The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-06-02


brooding over his misfortunes, as even q
stronger man might have done.
During the two years that ELAPSED after
the burning Of the Tidal Wave Robert AIvron
labored industriossly. but without success.
so for as the accumulation OF worldly goods
was concerned he had been able to pay the
rent of a rude cabin three miles from the VII
lsge Of Tower Hill and TO furnish f. scantly.
But the expenses attendant upon the birth Of
two children, and his own severe illness,
during which he was confined to his bed two
months, had exhausted the small fund he
had succeeded in saving TO enable him to re-
move to Cape Girardeau.
Then came time when he could no longer
find employment near his wretched home,
and he sought it some miles up the river, go
ing and returning each day i'm a small boat
Even then it appeared that misfortune was
not wearied with pursuing him, for one night
when returning from his work. a storm came
mp, which overturned his frail skiff, and,
nearly exhausted, he was thrown upon
narrow bar Of sand that made ont from the
bank of the river at the spot where the Tidal
Wave was burned. On this frail and treach-
srous foot-hold ne managed foreman during
the night in full sight Of the town. but una
BILE TO attract attention to his desperate con-
ditiOn.
The dawn Of day revealed still m more hor-
rors, for close beside him, having evidently
been unearthed by the waves, was the szeI-
eton Of human being. At first Myron felt
that fear which seems 20 he natural in man
when he sees the deserted tenement Of one
Of his kind but the resting place which the
waves gave to the living and the dead was so
small that he was obliged 70 remain almost
in actual contact with the yellow bones. As
he sat by the skeleton waiting for help from
the shore. which seemed so tar6y in coming,
he saw about the ribs of the leshlesS frame
a leather belt. Curiosity overcame his hor-
Tor, and, unfasteninc the belt, he found
within it gold coin 70 the amount Of five
thousand dollars
That Robert Nyon was in a fever Of eX-
element hardly needs to be told He had
struggled TO the fun strength of man many
years. and was hardly more than a pauper
when he should have had at least a spot Of
Gods footstooI he could call his own The
dead had brought him what the living had
refused. To take the gold for his own pur-
poses seemed theft. and vet he who had
fastened it about his body could no longer
use It. The struggle between his conscience
and his necessity was a long one; but when
those who came to rescue him arrived at the
sand-bar they found him with a skeleton, on
which nothing could be seen, and no one
could have fancied that the half drowned
man had found a treasure. That the bones
were those of one of the passengers on the
Tidal Wave no one doubted, and they were
+ given a resting-place among the nameless
/ grave of those who had lost their lives in the
disaster. No one save Robert Myron and
+ his wife knew of the money belt, or that on
the inside Of It, cut deep i'm the thick leather,
was the maine ''Henry Parks"
But Myron having the mohey, did not
dare TO use If openly lest some people would
question how DE got t. He had agreed with
his wife that they should use the gold for
their-own benefit, but DO &c with a view of
returning it If they should ever find the dead
mans heirs. This he hoped 20 do by making
such investments as could be readily realized
upon so that they might show themselves to
he good. even If self-elected, stewards.
The cabin they lived in and the five acres
Of land surrounding it was for sale at a price
below its real value. Myron represented to
succeededfn saving small amount of money
about half the price asked-and offered to
buy If If his note would be acceptable for the
balance. The bargain was made, and MyrOn
stil continued TO work by the day for any
one who would hire him, tIllinF his own farm
when he could find no other work- Then he
invested in very small way in stock, buy
ing when he could get decided bargains orly.
Year by year he added to his possessions and
his neiEhbors called him thrifty man.
All his investments were good ones. since
none were made save with a view Of con-
verting everything into cash at moments
notice if necessary, and Robert Myron be-
came a wealthy man. AS is usual with
wealth came the respect of his neighbors who
70 show their appreciation OF money, elected
him 20 the Office of county Judge.
During Fhe year 1870 the inhabitants o Z
Tower HID witnessed the destruction Of
another steamer by FIRE at almost the exact
place where the Tidal Wave went down.
Among all those men who labored 70 save
life none was more active than Robert Nv
ron, and his house was converted into hos
pitaI for the reception Of those who were in
jured, but saved from death.
Mrs Nyron was as earnest in her efforts
to comfort the distressed people as was her
husband. and her labor was signally reward
cd by finding among the unfortunate ones
whom she was nursing her father, whom she
had not heard from since the day she left her
home to found another with the one man she
loved above all others. The daughters heart
was made stfl more glad when the old gen
tlpman told her and her husband that be had
+ heen searching for them several months in
the hone Of inducing them TO return 10 his
lonely home OF allow him 10 remain with
them.
Then he told A strange story. and one
which lifted load that had grown heavier
Nitd each succeeding year from his son-in-
laws heart.
In 1851 Mrs. Mvron's aunt had died. be
queathinE TO her niece the sum Of five thous-
and dollars. Judge Berry. half relenting that
he had not looked with favor upon his daugh
ter's marriage. had sent his clerk 20 carry to
her this legacy. The messenger had written
70 his empower from s. Cloud i'm 1852. stat
7nr that he had traced Mr.. and Mrs. 1IFrOn
TO that nlaca but from there they had gone.
rs he had reason IN believe 10 Cane Gfrard-
eau which place he was about 30 start for in
the steamer Tidal Wave. From that time
Mr. Berry had never heard from his clerk,
and he believed he had lost his life when the
steamer was hurned.
As the old gentleman finished his story,
the husband and wife gazad at each other
with an almost desnairinC hope in their eyes
and it was only with the eresfest di11enlty
Judge Myron could ask the qHestlon, w na5