The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-11-15
PRES. HARDING
IS MAROONED
ATTEMPT TO LEAVE
PIT. ISABEL FAILS
Four Hours Tie-Up In, Howl
ing Storm Ends In Re-
turn to Gulf Resort

Point Isabel. Tex. Nov. l4-Fsilins
IN an adventurous attempt 10 gus
storm-swept Po!rt Isabel and conclude
his vacation IN more comtortabie quar-
,ers In Brownsville. Prcs!deRt-elect
Harding returned here tonight after be-
ing marooned for four hours on an un-
Inhabited stretch Of Texas prairie, ana
decided TO postpone his moving until
tomorrow.
The failure 70 reach Brownsville was
due 10 breakdown OF the narrow gauge
gasoline propelled railway train on
which the president-elect and his party
had started away early in the afternoon.
After being Informed that automobile
traffic between the places was imposs!-
bile because of the storm that disrupted
the party'S vacation plans. they returned
At o'clock In the evening. without hlN-
ing bean more than two miles away
from the point.
Another attempt 10 movo into Browns
willie will b. made tomorrow morning
but II Is uncertain whether Mr. Harding
will choose the railway or the winding
rain-soak.d trail that leads into town
through the mHnotouous eNpanS" 'ot cac =
tuS and mesquite. Late tonight there
were som. iudirat:onS that possibilities
Of a passage by mu,or wer" improving.
but IN" special train was held for his
use X he shn I'D want Il.
The three day storm responsible for
tho par,y's dsfnar,ur" had made tho 3u-
.omohIlr roads !mpassthle and had 50
softened tho railroad bed that ths spec
ial train. drawn by gasoline motor.
made tho run at slow speed
In BROWNSVILLE Mr.. and Mrs. Harding
will stay at. the X. y. Crcagcr home.
whose summer cottage they have occu-
pied here.
The special on which Mr., Hardtns
intended TO make his trip to Brownsville
consisted Of a gasoline motor. small
baggage car and passenger coach. ac-
commodating about twenty passengers.
A milo out ot Point Isabel. spring
gave way under the motor car ana
there was a delay Of moro than an hour
Then the train backed up to Posnt lsa-
bel again 70 sidetrack so that another
train could pass.
The bleak norther that had blown tor
ths Aast three days howled through the
messenger coach. which had several
window panes missing. and the small
stove installed IN the car failed 10 keep
the members OF the par,y warm Most Most
wraps and blankets. and several took
refuge in tho baggage car. whose solid
walls offered little better protection
from the gallo.
Came Back Smiling.
Tho adventures OF the president-elcct
In his unsuccessful effort TO get away
from Point Isabel had many humorous
and melodrama,!c touches. h"th MT
Harding and his guests bore their mis-
fortunes good natHreay, tbs,r ana SasSnEe s'se and
spend another night AZ tnis seaShole
resort OF which they had taken TO leave
tive hours before.
II was early in tho day that Senator
hrding decided he no longer could hope
10 be comfortable in his ittle frame
cottage overlooking LeaEuna MadrS. ao-
parently q special target during the
last three days OF the cold. wet gulf
He asked about the automobile facili-
ties for the trip 10 BROWNSVILLE but
Abandoned that avenue Of departure
whom no learned by telephone that some