Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-09-20
DEAD ON THE CARS.
A Countess Dies Upon Railway Train
A Frantic Husband.


have the saddest story to tell you, my
dear Globe, that my pen has ever traced.
You may have seen the brief statement
Of the fact in other papers, but We were
in the midst of the sad scene, and it is
terribly vivid yet Starting for a trip to
Chicago and ST Louis, our party were in
the gayest of spirits, which not even the
pouring rain we found at Omaha could
danpen, for our transfer train was very
comfortable. AT Spoon Lake, on the
Missouri's eastern shore, our Pullman
cars were waiting for us. There was II
little confusion and delay in securing our
sections; then hats and water proofs
were doilid and consigned to our African
porter aud we settled ourselves for quiet
chats till the dining car bringing our
supper could be attached. IN and out
among our seats, with childhood's nnO
cent courage. there fitted baby girl,
whose sweet fice tempted IFS all to pet
her. The words she tried to say were
English, Uftener French, and her nurs.
evidently belonged to la belle France.
They were on their way thithrr, but. she
said, 'pauvre NJ diane was very III in
Ner compartment, p hinting to the one
lttle state-rOom In the car.
a
and forth with an anxious .ook. bat We
little guessed low near the shadow OF
leath was lowering. Al 6 le-b4rg sc
Jaw the invalid as we passed through the
car, and the palid face shocked Us all
with the pnchcd, drawn look about the
mouth, and the half-shut eyes SO fixed
aud CLASSY. 1t was pitifnl to hear the
husbands auguished calls; to see how
utterly unconscious She lay, aud to feel
that she was ( st "dHftMg Out into that
unknown sen th,t tlows all round the
W0rd.n s physician WAS with us, ant
NO effort was splrci ke"pthc ilnitern.
'ifr, which in attn must have hren so
brilliant Tue face wa- exquisite in it'
chise.llng, the dainty hands were straugelN
perfect, and ON the pale fingers gems
glitiered and flashed costly rliment lay
IN heaps about her, ANA evidently ne
years had been passed IN rare luxury. /
WAS hard To stand beside her noR an'
watch the life fade, to touch the forehead
and lind il damp with the CHI prophetic
moisture, aud to feel that with the rOa
aud rattle Of the train about Us we mus
know that death stood In our midst.
Tie car was very full. In one cOrne
group were busy with cards in anOthe
section men with brunzed faces wer
talking Of Texas stock. little childre
: ran about in merry play, aud the 'rllnl
% soon to be mOthcress nestled In tn
arms OF her sOhbiug nurse, with gricveo
, wondering lonk that was very litliul.
think We shall none of us ever forget th
f moment whcu the hysician's 5 verdict wa
I given, and we WHISPERED 1t from one
r another. The lady was Catholic. n
I priest was on the train, and the poe
A husbands frantic prayers rs he held IL
r crucitx alOlt oi pressed 1t to the pain
] lips, were touching beyond all word
d The servants kuelt beside their masie
t kissing the liteless hands, while We stoC
e near hushed and awe-stricken and whs
e the last ilultering sigh had passed, !
= mothers hand could have been mo
tender than the stranger touch that clos'
k the eyes and folded the hands in fin
s rest. With streaming tears on his hlae
c checks, our porter came and went, doit
Il all that could be done. The conduct
c was unweurcd, and the gentlemen on d
o train attended to all the sad details tn
e were necessary. We are apt to think
e ruihOad men - US blnil specimens
e American manhood keen, shrewd al
ii avaricious- We who were on tn
d train, al Il who remained till the par
d started for New York the following dl
i will never forget the gentle kin mess
" the Chicago. Burlington and Quincy OF
N cisls MIR. Doyle, the General Passenl
IS Agent, and Mr. Strong, the Superinten
" cut, put aside all other business and {
y voted time and thought TO the strick
a. group, as if they had been of their X
le dred. Fatigue was unheeded, every det
a was arranged with the tenterest fo
T. thought, aud the poor Count was relicy
% Of all care, while the stunning force
E the sudden blow left him almost d
TO tracted. Boston Globe.