Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-06-28
GRIFFIN OF slxTY-sIx,
Although Poor and Friendless' lie Proved
Himself to he a Hero.


Himself to BE a Hero.
"Grifin, of 60"
That was the name he gaze the land
lord of the dingy hotel at Joyner's sta
ton.
He was a big, good-natured-looking
fellSw, who stood straight six foot two.
But there was a sad something in his
looks which at once gave the impression
that Griffin had a history locked up In
his heart-and a 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
a railroad; but though, when the road
had progressed a distance of twenty
miles from the 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, l saw him take a picture
from his bosom and shed tears over it
1t was the face Of a
Griffin was a mystery to us all; but we
all liked him-no one could help liking
him. He was known as ''66" to all the
boys in camp. ''Sixty-six" was the name
of a 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 VIC had not long to
wait before it was revealed to us.
On a 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 a rapid speed; when, just as we
were nearing the camp, the engineer
made an exclamation of surprise and
horror.
There was a 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, 81 can't stop
her in time. The child will be killed."
"Where is Griffin? He was leaning
forward just now s~training his eyes at
the little white fodder on the track"
Hes climbing along the rods to the
'front.'" shouted the engineer. 'God
guide him! 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.
'Comrade," he said, reckoning me to
his side, 'kneel down by me and let me
whisper something to you"
l obeyed, and then he said:
"There is a picture that / wear next
~ ~ htulu' ~ 10 nv ilhtlltoo VI MY
wife. | have never been as good to her
as might have been; I loved the bottle,
comrade, and it made us both unhappy.
have been separated from her for a
year. But have been trying to over
come my weakness; | meant to be a bet
ter man and go back to her again. But
now take the likeness-you will see her,
and tell her how | died"
Was it 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 CO..
No! it was an outburst OF admiration
for a dead hero!-F..L Stanton, in At.
lanta Constitution.