Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-03-04

/. "ThatWaS about the most exciting expert
ence ever had!
1--WE tossed out one other grapnel, and
finally landed in a peach-orchard, a couple
of miles further on. | mailed letter to
the telegraph company, Offering to settle
for the Wires, but they never sent me any
bill. Although the adventures seemed to
excite so little wonder among the men on
the train, their own GOODNESS has always
been source of wonder to me, though it
may he accounted for, / suppose, by the
fact of their scientific training."-lO YOUTHS
Companion.
THE LAST WORDS OF A DRUNkARD.
The following extracts were taken from
one of the lectures of J. j. Talbot, who re-
Gently died from the effects drunken de-
bauch at Elkhart, Indiana:
"But now the struggle is over, l can sur
vey the field and measure the losses. had
position high and holy. The demon tore
from around me the robes OF my sacred
office and sent me out churchless and God
less, very Kissing and by word among
men. AfterWard | had a business large and
lucrative, and my voice was heard in large
courts, pleading for justice, mercy and right.
But the dust gathered on my books, and no
footballs crossed the threshold of the drunk
ards office. | had money ample for all
feed the Golfers of the devil which possessed
me. | had home, adorned with all that
wealth could buy. The devil crossed the
threshold, and the light faded from its
chambers; the fire went out on the hottest
affairs, and leading me from the portals,
despair walked forth with ME, and sorrow
and anguish fingered within. l had chill
dren-beautiful to me at least as dream
of the morning-and they had so entWlned
themselves around their fathers heart that
no matter where it might wander, ever it
came back to them on the wings of faith
er's undying love. The destroyer took his
hand in his and led them away. l had
wife whose charms of mind and person were
such that to see her was to remember her,
and to know her was to love her. Thirteen
years we walked the ragged path of life
together, rejoicing in it's sunshine and sor-
rowing in it's shade. The Internal monster
would not even spare me this.
II had mother who for long years had
not left her chair, a victim of suffering and
disease, her choicest delight was in reflect
ing that the lessons taught at her knee had
taken root in the heart other youngest born,
and that he was useful to his fellows, and
an honor to her who bore him. But the
thunder bolt reached even there and did its
most cruel work. Other days may cure all
but this. All, me! never a reproach from
these lips; only shadow of unspoken grief
gathering on her dear old face; only a ten
der hand laid more lovingly upon my head
only closer clinging to the cross, only
piteous appeal to heaven if her cup was not
at last full. And while her boy ragged in
his wild delirium two thousand milesaWay,
the pitying angels pushed the golden gates
ajar, and the mother of the drunkard enter
ed into rest. And thus / stand clergy
man without a church, a barrister without
a brief or business, a father without child,
q husband without wife, a son without
parent, man without hOpe-all swallowed
up in the maelstrOm of drink
ONLY AN ENGINEER.-On Monday night,
the 25th of January, as the south-b0und
passenger train of the Illinois Central Rail
road was dashing along through the rain and
darkness, some miscreant ahead-"a very
demon in human form"-removed a rail
from the track of the bridge at Talahacthie
River, in Mississippi. The engineer made
the discovery too late to save the train, and
though he might have saved his own life by
jumping, he stood to his post of duty. In
another moment the engine and tender and
every car following, excepting the two Sleep
ers, jumped the bridge and went dashing
headlong into the river, frightful mass of
wreck and ruin. Miraculous to tell, though
many train hands and passengers were bad
ly battered and bruised, only one life was
lost, that of the brave engineer, William
Ruffin, of Water Valley, Mississippi He
was pnioned fast between the engine and
tender, his entire body, excepting his head,
being submerged in mud and water He
was removed with great difficulty after five
hours, and was found to be in dying con-
dition. His first inquiry on being taken
out was: "Are the crew and passengers
safe?" When answered eyes" he replied:
'Thank God that's CLEVER" and shortly
thereafter breathed his last.
The first tidings received from the wreck
were much magnitied; but when the facts
were made known the people breathed ca
sier, and the general remark was: Its not
so bad after all, only an engineer killed."
Though not so intended, could words be
colder and more unfeeling: "Only an en-
gineer killed? Could a man he intrusted
with a hOlier, more responsible duty than
the custody, the care and safety OF human
lives?
When William Ruffin died in the fulfill
ment of this sacred trust the only thing
about him that was not an angel was his
overalls-besooted though he was. Only an
engineer?
There are loving ones who shed tears for
him, and all brave and true men and women
will revere the memory OF him who asked:
| '.Are the crew all safe,
And the passengers too?
"IcS!' you say. "Ihank iod,
! That's clever
Then, turning his eyes
To the track through the skies
Whsted, "Brakes off!
And "Forever."