Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-03

DEATH OF MAJOR FIRTH.-MajOr T. Il. Firth
died at FIVE o'clock last evening" from the effects
Of his injuries he received on the 9Th inst
Rarely have we been called upon to publish
Intelligence that has been read with more sin
cere sorrow throughout all this region of coun-
try than will be the brief paragraph above
printed.
Major Firth came here less than two years
ago, young engineer, to take charge of the
Atchinson and Nebraska road. Several months
afterwards he was appointed chief engineer of
the road, and on its completion to the state line
was chosen as its superintendent. These posi-
tons he held until his death.
DURING his brief residence in our city he won
aud steadily held the confidence, respect and
genuine esteem of this entire community, as
well as of the people of all the country tray
ersed by the Atchison and Nebraska road. His
reputation too had extended far and wide and
especially throughout Kansas Nebraska aud
western Missouri he was regarded as one of the
most able, energetic and intelligent young rail-
road managers in the country. He had been
offered and declined the position of general
superintendent of the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe road, and so thoroughly had he won
the confidence of railroad managers that all
who knew him predicted for him career of
usefulness and honor. He was but twenty
five years old, full of health, energy and vital
power, and as pure in heart as he was sound in
body and strong and clear in brain.
We made Major Firth's acquaintance shortly
after his arrival in this city, and early conceived
for him high and sincere respect and esteem.
We have rarely known man so young as he who
was SO well and so generally informed, who had
as clear and vigorous an intellect, or who was
endowed with so much energy industry and
organizing aud executive capacity. Nor have
we ever known one who bore a sudden elevation
10 position Of high responsibility and great
power with more becoming modesty and manly
self-possession. 1t made him neither arrogant
nor vain, He went about his new duties with
patient industry, an indomitable energy, a
pans-taking carefuness and zeal, and an in
flexible integrity that were inherent in him, and
that no circumstances or position in which he
was placed could ever affect or destroy.
His habits were as correct and his life as man
~ and pure as his energy and integrity were
undoubted. strong, noble manhood in him
httingly supplemented high capacities and the
iaithiulest devotion to duty.
We heard OF the dreadful accident that has
| put an end to his Young and promising life lust
as we were leaving New York for Boston. on
Monday week ago, and rarely have We been so
| shocked and grieved. We have hoped AGAINST
hope, ever since that time, that he might be
| spared. We record his death with unfeigned
| sorrow, and pen this tribute TO his brief hut
| brilliant career and his manly and modest
| worth with respectful and lafIectionate remem.
| brance.
He met his death while sedulously and care.
fully discbargiug his duty. He suffered for
many days, iutolerable pain. But his courage
and endurance never failed him, when his mind
was rational Even as he heroically and uncom-
| plainingly bore his suiierings when for six long
and dreadful hours he was pinned under tho
locomotive that fell upon him, his arm crushed
10 a Jelly, his head iearlully gashed, and his
| shoulder and back slowly roasting, so his strong
will and brave heart sustained him to the last.
Death has 10 terrors for those who manfully
40 the duty that lies before thcm.-AtchiSon
(hdns0sl Champion