The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-07-16
lFrem the Washington Republic.


An Interesting story well Told.
CHAT WITH THE CoNpucroR.-"It's not
often man loses anything by kindness. I
know little matter of that sort saved my
lie, and perhaps the lives of many others at
the same time.''
SHOW was ttiat," asked we of our friend
Rawlings the model conductor.
"Why, we had an Irishman on this road
watching tunnel. 1t was warm weather,
so ne used to 60 into the tunnel to keep cool.
rather think he used to take little liquor
when he was lonesr me; any way he laid
down one day to listen for the cars. He fell
asleep, ard very imprtidently got his head cut
off by the express train. Well, there was
the last of that Irishman: There was the
DEVILS own in his shanty when we took the
poor fellow up, and we got away as soon as
we decently could, for you know it's not
agreeable to be surrounded with distracted
family when you're neither a doctor or a
nurse or preacher.
Somehow was always sorry when as.
sed that place; Of course ! felt as if-not
exactly the same ihing-but just els bad might
happen to me some day and there would be
another row in family. told my wife
about it, and she sent the family some little
shihSS. uC WluOW vi Juc OedQ IrlS0m8n
was Catholic, and, as was then on very
fast train, would sometimes take up the old
woman on Sunday and carry her to church
at Martinsburg. somehow thought it was
satisfaction to her to 60 to church, for she had
but little chance in the world anyhow. I
certainly did not expect to get anything for it
in this world, and expected they had so
much scored against. me in the other that it
wouldn't amount to anything there. That
was during the summer. One night the
next winter it was very cold and the noun.
tains were covered with snow; we were run
ming to make time, when, on turning a curve
the engineer saw waving light on the track
and we soon heard some one shouting.
was then on the platform.
The engineer slackened up and stopped
the engi ne, and we got ut and went ahead
in the dark to see what was the NATTER
There it was. A large land slide had fallen
across the track, near the shanty of the old
Irish woman. She had built up large fire
and watched for the train, for the curves
were so sharp that we might have been upon
the slide before we could see it. So, when
we run up there was the fire like revolving
lighthouse, and there were the title Irish
carrying brush like SO many little beavers
She had watched all that night in the cold
But for her in another minute we should
have run into pile of dirt and stone as big
as Barnum's Hotel. should have got pit
ticket certain, for was on the platform
What would have become of the passengers
and train you can guess as well as can"
We expressed hope that the old widow
had been properly rewarded.
"The passengers made up about eighty dol
lars; the company afterwards gave her a
shanty rent free, the brakemen and engi.
neers bought her cow, and she made out
very WELL And when handed the mon.
ey to her that night, she said: Gentlemen
and ladies, Pm thankful, and may we niver
know the want Of what ye give me. But
what did IVES mostly on account of him
there. He was kind and thoughtful to the
poor and the afflicted, and I'd watched till
froze before harrum should have come to him
if could have helped it,"
"D---n the thing, ii made me choke right
up"
"Passen. Jars for the Rela-a-y" "Don't
70 rget you umbrella, r: there might be an
explosion, ard you'd wantlt TO keep off The
cinders." Let me pass your bandbox miss. !"
"Take care of your little boy madam. no in.
surance OH him." Gall right go ahead 20
mr.. Tbo