ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti θɹˈiː, æt ðɪ ˈeɪdʒ ʌv θˈɜːɾi θɹˈiː, bˈeɪts, ɐn ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ pɹəfˈɛsɚɹ æt wˈɛlɛsli kˈɑːlɪdʒ, hæd tˈeɪkən ɐ tɹˈeɪn tɹˈɪp tə kˌɑːlɚɹˈɑːdoʊ spɹˈɪŋz, kˌɑːlɚɹˈɑːdoʊ, tə tˈiːtʃ æt kˌɑːlɚɹˈɑːdoʊ kˈɑːlɪdʒ.
In 1893, at the age of 33, Bates, an English professor at Wellesley College, had taken a train trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to teach at Colorado College.