Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-30

"You2iiast open 5suf hm6whils I'm
BY said Watty
.s"Othsrs begged of him to mind what
he was about, as there was danger. He
in few minutes came q hurricane of fire
which swept all before it; horses and
men, both were killed and when Sans
body was found, by its side was his tobacco
pipe filled ready for smoking, and his lamp
was open as though he was getting light
when the gas caught fire. Poor Sam
there were five children left to deplore his
foolishness and their own poverty.
Day after day my poor husband lay; at
first he felt but little pain, but after time
we could hardly keep him in bed, such
was his agony. Sometimes he would be
delirious, and would shout out, Take that
lamp from him! What! you foolish man,
will We blow us all upi' And then, after
lying quiet for time, he would shout
again, Hes drunk he's drunk! Now
you see, lads what the drink does, it's the
devil itself is drink, and it docs the devils
work, a*&a as
When the inquest was held upon those
who were killed, the coroner and gentle
men came to see my Watty.
"'You'n tell the truth, my good man,
the coroner said.
"'I always do, said Watty.
%. Yes, yes, 1 know that said that gen
tleman; 'but we want to know the true
and full account now, you see.' ss*
"'Weil, said 'Watty, the mans dead as
caused 1t, or perhaps l should not have
liked to have got him into trouble; but he
has got hisself and we too into trouble
enough but did like the morning, and
l almost wished had staid at home, when
l got to the bank and seed two or three
on 'em who had been up all night drink
ing at the wake; they were full of
tomfoolery the drink was strong within.
When we got into the skip 70 go
down, the doggy said, Steady, lads, and
take care; for l5don't like the looks of
some of the out workings; but, with great
care, there will be no danger. We got
down safe and went to the workings zone
had got a little bottle OF rumin his pocket,
and it was handed round to those who
/ told them SO. ,.se
l"s Take sip, Watty' one said, but I
had none. Then they began 10 talk of the
amusement of the wake.
"' only wished we'd stopped longer,
Aauo, ~ Woo q JoiiJ sPiSS'
:" Didst see EN- black ould Ted's face
wi SCOT? 1t was game!
"Thus talking, they got careless of
where they were, and one after another
took out their tobacco pipes.
/ "sPut them up l said, lads, for there is
danger about for knew when saw the
pipes, that the next want would be light
TO Commence smoking, Some put them
back into their pockets, but Sam Silyy
said, with an oath, that he would smoke
" Nay, lad, said, thee'd better not
smoke, because the danger Is not only to
thee, but to all Of u.s. but he would hear
no reason, and threatened to strike me if
interfered. r aH ss 5.tEss
al went to work with a sorrowful
heart, for l did not know what half
drunken man might do. He had not
worked long when there was blast of fire
sweeping along the workings; hOarse
voices shouted loudly, but, almost before
their words were uttered, some who shout
ed would never do SO more. l heard the
noise of loose coal and dirt falling from
the roof, aud then / knew nothing more
Only to think that so many lives should
be lost, and so many people injured, be-
cause one man would not do without his
"pipe of tobacco!" And very often such
accidents do happen from the same selfish
cause. Tell the men, as they love their
wives anu ehiidrn-. - Ieavc m--;- rines
and matches at the top OF the pit, never to
take them down, and I'm sure, if they will
do so, that where thousands are now killed
or MANNED, there only hundreds Will be
injured
"The gentlemen left him, but the sur
geon turned back, and taking Watty's
hand, he said, Look on me as friend, nv
man, when tell you the TRUTH fpr see
that you are man who loves the truth
50 am, sir Watty said.
"'Then, let me tell you that your stay
on earth is but short, for you are gradually
sinking, and nature cannot Withstand the
great shock In few hours at most, you
will have to leave us. know you have
been good man in your life, steady and
regular; but this is a solemn time, and l
will send the minister to YOU
Watty, for there is none good, only One ;
Well, WE'LL said the surgeon, good.
by, and God bless you
ain short time my poor husband be-
gan to wander in his mind he thought he
was in the mine, he shouted out, Don't
Sam, you'll kill as all-put that pipe
away and thenhe talked of his old grand
mother who had been dead many years
ago. Yes. gran, he said, I'll read you
another chapter, and then YOU must tell me
about the angels singing In the air when
the child Jesus was born, and about the
wicked men who went about to kill Him,
and then he sang little bits of hymns he
and had often sang together
Jesus, lover OF my s0ul,
Let me TO Thy bosom n.y.
"When the Rev. Mr.. Burgess came he
could not recognize him, though the good
man knelt down and prayed for him in
passing through the dark valley. Again
he began to sing
.Other refuge hAse none
. 80 Hangr my helpsess sou! On Thee
And 30 the night passed away.
Many who knew him had stepped into
the house to ask after him many with
tears, and if true love and honest wishes
could have saved his life it would have
been saved. III tbk
"The owner of the works called on his
way from the inquest, but Watty did not
know him. Before he went away he said,
L Spare nothing; tell the doctor that Pil
give him hundred guineas if he'll save
Wottv y I,,,t II 90 IF M uao VIZ ctpnd