Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-21

4 few Of US were standing on the bank
overlooking the plain and the shoulder
ing debris at the bridge, saying nothing
and trying not to think Presently some
one pulled a few pieces of wreck together
and built fire. We could see each other
then, and one of the toughest looking men
| ever saw In my life, ana it took a pretty
ragged and dirty nah to attract attention
at Johnstown then, he hunted around I'M
till he found a battered old can, and in it
he made coffee over the fire and handed it
around to u.s. | said, when he handed me
mine:
1 suppose you've lost most every
thing?
I'VE always made some remark like
that to a stranger then: it seemed to be
the only natural thing to say.
No. said he, didn't lose anything.
You belong here?' said |.
Mop, said he.
Got friends here?'
Mop.
Look here, said l, who are you any
how?'
Well. he sort of muttered, I'm
what they call tramp
Then he seemed to brighten up and
said
- Ill tell ye; Iain't done stroke O.
work in more n four year, but just hap
pened to come along here, an | tell you.
it just knocked me out. seen all these
people with nothin' left an nobody to
help EN- an | just pitched in fore
knew it, I amt much good, but | done
all | could, and I'm goin' to stay here
now as long as | KIN be of any help
Il sort of took an interest in the fellow
at that, ard told him who | was, and that
if he'd come around to headquarters next
day I'd give him some work to do. He
was on hand early next morning and said
he didn't mind what he did, so we tied
white piece of cotton about his hat,
marked 'Morgue' on it in big letters.
and told him to go help handle the dead.
You know what awful work that was, but
he looked like ghoul anyhow, and he
didn't kick at the assignment. After
day or two we noticed he was one of the
best men we had He was patient. in
dustrious and kindly, and as faithful as
woman. He never shirked a task, no mat
ter how hideous, and he never stopped as
long as there was work to do, day or night.
When we organized a regular force
wanted to put him on the payroll, and |
asked him:
What's your name?'
'Oh, just put me down Jim, he said.
that Il do"
so as Jim he went down on the roll,
and that was the only name we ever knew
him by. We kept him at work about
headquarters most of the time, and for
forty-fve of the forty-seven days | was in
Johnstown had no more steady, hard
working, faithful and honest men among
all the thousands that were there He
did everything he was set to do patiently,
intelligentiy and uncomplainingly, and
we all gotsto think good deal of him. He
remained in appearance a very tough
looking citizen, but as he worked among
the sick and suffering and miserable, a
good deal of his tougRness wore off. He
got more refined, somehow, although we
didn't think much about it till after
ward.
Zone day the last of the men were paid
off, and he drew the first money he had
had since he began to work.
What are you going to do now, Jim 2
| asked him.
"'Well. Iii tell YOU he said You
know I ain always been tramp; I used
to have nice home in Massachusetts, and
wife and children, but five years ago I
had some trouble with my wife, and went
away, and-well, | amt been good for
| nothing much since
Now, jim. look here said I, what
you want to do is to go right back to
! Massachusetts and see if your wife alive
| and look up your children and live like a
man again.
General, he said, that's just what
! I 10 " 7
| ing much what became of me since | got
to trampin' around. but seem all these
people so miserable an workin you know,
an helpin' EN- what | could, it's kind O
changed me, somehow, an | want to see
if can't be somebody myself. So I've got
some money now, an I'll go back an
hunt up nv folks, an [ know | can get
work, an maybe I'll get along all right
again.
lin, you're just right, said. How
much money have you got?'
Now, I'll tell you what you do; we're
all going away in day or two you know,
Department and tell them to give you a
suit of clothes, and fix yourself up some.
and when | go home I'll take you with
| lllC, dlli you Cdl SlciN q uoy VI UWO Will
me, and then go on to Massachusetts,
He seemed very grateful. | asked
him:
What will you do when you get
there?'
oh, I'll get work again
'''Well, all right; now you go off and
with me when l CO., | said and Jim
hurried off toward the Commissary De-
! rartment.
Later in the day he came back. You
wouldn't have known him. Of course the
suit wasn't much, but it was neat and
clean, and he'd got his hair cut and his
beard seaved off, and he had on boiled
shirt and necktie He was big. stall
wart fellow, with handsome, waving
mustache, and he looked really handsome
| But there was something the matter with
him. and in minute | knew what had
spoiled Jim's life.
Jim | said you We been drinking
"'Well General, he said, you know
| m through work now, an | hadn t tasted
| 4 drop ever since been here, so | thought
I'd just get quart of whisky while | was
down there, and--and | guess I've drunk
pint or so of it, but ain drunk
Now see here Jim, said |, this ism t
right; you II never get back to your wife
and children if you start in this way.
Quit it right where you are, and don t
spoil everything just as you are ready to
! begin over again.
He sort of half promised and went on
down the road, but | noticed that he met
some friends and that there was deal of
fitting of elbows. Watched him until be
met another party of friends and saw the
elbows 60 up again, and then Jim went