The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-12-01

tunately. he fell in a marshy piece
of ground that lined each side of the
track near the river, The soft,
yielding earth saved him from being
knocked insensible; and, as he in
stinctively struggled up, he was
conscious of a fash, q
shock, q crash, and then a
dead silence, followed Immediately BY
loud cries, escaping steam, and agon-
izihg shrieks that seemed to pierce
through and ride above the awful
tamalt.
Joe knew only too well that d col
lision hind occurred at the mouth of
the very bridge he had selected to
die upon. Dragging himself from the
Hire, he hurried to the wrecked train,
The telescoped cars were jammsd and
smashed into each ether; and the aW-
ftl tact that they had taken fire
was but too evident; and the wounded
Wretches, held to an awful death with.
In. were screaming in agcnS fir fslief.
ALL these had been extricated by the
men and passengers left unhurt; save
one, d woman whose screams pierced
the hearts ofall. Joe, seizifig ali ak;
cut his Way into the, bufning Ear, and
f6und the poor sufferer cruelty hurt;
held by seat. How in the smoke
and heat he worked cannot be told
in words. He would have persisted
in his attempt but for the water
poured over him from buckets and
even hats which the passengers car
fled from the river: At last he wSn;
End gathering the sufferer in his arms
he worked his way from the cars.
Arms were stretched tenderly to
take the last living Of the wounded,
and she was carried to q bank and
laid settlY Upon the green, cool sod:
doe dragged himself after: Why lie
did SO he could scarcely say; for he
was 90 exhausted lie could scarcely
Stand: He threw himself Upon the
ground near the form he had rescued:
The woman was insensible; but low
ing hands, feeling, as men feel in such
awful calamities. the Savior moving
within them, bathed her face and gave
her stimulants until consciousness re-
turned,. and she feebly i1oaned out
her paiii aid thankfulness. A few
words We're uttered that made Joe
rise and look Upon the face of the
woman he had rescued. She was his
wife.
"Polly," he said, bending over her,
"don't you know me? / am Joe,
your husband
His face biackenad by smoke, with
his hair burned and eyebrows singed,
so disfigured the poor fellow that it
was by his voice alone she recognized
him The poor little white face was
distorted by pain; but, crowding it
down; she feebly said, "Joe-1'm so
glad"
He attempted to put his arm
about her, but a cry of agony at the
move caused him to desist. AS it
was; he stopped and kissed her
trembling lips, and made a pitiable
effort to cheer her with loving words.
She was dying. He felt all the old
love came back, ill-assorted as they
had been.
For a while she gasped as for
breath, and then by an effort she
gathered words to whisper, "dear
Joe" and died.
1t was nearly a year after this ter
fible event that our hero sought the
home of one he now felt was his only
love. The story of his heroic con-
duct and the dreadful railroad ac-
cident, and his strange effort to
rescue the woman who proved to be
his wife, had gone into the journals;
80 that he was free to enter the hum
BILE dwelling, an honest and honor
able abode. While waiting in the
parlor, he heard a step upon the
stair. His heart throbbed SO that |
it seemed to choke him; and when
she did appear he could not utter a
word. Nor was it necessary. He
seized the girl in his arms and said,
"Be mine"
81 have been yours, Joe." respond
ed the girl, "since the moment you
saved my life.-Belford's Magazine.