The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-11-15
PRESIDENT HARDING
tcontinued Prom Page one)

trai,, crow to safe and sane Journey
over the twenty miles.
But today 1t taxed its sacillties 70
accommodate the parry OF s rnrsi TWO
trains. and one of them came out pcIoIe
noon and sidetracked in the Patio walt
inc for orders. The other was hot so
fortunate. Half way out II was eetl@ i &C..
and at two o'clock. the hour llAeu ~.
departure. tho second train was noL !r'
we ',;.bt nor was there any word from II.
Rscause there Is only a single tFac'
.raIn officials waited nearly an nour IoI
The second section or the PresluCH 10.
special, But the president-elect anu NC ne
senators and mil>-lnaires WIZ dr,wer
Guests were on board and tho driver
srcw ,mpatient, cranked up his engine
anu Primitive Outfit.
Tho train consisted of the motor, an
old style narrow gauge baggaee car anu
PASSENGER coach or sllnllar p, ,an; o
tiors. having the general characler,s-
ties of y small town street car. Inc
seats ran lengthwise instead OF across
ibr car. and a small stove in the center
Of the aisle vomitcd smoke ana sPaihs
as IL struggled valia1tly against the
icy gale. But its work was handlcappeu
by the absence of several window
ranes. Ald the members Of the party
bundled up in their wearing APPAREL IN
an unsuccessful effort TO keen warm;
Less than two miles out on the
prairie the driver sighted the delayed
second section coming towards him. and
threw his own motor in reverse to come
back into Point Isabel. Then the
tragedy Of the day occurred.
The Accident.
The load was too great for a reversed
engine. and the crank SHIFT and one OF
the springs under the car gave way
simultaneously.
Night came on during the long wait,
while the Mexican trainmen worked
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 n uasket OF sandwiches ann
several bottles Of coffee were brouEh:
ont to the marooned passengers Mrs
Harding served, sitting on a suitcase
In the aisle and laughing at her
troubles.
Presidential dignity and isolation
went by the boards. For Mr.. Harding
himself was one of the most active and
cheerful members of the group. His
car was unlighted and was also over
crowded. as the unguardcd presence Of
ceIeprity always is. and as the over
coated passengers went up and down
railing toll and kept the enclosure
clothing.
Another Delay.
1t was more than three hours after
the accident and well after. dark, that
the train crew finally pronounced their
engine i'll working order. TO combine
the forces Of the two engines a rail-
way tie had been roped in place be-
tween thcmr and 1t caused another de-
lay because 1t had TO be removed TO
permit the chauffeur to the presIden-
lial motor to crank up. But after
much sputterng and the use Of much
Spanish profanity. the entire caravan
rolled slowly away in the direction Of
Point Isabel.
1t was not until after the arrival here
OF Mr.. Harding and his advisers that
it was decided to remain over night.
There are several long trcstlcS between
here and Brownsville md the rains
have softened the roadhed so as to ill.,
jeCt elements OF chance into the car
ricr Of heavy loads. There arc no in
tcrrening stations In the twenty miles
and indeed virtually no houses stand
Ing in sight OF the right of way.
When Mr.. HARDING reaches Browns
Vile tomorrow he probably will go TO
the home Of Il. II. Creagrr. Browns
vile attorney, whose summer cottage
ne has occupied here. Hc will remain
until Wednesday morning, the time pre-
viously set for concluding his vacation
and for departure for New Orleans to
take ship for. Panama