The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-05-25

4
had time to think much or do anything the ca,
stopped, and We were safe at least. On our cal
the breskage had been all outside, and not one
within WIS scratched. I think all felt truly
thankful, for the great delivsrance, to that kind
Providence who had watched over us during orr
wanderings and upheld us IN many perils. An
examination showed that an axle.rse of the hind
truck of the baggage car had broken about 500
yards before We stopped, a whee! had turned in
| upon the track, passed all the way under the
smoking car. and sent it kiting to one side, and
then taken to our car, in the forward truck OF
which it had become entangled, thrown it of
and fairly wrecked it. The only actual injury
done to the body of our car was to smash the
platform when We run into the car in front. and
even THE was not entirely demolished. Fortu-
nately the coupling had broken, and We we're
standing some distance from the balance of the
wreck.
No one was injured but the baggage.man
After q while he came limping up and stated
that when he found his car chasse.iux around
in wild way. and the trunks tumbliug about
like dice at rattle, he concluded that he had no
further business there, 90 he evacuated. He
thought it was simple sprain of his ankle. An
hour later called to Geo him, and found it bad.
" swollen and giving much pain. sent for
Drs. Gray and Dodd. who bad been with us all
the way. They soon pronounced it dislocation
of the ankle joint, and regretted that they had
not been called at once, when it could have been
reduced without difficulty. They trsed all their
strength, pulling and pressing, but to no pur.
pose. then tried my grip to the utmost, but
only ELECTED groans and yells and some hard
words from the patient, who said he would soon.
or lose the joint than suffer that way again; 80
we left him to take his chances when he should
get to town-Dr Gray grumbling audibly at
him for chicken.hearted baby that could not
bear the prick Of pin.
We could not have been wrecked in q safer
place. We had just left long down grade and
were upon level sandy plain, above which the
track was raised but little, with shallow bitches
on either side. There was no chance to overturn
the cars, and loose sand is good bed for cara or
men to jump into.
We had had no dinner, except sandwich
picked up by the way; and while we were in.
debted to the oysters of the previous day for
poor appetite at breakfast, they had long since
done their work, and we were looking forward
to supper at the St. James with hopes which
were thus summarily interfered with. started
on foraging expedition to the white House,"
near by, and the only building in sight. A very
old gentleman, lover eighty, he told me,) whom
had seen in the cars, had got there before me,
and sat shivering over the fire. The woman,
with half a dozen small children around her, said
that she had nothing to eat but three eggs and
some sweet potatoes, which she offered to cook.
told her to boil the eggs for the old gentleman,
and as for the rest, we would do very we'll till
we should get through SO gave each of the
young ones a half dime, and left them in excel.
lent spirits.
The locomotive had been detached as soon as
practicable, and sent to town for cars to tale us
on, and about eight o'clock we saw it coming in
the distance. When it arrived we made a move
in as good order MS possible. 1t was long way
from the broken platform down to the sandy
ground, and there stationed myself to assist
the ladies down. A.nong the last came a ten
year old boy with great box. helped them
down, when right behind him was twelve wear
old girl, staggering along with yearling baby
in her arms. These also helped down, and put
the big baby in the girls arms again, when she
tumbled over the aforesaid box, and then some
crying was done, but was busy taking down
| ~
the rest of the family. Last of all came the
mother, with an infant ia her arms of the same
age and condition Of Mrs. John Rogers tenth
Chilli, with .aadry bundles in her hands. Some
one else, think Mr.. Turner, had taken charge
Of the girl with the baby and the boy with the
box, and got them forward somewhere in the
cars As soon az had got her and her babies
and bundles upon the ground, took child on
each arm and bundle in cash hand, and told
her to follow me carefully, for it was no dark
one could not see whore to STEP By carefully
feeling our way, we finally reached the cars, and
got them safely on board ~nd found them com.
Portable seats. She thsnked TIE in u low. soft
voice. which sounded W il .he spoke with diff.
Guilty. had not noticed her in the cars before
the accident, but now by the ligh, III the c,rs |
saw that she and he, children were very plninly
dressed, bnt perfectly cl-~u I'D he I. She wor.
an old tn.hionsd sun.bounet, which projected
over Ter face, almost ttf,c,unliy conce.ling it,
hut she raised her head to thank I'M, the
'ish' -""n- upon it. l nw IL wHs wet with tears.
She ~ x'''u.ly looked about tor hrr other chill.
dr'n. hut they were not IN the ,ar. told her
H.