest route for ten or
fifteen minutes the entire party was
so excited and demotalized that It was
n difficult matter to keep its mem
bers together. FINALLY when some
thing like semblance OF order had
been restored Mr.. MAXWELL rounded
up the bunch and Il started down
Ninth street In the direction OF Lin
ne,lr na.h nth al n fhn N,1.s.n In line