The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-28

who had unaccountably disappeared The con
ductor shook his head doubtfully, and winked a
me to convey the idea that he did not believe the
young mans story. / scarcely knew what tc
say. What was the ring like" asked.
| "A large diamond, encircled by small diamond
stars and two wires, one OF them broken, Il
hold the setting on the finger" was the immedi
ate response
That's the article handed TOT was going
to say Colonel Pike-'to well-dressed mar
with a black mustache."
Had he on blue scarf with small, white
! spots" the conductor inquired.
l remembered that he had
1 know the fellow; he was N the last car
He had ticket for Kansas City. have missed
him for the last hour"
THAT man." said, 'has the ring. Here il
my card. l am financially responsible, but
don't see what l can do against smart thief like
| that"
Il know the thief" exclaimed the young man
shaking his fist in my face. You're the theft
L controlled myself once more. l very
powerfully built, am over six feet in height, an
excellent amateur pugilist, and was through the
| war; 1t may seem boastful remark, but have
yet to experience the sensation of physical fear.
| This puny individual, who had insulted me-
could have punished most severely with one sell
| tary blow.
There was pause for few seconds, then the
conductor spoke, addressing the pertinacious
claimant, and holding up finger in cautionary
way.
See here, young Teller, this kind of thing has
got to stop while you're aboard this train. If
you want to call gentlemen thieves wait till you
get to the point you've bought your ticket for.
Now, I'll tell you what l think of this yarn of
yours about the diamond ring You can't play
on on me. It's putup job between you and
this Colonel Plke-a black mailing scheme. Don't
believe you ever owned real diamond ring in
your life You look like a duck who'd wear
$4,000 Jewelry. This one we've been hearing so
much about is, I'll bet 81, bogus. so you just
go and take your seat ard keep quiet"
Within IN the next ten minutes so terrible an
occurrence took place that can scarcely re-
member every detail of what passed after the
conductors speech. | moved towards the smok-
lng-car, with my pipe in hand intending to re-
sumo my old place. When 1 reached the plat
form of the car next to it, felt nervous bony
hand on my shoulder. 1 turned and saw the
loser of the ring His teeth were clenche6 and
he glared at me fercely.
Keep your hands off me-" said, disengaging
myself and dropping my pipe in doing so.
II wont!" he yelled. you've got my ring and
I'm going to have it"
now began to get angry at the fellows per-
sistency.
LET me pass or it will be the worse for YOU, y
cried, at the same time Selling him Dy the
collar and holding him at arms length He was
on the platform of the smoking-car l at the
edge OF the next one. The high words and the
struggle caused a number of the passengers to
Iuoh ouI luoy SURROUNDED US. Inc Train naQ
reduced speed slightly to cross bridge over a
rapid river. The weight of the locomotive was
just Oh the rails of the structure. There was a
frIghtful, crashing shock, followed by an ap-
palling bump. l clutched at something to save
myself The car on the platform of which
stood hung over the bank of the river. resting
against the trunk of tree, while the engine
baggage-car and smoker were lying in
confused heap. below in the water
having fallen sixty or seventy feet, kill
ing or manning some thirty human be-
ings Flames burst out from the wreck. The
remainder of the train had jumped the track
the passengers IN the coaches being by mira
Gle unhurt The bridge had suddenly given way
and my assailant, who had caused me so much
annoyance, l could see as held on to the rail of
the platform, in shapeless lifeless mass, with
his legs doubled under him on what was
formerly the roof of the smoker Shall ever
forget that day. The Kissing steam, the burn
ing wood, the groans of the wounded and dying
will always linger in my recollection.
1t was getting dark. Messengers were at once
sent to the nearest station, and every body went
down the steep bank to bring up the bodies of
the charred and dead, and to rescue those who
might be living. The sight when got among
the crushed cars, was terrible. Broken glass
splinters and burnt and scorched arms and legs
that had been wrenched from human beings,
who. few minutes ago, were full of health and
vigor, protruded in CHASTITY manner from the
wreck. With the help of brakeman
y
the young man who claimed the ring
I had found. His heart still beat, but he was
fearfully injured. His right arm and leg were
broken in two or three places His cheek was
horribly lacerated and his skull fractured
really felt sorry for the poor fellow, and resolved
to devote all my attention to him. With several
others of the wounded, he was carried to the lit
tie village of Centerville and then anxiously
waited for the doctors opinion, who discovered
that he had sustained all the injuries had men
n w ho crffa M
| from conclusion of the brain. They said it was
| possible for him to live, but his recovery in any
case would take very many months. I could not
divest myself Of the idea that in some way had
| been the cause of his dreadful misfortune, and
determined, therefore, to make all the repara-
| ton in my power That same night engaged
comfortable rooms for him and paid two
| months hoard in advance L gave the
local doctor. bright young man
$3.50, authorized him to secure a nurse and
draw on me for any additional funds that might
be necessary. What troubled me more than
anything was that could not find the slightest
clew to the whereabouts of his friends or rela-
tives, nor could 1 even learn his name. Any pa
pers he had about him must have fallen in the
river. The next morning l saw the sufferers
broken limbs set and his wounds dressed The
doctors said he was doing fairly we'll, although
barely conscious. then continued my journey,
leaving word that was instantly to be commun-
| icated with should any of his friends come to
Centerville or make inquiries concerning him.
But weeks passed, and one had appeared who
knew him. Battered, shapeless and charred re-
mains of other victims had been identified and
buried, but not soul had asked question or
seemed to know this young man who lay in this
remote village, lowering between life and death,
unable to utter an ineligible word.
1t was in the early part Of September, about
Ave months after what was known as the Green
river bridge accident, that was in the town of
Hudson-on- Hudson, N. Y, on business 1t was
trivial matter had taken me there, but before
had carried out my object received very
urgent telegram from the head of our firm tell
| ing me to start at once for Springfield, Mass,
and close an important contract. This contract
was one for which a number of rival manufact.
urers had put in bids. and it had remained open
on account Of some little difference as to terms.
looked at my watch and found, to my annoy
| ance that had just missed the train that would
| have enabled me to make connection and get to
| Springfield late that night. knew it was nee
for yua tn he fhara hafora hpe ;pac, bo,.,