The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-10-09
A Noble Boy.

Among tho noble young lives that
have been sacrificed at Memphis, says
the New. Orleans Democrat. there. Mas.
one that deserves; special mention
that of Thomas E.. Ho chkiss, Que of
the brave boys that went from Shreve-
port to tho aid of fever-stricken Mem
phis. Poor Tom was a noble son Of ~ !
noble sire-yodpg, handsome, impul!
sive, warm-hearted5 and fearless, he q
poured out his life,li water for those
in distress, and from no other motive
than one Of the pnrest humanity and
devotion to duty, and, without hope ar.
wish of reward. The Shreveport Times.
says of him: every effort was made
By his friends ito dissuade him frDm. !
the step, because he had never had the
fever and because the possession of 70, ;
bust health, seems to, be. no sort. IF safe
guard against the fell di.ease. Tom.
however, persisted, and his reasons,
are given in touching letter, which
we reproduce.
i DR.. T. P Het4hkiss, his father, one
of tho first citizens OF Shreveport, as
he was one Of its oldest settlers, aud
one of natures noblemen, died at that
place Of the fever in 1879. This young
man learned his trade in the office Of
the Shreveport Times, and worked for. z
some time on the Democrat a year or {
more ago. He was sober, lindustrl-
GUS young fellow, and Of! most loyai
BILE disposition. Peace to his ashess
poor, brave and, kind IL l hearted boy!
+ q.il o. b9d9stl MARSHALL, Tex. Ii6}le
I ri4assl 9 sea ~ Aug. 2, 1925
FDEAR Bit -aj5afiagtbGa 9isl 3 bas
! According to promise, / write you n
few lines from this place. You thought
I it rather xqaeerI about. my leaving for.
memphis, but if You felt as l do about
this matter, yon would do as I have
done. For three days / have thought
seriously on the subject; slept on it
two nights, aud now I have no cause
to regret the step, however reckless it
may appear to the average mind
/ Wien the. thought first came to me it
was caused by reading the narrowing
,lappeals from those stricken communi-
! ties appeals that. / think should bo
responded to more particularly by
shreveport, because her calls for help
4 in iher'honr of distress were SO nsbiy
i responded to. 4 After having once, Gems
ceivel the idea Of offering myself T.
Thought oyer it deliberately, calmly.
|, weighed the. chances of my coming out
j alive thought Of the aimiess, shiftless
| life Iiliave led for the last three years,
1 ofths little good Ihad accomplished;
i in short, OF everything bearing on tho
subject, and concluded to risk 1albin
making one feeble effort to take care
of the sick.alt!a faa iii s.tsl.tr--
a Looking back, I see many things in.
, my life that are highly represensiblc.
4 but Irneyer Intentionally did any man,
4 a wrong, and, there 10 no man on earth
i who can gainsay this. Therefore, why
should I, a, man whose religion is be-
/. Ing honest and never wilifully hurting
j any one, beafraid to def aIf1 ana iin-
stYumental in saving the life of any,
J body. i will be- repaid; even should
4 such q result cost, mo, my own life.
j*bal}*sag *aaI *lnal *fHa *feaixea II
! of course, tlonghts' of my brothers
and sisters have entered into.my mind
and ! know they are as good, to mo and
4 love me as much as possible, hui, ]
i have been a source Of annoyance to
: them while floating aimlessly through,
: life. Now, If I die they will hot worry
: over me any longer, FOR I Win be set
u tied. Nc. hiss looked over this. and
J, says / am a fool; so Twill .sddiet.i
q Goodby; write ts,-m at Memphis
n 'tAngels meet me at tile crosa, fuads
q meet me.n Farewell, dear William
), farewell, eyea Yonr friend,.,I. ri 10
Isl 49,. 80, T. F.. HoTcHKiss. :
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