Weekly Trinity journal. [volume] (Weaverville, Calif.) 1857-1972, 1878-09-21

D
his slender forefr gers upon the following
paragraph:
FATAL ACCIDENT.-This afternoon
as two men, named respectively Henry
Van Scooter and G. H. Griggs, were at
work chopping timber IN the pneries
near Scranton, a tree fell upon them,
killing Van Scooter insta ntly, and inflct-
| ing injuries upon the perscn of Griggs
| from which he died in less than an hour.
| They are residents OF O., and it is un-
derstood that their remains will be taken
to that place for burial"
b "Hsnry Van Scooter was my only
brothsr-m twin brotaer-who ressm-
Bile me very much, and Charley Griggs
was my sisters husband. It's sad
blow a sad blow l don't know how
my poor sister will bear it. It's about this
sad affair that came here chiefly. l
want to send the two bodies through to
c. by express Thursday, by the IL 40
train. What will be the charges ?"
"The charges will be twenty five dol :
lars" answered the agent.
The stranger only bowed solemnly in
recognition of the reply. Then he was
silent for a minute or two, during which
time he appeared to be struggling with
his grief.
"The bodies will be here Thursday
morning." he said. ~ hope you will
make all arrangements to prevent any
delay. I guess nay package won't como
this week."
The agent assured him that there would
be no delay, and he might depend on
having the bodies go through to c.
with the greatest possible expedition.
The man bowed again politely, then no
said
is the telegraph Office noarf l must
break tho sorrowful news to my poor
sister, 1 suppose, though it's anything but
pleasant duty"
told him how to reach tho place he
sought, and with polite "thank YOU"
the sad man with the red eye walked out
Of the office, and IN couple Of minutes
the sound of his footsteps died away in
the distance.
"A queer sort of a chap" said I.
"a little I'D, +" answered the agent
~ wonder il he heard US talking about
the specie :" l quericd.
eyes" said "but I'm sure he was
listening to our talk when l first saw
him."
"Are you certain of it :" the agent
asked eagerly.
"Well-no," I replied met altogoth-
er certain beyond all mistake, but 1t
looked nightly like il, l can toll you. I"
Suppose you go to the telegraph office
and see what kind ofa message he sends" +"
suggested the agent.
No sooner said than done. hNstened
around to the telegraph office, and as
went in tho man came out. He didn't
seem to recognize meat least he didn't
look at me-and thought il prudent not
to notice him.
"Dd that preacher looking fellow send
a message to CT" l asked Of the
operator, when had gone in and closed
the door after me.
"Yes. Why do you ask ?"
ooh, only out of curiosity" replied.
"Was it anything Of importance Tho
man said that his brother and brother
in law were both killed this afternoon"
The operator took the copy Of the mes
sage from the Gle on the table and laid it
before me. 1t WAS addressed to Mrs. Q.
III. Griggs, c. and signed Isaac q.
Van Scooter. 1t read
"Henry and Charles are both dead
They will be sent homo Thursday."
Everything seemed consistent, and any
doubts had entertained Of the good in
tentions of tho stranger we're speedily
dissolved. / didn't go back to the office,
but turned my steps toward my boarding
place, thinking, as l walked along that
Thursday would be an uncommon day
with mo, with two corpses and 5000 in
specie in my car.
The money was safely deposited In the
car an hour before the tlmo for the trail
to leave Thursday morning. 1t was So
curey locked in two strong, iron bound
chests, and when they were slowed away
in the large safe, and the heavy doors
made fast, / thought everything was
pretty we'll fixed. A few minutes before
we pulled out two wagon passed by the
ear, one OF them containing TIVE collins
and the other six men, who were evident
ly acting as pail bearers. l looked
around for tho bereavod brother with the
peculiar eye, but he was nowhere to be
seen. / thought it a little strange that he
should be absent at such time, but i
forgot all about in moment.
The collins were placed in ono end Of
tho car, and after it had been arranged
that one of tho men should come into the
car and take look at the bodies when
we arrived at Redwood, he shook hands
with the others and entered ono OF the
coaches. As the doors closed on him,
the bells rang and We went steamlhg
away.
1t was pretty busy for an hour or more,
and We had passed three or four station
before | had time to cast moro than a
casual glance toward the quist passengers
at the end Of the car. But after little,
when had more leisure, an uncontrol-
liable wish took possession OF me to look
at the faces OF the two dead men. 1t
wasn't mere morbid curiosity, and can't
describe it any way better than to say it
was a sor. Of vague desire which l could
not quiet ~Lhout satisfying 1t.
1 noticed that the lids were not fastened
down. My next discovery was that the