Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-12-29
rhsr. on ,ha mack Was a ,igh, ,Aa. sem. .

There on the track was sight that sent Q
thrill of horror through me. Only few
feet aneAd Of rs on the track, stood mere
child-uncousciou of its danger-par-
alyzed so that il could not move. Just
clear of the track lay q woman, evidently
helpless. | looked for Gardiner, TO see
what be was doing, ere l closed my eyes
to shut out the horrible sight. The poor
fellow had not been idle. Plainly
seeing that he could not drive
the child from the track, and that its com
pauion was helpless, he left his cab and
climbed forward on the engine, on the ex-
trems end of the cowcstcher, leaned over,
and while elinging with one hand, reached
ont with the other. There did not seem
one chance 10 Q million to save the child
mot one-but anxiety overcame horror,
and l looked, and shsddered as looked.
How my heart lesped into my very
throat as | saw the train dash on, but saw,
as did 80, Gardiner, with an almost su-
oerhuuan effort, raise the child BY It's arm
from the track and clasp it to his bosom.
Then he sank down upon the cow-catcher,
faint and powerless. His fireman clam
bered out to his aide, and you may rest as
sured that | wss not long in getting to
their assistance. The unusual noise of the
steam had brought cot every person in
the village to witness stbe sight. and as
they realized it they shouted their Joy I'M
til their threats must have been
hoArse. The fireman aud l chung &c
Gardiner there was no need to hold
the child for though rigid and helples,
Gardiner held the little one to his breast
with an iron grasp. Very soon we crossed
the bridge and struck up the grade, where
stop, in front of GARDENERS house With
the help Of some Of the villagers we took
by force the child from GARDENERS arms
and carried the engineer into the house and
laid him on the bed As he sank down the
htle life IN him seemed to come back, and
he whispered. Nv hose child is ?'
superintendent Browns" said neigh
! Dor, to my 1stonIshment.
ut is alive and well-thanks to you
bravery l answered, and Gardiner sank
back upon his pillow.
! The child which Gardiner had 80 mirsc
ulously saved WAS son and only chil" =
our superintendent. 1t Sea- Eu'Si
| T., a. : u.or,;,,,,-tL VI the two men should
- singulsr an ending, but so IT was
! the wife Of the superintendent with her
only child had been out for walk. The
| little one running ahead had strsyed upon
| the track. Hearing the whistle, the mother
called the child to her, but the child, happy
in its freedom, ran on, laughing aud shout
ing, childike, into the jaws of danger. II
was too much for the mother; she made al
/ effort to save her darling, aud before she
could ovsrtAks the little one her strength
failed her aud she fell.
Our engine was injured 90 that il was i'm.
possible TO 60 on, aud another was tele-
grsphed for,
We tried all we could TO bring Gardner
back, but the physician said that the excite
ment under which the noble fellow hsC
require the greatest care and long time 4
bring him back to life. He had that care
you may rest assured.
| was in GARDENERS house when superin
tendent Brown came in that night Tb
old man, as we called him, had lost all sig
Of his anger, aud be wept like q child as h
looked upon the strong man thus prostrst
before him. lie visited the patient DAILY
and his very life seemed to hang upon Care
iner's recovery, and when the danger Wa
passed, the long fever which eDsued wa
broken. and the engineer began to recove
the superintendent was IS happy as a chilli
may say in conclusion. that the in cider
was not without its result, for at once ii
Valley road was thoroughly rebuilt in II
best possible manner, newly stocked, and
to-day one of the best roads in the countr,
running its trains on time. and giving grei
l. .ltwkf a. tho N-ayaltpr nuk1,o tkapEa
the energy and enterprise OF superintende Ger
Gardiner, kind-hesrted, grey headed gel
tlemGn, who is ranked among the best raj
road men in the country. 90 down 20 IS
him twice q year, aud we always talk Abor
the day when be undertook to run his til
table and the result thereof