Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-10-16
WITHIN DEATHS SHADOW.
" irie M, saved by Heroic ExertiOn-
ING neward Of Perseverance.

TL Tue rev York Sun
lanntS Nau mas terrible accident a.
1911 NorWalk, Conn twenty Ave- ~
!. yOos a9y me draw over the rail-.
road bridge had been by some care.
lessness left open, and the env,naor
mistaking the signal, dashed on. AM
down thundered and crashed ths
train. The loss or life was terrible
and very many were crushed snd bad
~ wounded. Even now, after sl
many years, II IL spoken OF as one O.
the great horrors.
People living near by, and otherl
who we're attracted to the scene o1
the accident, worked nobly, and rem.
dered all the assistance they could,
Men came in boats, and tenderly lift.
ed the dead and dying bodies from
the water, carried them up ON the
bank, and laid them gently down to
be further cared for. Among those
attracted to the scene was . middle
aged man, who was stage driver,
whose route was between New Ca.
naan and South Norwa;k. He saw
them bringing up on the bank the
bodies Of those taken from tho water,
and one body particularly attracted
him. It was the bod , of q fair young
girl, and . strange feeling seemed to
tell him that she was not dead. He felt
of her hand. 1t was cold and clam.
my. Placing his ear over her heart
ne could detect NO beating. Yet
something within him said she was
not dead. A physician, after making
an examination pronounced life ex-
tinct, and urged tho driver to assist
the others in caring for the wounded.
He turned to go, and again that ir-
resfstible feeling impelled him to try
to save the gfrl's life. Securing the
assistance Of two women, he began q
vigorous rubbing of the body. He
labored on until the water fairly
poured from him. The lazy curiosi-
y seekers gathered around and said
Il was . foolish task, che was past
helping. Nevertheless, on he work
I'd. No change was observed for |,
aalf an hour, and his heart began to /
INK. For the last time he began
desperate renewal OF his exertions
Alone, for the women had stopped.
Ind as he drew himself up to 20
sway, the girl, with low moan, open
ID and closed her eyes. With rush
he blood dashed to his heart, and he
Utmost tainted, and with open-mouth-
ID astonishment the throngs again ,
gathered around. After . little AZ.
ention she was restored to conscious
less. her life had been saved. |,
After she had learned the faots she 1
vent to her deliverer, and with tears
If iOy thankod him =
She was the only daughter of very
wealthy parents, and deep was their 4
gratitude. When the girl took him I
Q her home, her mother kissed {
lim, embraced him, and cried for I
Oy. III
Her father gave him q handsome /
'old watch and chain and clothing |
that wealth could lavish +,
N him was done. He was urged to 4
,ass the remainder Of his life with I
hem but he declined this, and went
,ack to his own home thankful for y
heir kindness. s
This was 25 years ago. Regularly q
very year since then, he has received =
present in money sufficient to keep
lin In luxury for the next IL months,
,esides presents without end from
hese grateful hearts. He has only to
xpress wish and 1t is gladly graft II
led: He lives in his lowly way, and
% is an old man now, and slowly 9
rawing ncar to his end.