Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-31

How He Guarded HE Fathers Corpse and
Nursed His Baby Brother.

How He Guarded HE Fathers Corpse and
Nursed His Baby Brother.
A dirty little round-faced boy. not yet seven
years of age, said Tuesdays Philadelphia
Press, held group Of big, stalwart policemen
spellbound in the eleventh district station house
Monday morning as he innocently told them
how he had watched his father die and had then
nursed his baby brother and cared for his little
sister until some one came to help him The
boy was Tommy Searles. By his side sat his
chubby-faced sister, her hand in his, and with
her big blue eyes she looked wonderingly at
the policemen. The baby was almost frozen to
death and the matron had wrapped it up in a
blanket and placed it beside a fire to thaw 1t
out. The dead body of the father was outside
In the patrol wagon and was soon being car
ried away &c the morgue.
As the wagon rolled away from the station
house Tommy's sister turned to him and said:
We'll, they brought us here in the wagon with
dad Dads dead and they have taken him
away. There's no use worrying any more
about that" And Tommy replied: mo, it
won't do US any good to worry" Then the big
policemen looked at each other and tears came
in the eyes of some OF them AZ they turned
away their heads
1t was about o'clock on Monday morning
when the boss Of q gang Of wbeelers on pier Is,
Richmond coal wharves. noticed that there
was no one stirring nor wss there any sign OF
life aboard the canal boat Wandering Boy lying
at the end Of the pier. Walking down near
the cabin lie shouted: Hey there, aboard the
boatI''
Pretty soon a dirty little face and frowseled
head appeared at the cabin entrance and
answered Hello That was Tommy Searles.
is the captain aboard?" asked the boss of
tine wheelmen.
Yes; he is down in the cabin. doad," was the
startling reply. given in a matter-of-fact style
by the boy.
Just you &C back and stay there for a few
minutes said the man when he bad recovered
his breath.
He then rushed down the pier to Richmond
street, when he met Officer Tryon of the
eleventh district, and told him that there was
man dead down in the coal boat Wh-r the
policeman went down into that cabin the sight
he saw almost unnerved him On the hoor,
with his head under !he stove, was the dead
body of Capt. Willoughby Searles. Little
Tommy was swinging his baby brother IL II
hammock, which was strung across the cabin.
and his sister was curied up in bunk looking
at her dead father.
Hes dead" said Tommy as Officer Tryon
stopped down and turned the body on the
floor. The man was cold. There was a dent
in his jaw where he had struck the stove. The
officer did not stop to question the children
theu, but hurried toa patrol box and sent i'll {.
call for the wagon. The dead captain and his
three children were placed in the wagon and
taken to the station house. The baEy was
almost cold as the dead man. 1t only had %
thin shirt and petticoat on, and it seemed to be
almost unconscious. 1t was immediately placed
In the care of the ma.ror at the station house.
and after working with it for an hour she sue
ceeded in reviving the child. District Surgeon
Lamb then ordered the child sent to the Penn
sylvania Hospital
Dad died Yesterday Tommy said. 1T was
about III oclock i'll the morning. lie had been
sick for few days with what you call the
grip"
Had he been drinking?'
NO; not since CHI Istmas. He was sitting on
bucket yesterday morning and fell off. His
head hit the stove and made a hole i'll his jaw.
l guess it broke his jaw. 1t looked as though
hold of him and shook him, but saw he WAS
going. l saw the last breath leave his body.
That was about five minutes after he fell. Then
knew he was gone"
why didn't you tell some one yesterday
about your fathers death?''
How could r. asked Tommy, his eyes
opening wider than ever. Il couldn't get
off, and besides, when 1 talked about going
sister ami baby cried and l couldn't leave
them. l did the best / could" he added,
with the air Of a man of mature age.
And did you look after your sister and
baby ever since your father died?''
"Yes, sir; and l didn't get much sleep
last night The baby cross and had to be
up nursing him all night
"And you weren't afraid?'
No, sir. There wasn't anything to be afraid