The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-11-15
TOY RAILROAD
IS CRANKED UP
President-elect Harding and
Party Marooned in Point
Isabel During Severe
Storm.
EFFORTS TO GET AWAY
Take Passage to Brownsville on
Great Rio Grande Narrow Guage
Line, But Locomotive
Breaks Down.
[By Raymond Clapper, United Press
Staff Correspondent

[By Raymond Clapper, United Press
Staff Correspondent
POINT ISABEL, Texas, Nov. 15.--
Another effort to escape from this
storm-swept little fishing village was
to be made today by President-elect
Harding and his party. They plan
to try the train again today. the road
being almost impossible from the
rains Sunday was spent trying
vainly to get the president-elect into
Brownsville from Point Isabel where
he has been marooned forty eight
hours in one of the severest storms
that has ever beat over lower Texas.
But the little narrow gauge road
that offered the only schance or get
ting the senator out Of here failed to
make good after taking four hours
to run mile beyond the village and
back again. So senators, million
aires, baggage and all unloaded into
the dark and the party tugged
across the patio by lantern light to
the inn to spend the night hoping
for better luck today.
Through it all, Senator and Mrs
Harding joined in the general good
humor with which the party took its
predicament.
Mrs. Edward B. McLean's famous
Hope diamond, probably the most
costly and famous gem in all the
world, sparkled from her neck in the
center of the most distinguished
party that ever rode in either of the
Rio Grande railroads two passenger
cars.
With high hopes at the prospect OF
being snugly quartered in Browns
Vile out of the storm, the Harding
party packed trunks and luggage
early Sunday morning.
The Rio Grande railroad equip
ment was brought from Belgium fifty
wears ago. 1t consisted of a small
box car for the trunks and tiny
coach mounted without springs, sew
eral windows missing. little tin
stove in the center Of the floor, low
bare benches running lengthwise on
either side, ratuy doors which re-
fused to stay shut most of the time,
and a locomotive" built of an auto
mobile engine, mounted on four
wheels.
The Harding baggage was loaded
in, and as many Of the party as
could. bundled in sweaters or blan-
kets, squeezed into the coach, the
others slowing ayay on top of trunks
in the baggage car. Senator and
Mrs. Harding, wrapped up to their
necks, climbed aboard.
The Mexican engineer got out and
cranked up and after few false
starts, the "presidential special
crawled away. 1t finally reached a
speed Of ten miles an hour and the
spirits of the party went up accord
ingly-with reservations. Four queer
sounds began to emit from the en-
CINE ahead. Then it came to dead
stop and all climbed out Already
the Mexican major donpo was lying
face up under the engine clawinS
among a network of chains and
gearing, talking Mexican meanwhile.
Somebody translated it as broken
transmission shaft Then the 9th er
train, coming from Brownsville, ap-
peared around the bend ahead. 1t
had been derailed and was several
hours late. It's crew pitched in to
help the disabled train. Parts were
scattered about and after three
hours they were all back in place
again. Meanwhile, Senator Fred Hale
had walked back to Point Isabel for
sandwiches and coffee. Mrs. Hard
ing, sitting on an upturned suit case
served the food as senator's. the
president-elect, their wives, maids,
secret service men and newspaper
men lined up for handouts.
The Harding special, again in run
ming order, had to back into Point
Isabel to permit the second train to
get into a switch and turn the engine
around.
At best the trip to Brownsville
takes two hours or more by the rail-
road and because Of the high prob
ability of further engine trouble 1t
was decided to remain over night at
the Point and try it again today.
Greek Election.
TUnited Press Leased Wire Service.] ]
JnNnNN Nov 15-COnfiicting re