Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-12-11
CROSSING THE RIVER.
A Pathetic Little Story Based ON
q Railroad Accident.
Ben Went TO Sleep First, but His Faithful
Rachel Followed Him Quickly-Both
Were Ready to Meet Their Maker
and to Receive Their Reward.

Engineer Dimmick, Of the Chicago ex.
press, said he had been in nervous dread
Of an accident from the moment he
pulled out of the Lake Shore depot in
Chicago, writes William II. Maher In
the Toledo Blade. This had made him
unusually careful, but as he reached
Sherman's crossing q little behind time
he began to lose his fear. He opened
the throttle of old 80, intending to gain a
few minutes in the remaining eight
miles between there and Toledo. He
started to signal for the crossing just
this side of the trees when, horror! he
saw farmer driving furiously toward it
as If to cross ahead Of the train.
It was suicide!
Dimmick sent out a aheart-breaking sig
nal to the brakeman, reversed the en-
CINE, put on air-brakes, knowing all the
time the train could not be stopped this
side of the crossing, and then shut his
eyes and prayed.
When the engine stopped a part Of the
wagon was on the headlight, the horses
were distributed along the track and
two old people were lying near the
fence.
Dimmick was the hrst to reach them.
They both breathed. Was there ply
sician among the passengers? Yes, two.
A hurried examination and consulta-
ton. The man was undoubtedly fatally
hurt; the woman probably0o.
They were tenderly carried to Mr..
Richards house near by, and the ply
sicians were told that if they would stay
until the local practitioner could be
found q locomotive would be sent back
for them in an hour. They agreed to
stay. The bell rang; travellers hurried
to their places; some with white faces
st the thought that It might have been
themselves; others full of the impor-
tance participation in the event would
give them and their story, and others,
forgetting themselves, thinking only OF
the sorrow brought to others.
Mr.. Richards placed his house at the
command of the physicians. Stimulants
wore administered, and when the fami-
~ doctor and the children Of the suffer
ers had arrived the father was moan
ing, but the mother had opened her
eyes.
Late in the night, after hours of
faithful and incessant labor over them,
the mother spoke:
'How is father?"
''He is still unconscious, but is well
taken care of. Here is something for you;
now don't worry; don't think; just go to
sleep again" Her son spoke to her,
'T must go to father"
'You mustn't think of it, mother.
You are very badly hurt yourself. You
must be very quiet"
"I must go to father; he needs me-"
The physician looked at her keenly,
saying, in . low tone, to the SON:
81 think we had better fix place for
her near him. She win never be con-
tent otherwise"
The SON coaxed and argued with her,
her bed beside her husbands; she at
tempted to take his hand, but could not.
His stem torious breathing seemed to
make no impression upon her.
'sIs father going to dep she asked.
The weeping daughter nodded. "You
must keep quiet for your own sake,
mother"
We've been married over forty-eight
years." she said to the doctor, ssbut
we've known each other all our lives. -
you mustn't talk, mother"
Eve was raised side by side; he took
care on me when we went to school to-
gether; he's always took care on me.
Put me on my side more, SOS can see
him better
Mother, you must stop thinking and
talking She paid no heed.
Seems 3 If want but little while
ago since we was married; but it's over
forty-eight year. We was talkin, of our