The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-07-19


Of him as ore Of the most promising
youths in their employ. Finally he had
served his time, and twenty-one found
him his own master The hard times
had set in in New York, and dreaming
that the city was too full he determined
to seek employment il a wider field.
The parting between himselfand mother
was sad one, for he had never been
separated from her for a day; but who
shall describe the parting between him
and little Felice, the name that had
been given to her by his mother? 1t
was affecting in the extreme, and when
he had torn himself from the clinging
arms of the child wept herself to sleep
upon the matronly bosom of Mrs Wal
than.
Weekly letters reached them from
Hank telling them of his success, but
finally they became less frequent. and
at last ceased altogether. The hard
times had reached Altoona and our hero
had found himself discharged with
nothing to do.
The fearful Sunday came when the
strike broke out in Pittsburg. The
Philadelphia troops reached Altoona and
the train WAS stopped by desperate men,
The engineer had been driven from his
post, and for moment after the rioters
had been dispersed by volley from the
troops it seemed impossible for the train
to proceed, as no engineer seemed dis
posed to risk his life by taking charge of
the engine.
At this juncture young man stepped
forward and offered his services. He
expressed himself confident that he
could run the train with perfect security
rs he knew all the points of a locomo-
tive. His services were accepted. and,
laying his hand upon the lever. the iron
horse gave a throb of triumph as the
huge driving wheels began to move.
Just then a renewed onslaught was
made by the mob, and villainious
looking fellow sprang into the cab and
seized the new engineer with a stalwart
arm. 4 sharp report followed, and the
ruflian fell upon the iron floor in front
of the furnace with the life blood yelling
from a wound in his bosom. The man
who fired the shot was Hank Waltham
who had offered his services to run that
train IN defense of the law.
Amid the angry roar of the defeated
rioters and the elated shouts of the mil
itary the train swept from the depotyand
in another minute was rushing away
like the wind.
With his hand upon the lever our
hero looked down upon the wounded
man who lay withering at his feet.
Where had he seen that face before?
In an instant the question was an
swered. The features were those of the
man who had thrown the poor nurse
into the river on that pleasant night in
June more than seven years ago.
But there was no time for questions
now. The stern duty of the hour must
be attended to, and with anxious eyes
the brave youth stood at his post looking
ahead, with his ewes watching the dis
tance as the iron steed sped along the
rails.
Meanwhile the surgeon of the regi-
ment had made his way over the tender
10 the cab. and WAS examining the
injuries of the wounded man.
He shook his head gravely as he cut
away the bloody flannel shirt, revealing
an ugly wound near the heart
your time is short, my man." he
said; "and if you have any word to send
to your friends, you had better say it at
once, for you have not two hours to
live
\ ghaslly shade spread over the mans
begrimmed features.
"Oh, my God" he grasped, "and does
it end thus? No, have no friends" he
said, "all are dead. Perhaps it is better
for all that they are.'
For a moment the rattle of the train
and the quick click of the rails as the
wh5 els sped over them, were the only
sounds that broke the deathly silence"
Then the dying man spoke again.
"Ihave much on my mind, much that
l must account for at the bar of my
Maker, but there is one load on my
conscience that lies like lump of lead
and 1 must get rid of it TO right the
living tefore die Take this packet"
said he, producing folded manuscript
from an inner pocket; 'it will tell you
all"
He paused, and then commenced 10
cough violently; the next instant foam
of blood bubbled from his mouth, and
he was dead.
The train reached Pittsburgh in safe
tv, and Hank was well rewarded for the
manly duty he had performed, and then,
and not till then, was he able to read the
manuscript of the dead murderer.
an case Of my death" so ran the writ
ing in substance, 81 wish 10 send word to
Mrs Reginald Waltham in reference to
the child that she has been supporting as
her own, and which was rescued from a
watery grave by her son Henry on one
evening OF June, 1870. The child is the
only daughter Cf Roihgang Van Hard
wick, who died shortly af,er his wifeis
decease III the above year. By his will
his brother, Wolfried Van Hardwick and
wife were left the guardians Of little
Eifrieda until she became Ofage, but in
case other death the property dc cended
10 WOlfried az next Of kin. At the pres
ent time WOlfried Van Hardw wick is in
full possession Of the estate and property,
believing that the child is dead. His
reason for this belief is that he engaged
ME to make away with the child, which
agreed to do. / managed TO become
acquainted with the nurse, and ingratia-
ting myselfinto her confidence, prevailed
upon her to take trip to Brooklyn. On
the boat / made known my plans, and
she refusing her aid. and threatening to
expose me, 1 threw her into the river.