This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: JohnWOBrien Surnames: GEHMAN, LAPP Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.missouri.counties.jackson/6730/mb.ashx Message Board Post: "The Kansas City Times" (Missouri) Wednesday, May 10, 1899 ADVENTURES OF DR. LAPP. This is a story of a physician, a bicycle and a dog, of how the physician was trying to get home ahead of a rain storm, how his wheel was rendering him excellent service and how the dog, also trying to get home, caused a jamboree that smashed the wheel, skinned the doctor and disposed of the dog in some manner unknown. The doctor in the case is Dr. John G. LAPP, assistant city physician. The bicycle is his own and the dog is unknown. Sunday night Dr. LAPP was racing home on his bicycle to avoid the approaching storm. He lives at Twelfth and Forest and was at Eighteenth and Forest when the first big drops pattered on his nose. He crowded on more steam and whizzed along the deserted thoroughfare like mad. The villain in the shape of an immense dog --- Dr. LAPP's description makes him four feet high --- was trying to cross Forest avenue. As the rear wheel of the bicycle passed him the dog, either out of malice or unintentionally, stuck his nose between the flying spokes, and for three minutes there was a combination of man, dog and bicycle in the air that gave the rain storm an appearance of a cyclone. Finally, Dr. LAPP skimmed lightly over the asphalt pavement on his hands and knees for a block or so, and after turning three back somersaults and standing on his nose, settled back into his usual quiet life. In the meantime the dog had gone, either straight up or elsewhere and patches of dog hair were all that remained to tell the tale. A good Samaritan in the form of a coal dealer helped patch up the doctor temporarily, but the assistant city physician moves about rather gingerly now and displays two knuckles that look more like deviled ham than anything else. ====================================================== Additional information from Dr. LAPP's death certificate: Born: 27 February 1870 - Chalfont, PA Died: 23 September 1956 - Kansas City, MO (age 86) Father: Henry LAPP Mother: Lydia GEHMAN ====================================================== (I have no connection with this family but I'd appreciate knowing if you found this posting helpful.) johnobrien@kc.rr.com ====================================================== neirbo10 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.