Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-01-08
STORY OF A SAD LIFE.
After Years Of Fa.tful Service q
Newsman Dies.
How Charles Van SIse HendrIckson,
Through the Carelessnoss of an En-
pIoyse Lost His Eyeslght-The
Death OF the Old Man.
n. u. NorIdl

III luo year lO-B young man C1m0 tC
Prooklyn ia search OF fans and forum.
His mama was Charles Van Sise Hendriek-
son, and his native place was the pretty
Ii tie Long Island village of Woo ishurg.
He was a strong, well-buils lad OF fifteen
years. allie and willing to work hard for
the success which he believed awaited
him. For a long time. it seem I'd to him,
his parents would not consent to his leav-
ing the old home. but his mind was sc
firmly fixed on striking out for himself
that his father finally OBJ aimed for him an
apprentices position in the carriage man
ufac urin, establishment Of Waters &
Berry, a we'll known firm then doing busi-
ness on Poplar street.
The lads winning ways soon gained for
him a high place 10 the esteem OF his en-
ploysrs, AMI he male many outside
frien Is. Following the custom of the
young m IN of thoss days. who were fond
of The society Of their mates, young Hem
erickson j)ine1 thu V luatesr Ere De-
partment, md used to run with Eagle No.
4 VIII Gu was thea Stationed in the old
+ remains Hall on Poplar street. He WIS
mitch liked | y the other boys and years
terward became a member of the
Veterans Association. Time passed on an
tn, youag man became master OF his
trade. He determined to 60 West when
a out thirty years oil | and set up for him.
SELF 1t was easy to persua - four or FIVE
companions to go with him, aud uniting
their savings they found ID a mo lest bus
mess In a thriving Ohio town. Eight
years latsr he had laid the found ltiol of
a large fortune al | was known as q sue
cessful business man.
But about this ii ne a great misfortune
te,ell him. Throu n the careless 1ess of
an EN- .ploys, wlo was blasting rocks, he
lost his eyesight A lon tim, of sIcku ass
and disco Irage uent fol. owed. III small
competence dwindied away, anil having
been obliged to sacrifice his inter est in the
firm he yielded to the wishes OF h wife,
who had become hom sick and dishelrt-
ened, and returned to Bro1k'yn.
During all his troubles Mr.. He ldr:ck-
son was patient AMI hopeful. For many
years after return ng he was unl5le to
work, and when his health imrrovel it
was excee lin ly d III .ult to flu anyth NJ
TO do Finally, however, in 1871. he be-
gan to SILL newspapers a. thu New York
entrance to FultoI ferry. IN short
time he was permitted to bui d
s and. an for twenty eight lon b. years
he worked hard to sup 'ors his wife
and little onss, whoru he ha | nsvsr sosn.
Crossing the river before daylight had
fairly dawnel be sat b,hin his smlll
coun,er till the last evening paper or
TEX IA" w5s disposed of. Every morning
found him a b pos, Oh serful All con-
tented as when he was most prosperous
and tn, world seemed most bright Those
who crossed the ferry came to know him
well, and by courteous treatm mt he built
MP quite a tidy business Through the
long, ut summer and tho cold winter,
through sunshine and storm, during
troublou' times whea the hopes of the
nation were darkest, from his little bench
between the gates the blind newsdealer
told the news OF the day to the hurrying
passers-by. Many old. timers remember
the sad tone with which he announced
Union sfeats, anil: the glad ring in his
vo ce whe1 the first ii lings came of Lees
surrender to the great solder wh1 so re-
Gently passed away.
Day by day, as lie grew oil lar the sl-
YER threads leg An TO appear in his hair
and beard and the tremor in his voics be-
cams more apparent Although he came
OF hardy stock aad had an unusually
strong institution. the chilly w.nis and
continual exposure told on him, and day
y day he grew thinner AMI so feeble
that he was scarcely able to speak The
many friends who had b3sn attra acted by
his pitifuI vet ever che ,rful face noticed
the decline, OF which he seemed uacon-
scious. and their mannsr toward him be-
came even m Jre kind aid tender.
The excessive heat of the past summer
seem,d especially to effecs tho oil man.
and one score ling July morning his
familiar face was missed. Oae o. his soas
sat in his place and answered the many
inquiries regarding his father, who had
gone to his old hons at WoodsbIrg to en-.
Joy his first rest In thirty years. The
fresh air of the country gave him strength,
and about week ago he returned t. his
old post. Hundreds OF hurry n ? ba 81 ness
men stopped that morning to pr rs the
old mans hand and con ,ratulate him On
the improvement in his appearances At
night, tired aud worn, he folded the few
remaining papers and returned to his
home at No. 81 Carlton avenuA
But the exertion was too much for his
feeble body. The next morning he was
unab to leave thu house. Again his son
to. K his placs and answered the inquir les
of those who had been 50 pleased at the
reappearaac, of their old friend. Each
morning scores Of peope were told that
he was failing gradually, but hoped to be
out again La few DAYS. Bat on Thurs
day morning the intelligence was not so
cheering. Tue sick nsws dealer was
growing worse and had given up all
hopes OF returning again 10 his bench be-
tween the gates. The next day there was
nobody behind the little s:a I'D for the frat
time in quarter Of q century. For q
moment the hundreds of ferry psssen-
gers gazed at Che empty bench In sur
prise and then passed on. The vacant
stand told the sad story.
Toe old man was dead.
A Shark With Horns.