New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-10-03
Roach Remembered Him.
n the Milwaukee Sentinel.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
] An intimate friend of John Roach
told this of him at the time Of his as
signment: "At twenty-five he had a
wife and two children. At this time
he was a slight slip OF a fellow and did
not weigh much over 100 pounds. He
became i'll and was confined to his bed
until all of his moderate savings were
gone. One night, when there was
scarcely a penny IN the house, the
physician. came to see him, and after
examining hinsaid; John Roach, you
should know the truth. You must
die. Your lungs are hopelessly affect
ed. ] tell you this SO that if you can
make any provision for your wife and
l|chlldren you will yet have time. Roach
was in despair. He saw absolutely no
hope for him in the future. He did
not fear death, but the thought OF
leaving his wife and children to a des-
titute, poverty stricken life pierced
him to the heart. He prayed all night
that he might i've In the night a
vision came to him. It seemed as ii
he were looking directly into heaven,
and from that abode of happiness
came a promise to him that he would
live. The next day a fellow.workmen
came to see him. The workman was
going West.
| HE came to see John Roach, he
thought, for the last time. He bent
over him and kissed him goodbye be.
fore he went away. After his. depart
ure John Roach found that he had
left under his pillow his weeks wages
in the very envelope given at the
works. John Roach did not. die.
With the modest help of his friend he
got astart. Thirty three years after he
was walking down Broadway when he
saw the back OF a plainly dressed man
whose figure seemed familiar to him.
He was moved by some spirit or de-
sire to speak to this man. He stop
ped him and said: L do not know
your name, but I ought to know it.
What is it?' The man gave it. It was
the name OF the workman who had
befriended him on his dying bed. Said
Roach; do you know me?' NO 4 am
John Roach, was his reply, the ship
builder. Yes, have heard of you in
the newspapers. But you must excuse
me, | have in hand very pressing
matter of business wait amoment,
said Mr.. Roach. Did you ever know
another John Roach?' Yes, but he
died some thirty odd years ago. No,
he didn't; I am that same John
Roach, was the shipbuilder's reply.
The man was very much aston
ished, but he again made a move to
pass on, as he was pressed for time.
But Mr.. Roach made him stop and
tell what his business was. He found
that his friend had small house and
shop in Brooklyn. It was to be sold
under the hammer to redeem a mort
gage at l2 o'clock that day. It was
IL O'Clock. The man was hurrying
to see the sheriff to ask him if he
could not put OF the sale a little longer.
Mr.. Roach said to him: l know
that sheriff well. You will lose no
time stopping with me- He dragged
him into a restaurant. where they
had a hurried lunLh. During the stay
in this place Mr.. Roach made out a
check for the full amount of the mort
gage. He then took his old friend in
a carriage and they reached the sher.
/ ifs office in time to redeem the prop
erty. One of the sons OF Mr.. Roach
afterWard married q daughter OF his
old friend"