Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-11-15
HARDING QUITS
STORM SWEPT
COAST; RETURNS
Endeavors to Reach a
Comfortable Haven at
Brownsville, Tex.
Marooned Four Hours
on Prairie. When Old
Gauge Road Fails.

Point Isabel, Tex, Nov 14.-Failing
in adventurous attempt to quit storm
swept Point Isabel and conclude his va
cation in more comfortable quarters in
Brownsville, President t-eiect Harding re-
turned here Sunday night after being
marooned four hours on an uninhabited
stretch of Texas prairie. and decided to
postpone his moving until tomorrow.
The failure to reach Brownsville was
due to breakdown of q narrow gauge
gasoline-propelled Rio Grande railway
train on which the presideut-elect and
his party had started away early in the
afternoon.
After being informed that automobile
traffic between the places was impossible
because of the storm that disrupted the
party's vacation plans, they returned at
Z o'clock in the evening. without having
been more than two miles away from the
point.
Another attempt to move into Browns
vile will be made tomorrow morning
Late Sunday night there were some indi-
cations that the possibilities of a passage
by motor were improving, but the spec
ial train was held for his use if he should
want it.
The adventures Of the president elect
in his unsuccessful effort to get away
frem Point Isabel had many humorous
and melodramatics touches Bnt both
Mr. Harding ard his guests hcrwtts
misfortune good naturedly and came
back smiling.
It was early in the day that Senator
Harding decided he no longer could hope
TO be comfortable in his little frame cot
tage overlooking Laguna Madra, appar-
entity special target the past three days
of the cold. west gulf norther that over
turned his ambitions for tarpon fishing
and golf He was asked about the auto
mobile facilities for the trip to Browns
Vile, but abandoned that avenue OF de-
parture when he learned by telephone
that some members of his party who
started to motor in last night had ar
rived after daylight and had walked al
most all of the way. So he appealed to
the narrow gauge.
Spends EpochaI Day.
It was an epochal, but hectic day in
the history of the Rio Grande railway
Hauling president elects is not its spec
ialty. for ordinarily it's train makes but
one trip to Point Isabel and back. bring
ing out mail and provisions during the
morning and taking in load of fish late
in the day. It usually moves leisurely
two or three hours being given over TO
the Mexican train crew to a safe and
sane Journey over the twenty miles.
But today it taxed it's facilities to ac-
commodGte the entire party of 81. Rall-
way officials decided to supply two
trains, and one of them came out before
noon and sidetracked waiting for or
ders. The other was not so fortunate
Half way out it was derailed, and at :
o'clock, the hour set for departure, the
second train was not yet IN slght nor
-. o,-l frnr
Because there is but single track
over the long stretch. train officials
waited nearly an hour for the tnrdy sec
ond section of the presidential special
but the president elect and the senator's
and millionaires who are his guests were
on board and the driver grew impatient,
cranked up his engine and started
Old Style Gauge.
The train consisted of the motor. an
old style narrow gauge baggage car ana
a passenger coach of similar proper.
tions, having general characterstics OF
n small town street car The seats ran
lengthwise istead Of across the ear and
small sove in the center Of the aisle
vomited smoke and sparks as it battied
valiantly against the icy gale.
Less than two miles out on the prairie
tho driver sighted the delayed second
SfCGiOE coming tuWaiuS hiiii uiiA 't'' ~
his own motor in reverse to come back
into Point Isabel Then the tragedy OF
the day occurred The load was too
great for reversed engine. and the
crank shaft and ono of the springs under
the ear gave way simultaneously.
Night came on during the long wait,
while tho Mexican trainmen worked and
swore and the wind whistled through the
presidential car. Newly made friends in
Point Isabel heard of the accident
through Mexicans who walked back along
the track, and at nightfall basket of
sandwiches and several bottles of cot
fee were brought out to the marooned
passengers. Mrs. Harding served, sit
ting on suitcase in the aisle, and laugh
ing at her troubles.
Abandons Dignity
Presidential dignity and isolation went
by the boards. For Mr.. Harding HIM
self was one of the most active and
cheerful members of the group. His
car was unlighted and was also over
crowded, and as the overcoated passen-
gers went up and down the aisle the red
hot stove took it's mfailing toll and kept
the enclosure pungent with the smell OF
scorching cloth.
NOR lYNCHES MICRO