The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-06-17
THE EXPRESS MESSENGERS
STORY


ing as messenger on the BIRTHS
and American (now called Canadian
express. My route lay betwee
Portland and South Paris, thougl
/ my Office was IN Norway, amile anC
q ha,f distant from the latter station
between the two points l trayelet
with my own team. As three ant
sometimes four lines of stages con
nected with the Grand Trunk roaC
at South Paris, through all Of whicl
our express did business, my rout,
was an important and a responsible
one. l ate my dinner and then wen
into the Portland office to get my
freight and my orders for the coun
try. After the porters had taken
out the various articles consigned tC
my charge, Mr.. Prindle, our agent
called me to his desk, and exhibited
a package, directed to party in
South Paris, containing three thou
sand dollars.
.'DO yOn know that man?' he ask.
ed me, pointing to the superscrip-
ton.
Yes, said I.
do you know where he lives;"
yes"
How far from your depot"
a mile and a half, l should think
on the old Rumford road"
We'll" he pursued, I don't care
to have this lay over at the depot,
and you had better deliver it your
self.
I told him / would do so.
1 may here remark that we had no
regular Office at South Paris. 1t
was my custom to deliver such mat
ter as was consigned to parties liv-
ing in the village, within a radius OF
of a half mile or so. while packages
going beyond those limits, | usu-
ally left with the station master, to
be called for. And so, even at Nor
way, it was understood by our pat
rons that we did not deliver expires:
matter beyond the limits of the vii
lage corporation.
As Twas leaving the office | OBJ
served one of the porters, assisted by
a clerk, liftinga soldier into the wag-
on Of the Kennebec Express. Said
soldiers right leg was swathed in
thick bandages from the knee to his
toes, and he hobbled on erutches:
his uni 'orm was worn and soiled,
and he appeared to be one who had
seen hard service.
Poor fellowr' said the clerk, as
he met me on the sidewalk He's
got two minnie pals through his leg
-woundedat at Gettysburg. He start
ed down from the International fol
the depot on his crutches, but he
he gave out here.
And that time, when the great
bat lie was vet a thing of the present
a hero Of Gettysburg was an object
Of interest to me; and 1 felt almost
like taking of my hat to the war
worn and shattered veteran; but he
had gained his seat, and was driver
away before 1 had an opportunity
to salute him.
At the depot I saw my freight
safely in the car, and after we hac
started I took a turn through tht
train, I found our Gettysburg hero
in the forward car, occupying 8
whole seat, with the rim of his old
slouehed hat pulled down over his
face, probably asleep. Poor fellow!
He was weak and weary,
We arrived at South Paris at half
past three p. NJ. where / found my
team waiting for orme-a common ex-
press wagon, drawn by a horse which
l considered rather superior to eX-
press horses in general. AS the last
package was placed in the wagon ]
observed the veteran Of Gettysburg
hobbling toward me on the platform
l had strapped up the tailboard, and
was on the way to my seat, when he
addressed me:
Say, my friend, which way .ye 60
ing?"
"Just around the village, to deliver
freight told him.
He looked disappointed
4 was in hopes" he said, that
should find somebody going up the
old Rumford road a piece. My leg
is played out.
1 remembered the package | had
to deliver on the same road, and
told him if he didn't mind riding
around through the village, 1 would
take him as far as the old Jordan
Place. He said that it would be a
great help to him. So, with the as
,istance Of the station baggage mas
.er, I helped him to the seat. He
vas a large, heavy man, and as he
seemed unable to help himself in
the labor Of hoisting him
Up was not a light one.
Il shall come down easier" he
aid, laughing.
'All right, replied, as I took my
eat by his side.
l made quick work Of delivering
ny stuff in the village, and when we
lad struck the old road beyond, l
.sked my companion his name. He
aid it was John Smith Then l led
lin to tell me of his experience in
he army, and more particularly at
gettysburg. He said he was a
Iaine boy, but was not in the Maine
egiment. He was in Ohio when he.
nlisted and joined a regiment in
hat state.
! asked him which one.
He told me the Forty-eigth.
This staggered me; I proceeded
18th my questions and ere long had
aimed from him all he knew Of Get
Ysburg and more too.
l don't like to be sold but I had
zen sold now, certainly. The man
y my side was a humbug. In the
rst place, I knew that the Forty
igth Ohio was at Vicksburg, with
rant, while Gettysburg was being
ought.
And then ] had heard the whole
tory of Gettysburg from wounded
Ulcers who had come from the field,
nd this mans story was not like
ne story they had told. I had made
p my mind that the fellow was a
Sucker or q sponge" when l was
lterruputed in my meditations by
sudden lurch of the wagon, one Ofl
no Whop1s boyi1or drOnDpd into 4