Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-06-14
GRIFFIN OF sxrY.sIx.
Although Poor and Frisndless, Ho Proved
Himself TO 10 Hero.

AIynOuRn EOOE anu EItDnuAon4p IL AAOND>s
Himself TO 10 Hero.
'0rifln, OF &c."
That was the name he gave the land
lord of the dingy hotel at JOyner's sta
ton.
He was big, good-natured-looking
fellow, who stood straight six foot two
But there was q sad something in his
looks which at once gave the impression
that Griffin had history locked up in
his heart-and melancholy history, at
that.
Well, he went to work on the new
railroad, welding his pick-axe and
shovel along with the rest of them; toll
ing faithfully from dawn till dark; say
ing but little-quiet and reserved among
the rabble.
1t was not long before saw that he
had been used to better things than fell
to the lot Of an ordinary day laborer on
q railroad; but though, when the road
had progressed q distance Of twenty
miles from tho station, and we were
forced to camp out, my cot was next TO
his, he never took me into his conf
dence. Only, one night when he thought
was asleep, saw him take a picture
from his bosom and shed tears over 1t
It was the face of woman.
Griffin was q mystery to us all; but we
all liked him-no one could help liking
him. lie was known as go" to all the
boys in camp. ''Sixty-six" was the name
of railroad station, where he had for
merly lived.
But if we liked him, working there
among US day by day, how much more
did we admire him when we learned his
true character; and we had not long to
wait before it was revealed to us.
On day which will always re.
member with moist eyes and thrilling
heart, Griffin and were riding on the
engine. We were hauling to the camp
fifteen cars heavily freighted with steel
rails and ties. We were going down
grade at rapid speed; when, just as we
were nearing the camp the engineer
made On exclamation Of surprise and
horror.
There was little child on the track
The shrill whistle screamed desper-
ately for brakes, but the engineer knew
they would be useless.
''Good God!" he cried, II can't stop
her in time. The child will be killedr'
"Where is Griffin? He was leaning
forward just now straining his eyes at
the little white fodder on the track"
"He's climbing along the rods to the
'front.'" shouted the engineer. "God
guide himl He may save the child"
And he did!
But Griffin?
Poor fellow! That brave act of hero
ism cost him his life.
Tenderly we bore his bruised and
bleeding body to the camp; tenderly we
laid him down, and stood around him
with wet eyes and bowed heads.
'Comrado," he said, reckoning me to
his side, ''kneel down by me and let me
whisper something to you" ~ I-e
obeyed, and then he said:
'"There is picture that ! wear next
to my heart; it is the likeness Of my
wife. have never been as good to her
as might have been; loved the bottle,
comrade, and it made as both unhappy.
have been separated from her for q
year. But / have been trying to over
come my weakness; / meant to be bet
ter man and 60 back to her again. But
now take the likeness-you will see her,
| and tall her how died"
Was 1t unfeeling in the men that
stood around, that as the life died out Of
his face and his limbs Strengthened in
death, they shouted, till the solemn
words reverberated: "Three cheers for
Griffin, of '66!'
Mol 1t was an outburst Of admiration
for dead hero!-F. L. Stanton, IN At