The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-08-24

This fact II impressed upon you
the moment you arrive by innumsr-
able transportation agents Who
usually buttonhole yo1 At the rail-
road station and sell you . ticket
for the trip before you can take
refuge in your hotel. Here the
transportation clerk also hands you
many photographs Of the Pixies
Peak road and invites you to make
the trip under his inimitable sup
ervision. Outside, hundreds OF
touring cars are parked along the
curb, the drivers vigilantly watch
ing for any nimble tourist who has
managed to escape the first lines OF
Pixies Peak agents and needs Just
q trifle more persuasion.
Thus, with the exception OF few
old ladies and invalids who fear
the effects OF the high altitude.
everybody who comes to Colorado
Springs feels that life will always
be incomplete II he does not i'm
mediately become acquainted with
this historic and hazardous point.
There are three ways in which you
can go-by automobile, by the cog
road, and by burro. 1t is also pos
sible to walk, but seldom comfort
able.
The reporter made the trip by
automobile, since the agents Of this
means Of transportation were the
first to perceive US and sell us a
ticket. The other members Of the
party consisted Of a bride and
groom from Utica, N. Y, an old man
from Detroit. and q couple Of young
ladies from Florida. All Of us were
hustled into the car at 9 o'clock in
the morning, with the exception of
the old man who delayed the party
for 20 minutes while searching for
his ulster.
As the sun was exceptionally hot
even at this comparatively early
hour, everyone was first amused
and then irritated at the old man
for wishing to carry a heavy wrap
but a few hours later, on the top
of the peak, his exceeding fore
thought was not only understood
but envied.
No Extra Charge for Scare.
AS we bowled along over fail
! road to Manitou and thence in the
direction of the Pike National For
est, the driver started an uncom-
Portable discussion by turning
around in his seat and asking each
passenger il he had reason to be.
lieve that he would be unduly af.
fected by the altitude. Everybody
believed himself to be immune, bu'
was acquainted with various har
rowing incidents, told to him Oh
her by Coloradoites, concerning
people who were not so fortunate
One of the Florida ladies hat
heard of woman who had died O
heart failure upon reaching thu
summit Of the peak, and the guido
Clipped gayly into the conversation
with several "reminiscences of PEG
pie who had tainted. become deaf
or turned green and purple ant
had had to be removed by stretchel
to a lower altitude. The bride ant
groom had also heard Of a couple
who had attempted to climb tn
mountain on foot and who had beer
frozen to death as they reached thu
top, perishing Economically in eacl
others arms. This must have oc
Cured, they thought, in the lat
fall, as it could hardly happen il
the summer.
The first real thrill in the trip i
when you reach the entrance to tn
Pixies Peak Auto Highway, 9TH
Worlds Highest Motor Drive" an
are requested to pay 81 toll. Thi
individual payment is not men
toned in the extensive literatur
on the subject, SO that the tw
ladies from Florida were unpre
pared and had to borrow the none
from the driver. They had left al
their money with their mother, the
said, who could not be induced t
come with them.
After leaving the toll house, tn
car ascends rapidly up the smooth
yellow road which constantly turn!
twists and winds about the spruce
covered mountain sides, command
ing marvellous view of the vale
below. Manitou. which you hav
left but half an hour ago, looks lik
group of black specks in the dis
lance, and beyond it the platea
can be seen for miles and mile
until it disappears in mist. Lookin
up, you get startling glimpses &
the road you are to follow, like
yellow snake coiled about tn
mountain.
IF anything ever happened t
the brakes of this car so that
started backing downhill-" sus
gested the bride cheerfully, endin
her remark with a graceful gestur
at aynearbly precipice.
Looks Dangerous.
That's why We didn't make tn
trip in our own car" explained tn
groom. I'VE drove ali the wa
from Utica with it, but otherwis
, it's brand new and you can't d.
pend upon a brand new car. It
apt to develop all sorts Of SUI
prises."
But many people, according I
our chauffeur, do climb the mour
. tain In new as we'll As every othe
kind Of cars, and there are the 81
pected number Of accidents. Ther
|, would doubtless be many more
. the road bed were not so incre6ibl
|. smooth-spch . marvellous spec
, men Of engineering. The intermiI
/, able twisting and writhing, Wit
. other cars passing at frequent II
, tervals, requires cool, sure drivin