The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-12-16
| have some last things to purchase in

was famous for his great care of th,
horses, now urged them continuously tt
increase their speed, until it became al
most run.
"First to our station, Maurice "
Maurice obeyed. Groups of men were
standing about looking anxious.
"What news P" asked Mr.. Merton.
"Four o'clock express smashed uI
and several killed. Our doctors have
gone down, and we are waiting for an.
other dispatch"
ment; the operator bent over it, and the
crowd pressed about.
tSend word to Merton, and have him
bring bandages. Twelve killed. Many
wounded"
Had you any one on the train p'
asked bystander, as Mr.. Merton sprang
into his carriage again.
fear so; but, for your lives, don't
let 1t reach my family yet. Drive, Maui
rice; drive as you never did before !
Maurice urged the spirited horses on.
1t was desolate place where the acci-
| dent occurred; one or two small houses
were seen, but q swamp interviewed, and
| the dead and dying were lying on the
frozen earth, with only such comfort as
| their rfellow-passengers could give them.
| Many who were not wounded were too
much shaken up to be of any service.
The farmers wives living nearest the
scene of terror had promptly sent
blankets and such stores as they could
think of. The engine was an entire
wreck, and, as yet, the relic train from
the city had not arrived.
THANK God, there is Mr.. Merton ~
said DR.. Sharp, as he finished bandaging
leg with pieces of valuable shawl.
Mr.. Merton's horses fairly few over the
roadway, and across the treacherous
marsh. What did he care for horsefesh
now, when human beings were i'll dan
gerP
the doctors to a man whose pale face
show ed terrible marks of suffering,
''help is near at hand"
The man smiled; but ere the fleet
lorses had finished their work he was
1T rest.
injured internally" said the sur
geon. No help tor him."
There was no time for sentiment or
ceremony. The groans of the suffering
jlled the ears of the volunteer nurses,
md Mr.. Merton had scarcely touched
The ground before he was greeted with
appeals from all about him for blankets,
brandy, ether. bandages-in fact for all
The needed hospital stores.
Merton" said DIR. Sharp, when he
had assisted him in removing the few
articles he had brought, they tell me
your brother-ip- law was on the train,
but l have not so, n him. Better keep a
little brandy yourself, and find him at
once"
Mr.. Merton looked everywhere. Some
NF hnx tntt l.
timbers which men were removing as
rapidly as possible; Others sat or lay
upon the ground, bearing their pain as
best they could. 1t was impossible to
PASS any by when little assistance
might save them, and moments seemed
like hours to the afflicted ones.
'' l cannot find him." said Mr.. Merton
a5 he returned to the doctor; "are you
quite sure he was here ?'
"Do you mean Montague, the rich
merchant in town P" asked man who
was sitting near by, holding his broken
wrist until his turn came to be treated.
Yes, my brother-in-law."
. He was here, sir; he sat in the seat
before me; and just before the smash
came the conductor spoke to him and
called him by name"
81 must not give up the SEARCH" said
Mr.. Merton. Were you on the right
side of the Car ?"
eyes, sir, and / was sent down the
embankment over there with halt q
dozen others; perhaps he is there"
"No, he is not" said DR.. Sharp, "the
men brought them all up long ago.
Mr.. Merton was not satisfied. A
whistle was soon heard, and in few
moments the confusion was increased
by the arrival of the train with supplies
OF all sorts, and large corps of sur
geons; the company had done all in
their power to relieve the suffering g
caused by the carelessness of an ignorant
fla ma
There was no time to look for the
missing man now; every able. bodied
person was needed to assist the surgeons
and prepare the train for taking the
wounded back to town.
Maurice" said Mr.. Merton, "blan-
ket 20 r horses and search everywhere
for Mr.. Montague; do not leave a corner
OF the place without examination"
Maurice obeyed, and was not seen for
some time; when he returned, his mas
ter was assisting the surgeon in case
of amputation, and the tender hearted
Irishman dared not speak to him. The
operation was at last over, and good
woman was feeding the patients some
stimulants, when Maurice ventured
near.
81 think have found somebody, sir
You see it's so dark now it's hard tell
ing who, but went down over the side
there and heard woman singing, and
sez l, it's queer bird that will sing anc
the likes of this going on; so waited 6
bit, and shure it was a woman singing
loud as you PLACE, Pull for the shore,
and seq, Where are We nowP" AnG
then it was all still saving a groan, anC
then she sang again. So l said as louG
as ever ] could, Are you hurted, and dc
ye want helpP' and she called back: A
gentleman is here, badly hurt; don't le
them leave u.s. "'And where are YEP
SCI l.. "' just behind big rock on thu
left side of the swamp near the woods,
sez she. l called back, Be aisy nov
till speak to the gentleman and here
am, sir"
conductor, " said Mr.. Merton, spring
ing up, "can you spare lanternp"
"Sorry, sir, but every one is in use
the doctors have them all"
MIR. Merton would not despair.
81 will give you hundred dollars 70
the use of lantern fifteen minutes,
said he; "there are one or two of tn
victims in the swamp still, and / mus
find them"
"Is that SOP We will see what Cal
be done"
The conductor went out, but did no
return; he was needed elsewhere. Bril-
liant fires were already built on one sid
OF the track, and around them wer
gathered the children and wounde
passengers. Their light only made th