Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-08-10
A Fathers Curse Fulfilled.

Ralph Donboskie. aged seventeen years,
and his brother John, two years older, were
mining coal in the Cameron colliery. near
Shamokin, Pa, last Friday evening, when
huge mass of rock and dirt fell on the un.
fortunate young men, killing the farmer ip-
stantly and injuring the latter SO badly that
he will die. As the bodies were being
brought up the dark shaft correspondent
standing at the top of the pit heard young
man remark that the dead boys father
would hail the event with joy. The repor-
ter asked why, and was told that four years
ago Jacob Don boskie buried his wife in War
saw, Poland, and two months later, in com.
pany with five unmarried sons, sailed for
the United States. Arriving at New York,
the father and three sons wanted to 60 to
Shamokin while the others thought the
West the proper place to make their for.
tunes. A consultation followed, in which it
was decided that the entire party should 90
to Shamokin. Arriving there, the family
signed an agreement that each member
should procure work in the same mines and
deposit $40 month in the saving fund un-
til enough money should accumulate to
erect two double houses in which the proprie
was strictly observed until last April, when,
after the buildings were erected and paid
for, the father tried to persuade his sons to
sell the fruits of their hard earned labor and
return to Europe. The proposition was re.
fused. Donboskie spent month endeavor.
ing to alter bis sons determination, but it
was of no avail At the supper table on the
last night of April he told the FIVE assembled
sons that on the next day he would depart
for New York to take passage to Poland,
and that they must give him enough money
to square his share ofthe property. This
was done, and the following morning the
sons accompanied their father to the depot.
When the train was about starting the
youngest boy said:-"Good bye, father;I hope
you will have safe return" The father
replied ITO hell with you all; I hope
every one of my disobedient childrenwil be
killed in the mines," and as the Mortified
sons begged the enraged man to take back
the awful wish the train left the depot. As
the story was completed, the wagon,
bearing dozen dusky miners guard.
ing the dead and injured, reached the
surface. at that moment the three
other brothers came out from an sd-
joining slope and hastened to the stretch
ers containing the unlucky ones. The grief
the big strong men displayed as they gazed
on the faces of their dead and dying broth
ers was heartrending. Then one thought of
the fathers unnatural wish and whispered
something to his two brothers. The strick.
en- boys we're placed in an ambulance and
the journey home commenced. Within
fonr squares of the house photograph gal
lery stands, and when the party reached
there the wagon was stopped. A brother
ran into the gallery and minute after.
wards came out followed by photographer
with his camera. During this time the two
remaining brothers jumped into the ambu.
lance and reappeared second later. one
with his lifeless brother in his arms and the
other feeling the weakening taps of the dy-
ing heart against his OVID. In this position
the photographs were taken, while in the
background scores of wondering miners and
townspeople formed strange sight. 1t was
afterward learned that one photograph was
taken which WAS Immediately sent on its
way to Poland as protest to the bitter
father, accompanied by an eloquent letter
begging him to take back the curse which
they believe has already worked so much
evil.