Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-11-12
HIS LIFE FOR A FRIEND.
DEATH IN A PRAIRIE FIRE TO SAVE
COMPANIONS LIFE.

A Pathetic story in Which an Outcast Of
the Plains Is the Hero Who Yields Up
His Existence to Bring Happiness Intn
Two Livcs-His Memorial.
When was out west | had occasion 10
know right well an old fellow by the name
bf Kramer. He was the richest man, the
most intelligent man in the country, and
the people on the ranches thereabout called
him "King Kramer" and would bow down
and worship him almost. | had upon one
occasion spent the night with the old man,
had met his wife, Il fine, intelligent woman,
three or four handsome, stalwart sons, and
IA whole bevy of charming dan ghters
GLOW long have you lived here, Mr.
Kramer?" said |, us we left the breakfast
table.
"Thirty years, SIR" said he thirty years
the first day of next month since married
and brought my wife here There wasn't
much here then but "a little Shake shanty
and bit of fallow land behind, but we
have got along God has prospcred us
Yes, sir, thirty years come next month, and
let me see, what's today? Why. we must
be getting ready the anniversary dinner,
and" added the old man a little sadly,
abbot must he preparing the memorial
sermon"
"You didn't know had one son who was
preacher, did you?" he continued, as we
walked out on the broad piazza and looked
out over the broad acres teeming with
wealth for the old man. "Yes, sir, my
oldest boy, Abbot is Il minister. He has
gone east just now, but he lives with us
and breaches in the little chapel out there
in that clump of timber. Put on your hat
and come with me over there, and Fll
show you the finest bit of architecture in
the west, and tell you story about the
man to whom we built the chapel as me
mortal.
81 told you awhile ago that it was thirty
years since | married and came here to
live; how was saved from death that day
is what am going to tell you.
81 was working on ranch, n few miles
below here, and had raised enough to buy
a bit of land build a little shanty here and
get me pony and a small stock of pro.
visions. ! had to work pretty hard for it.,
for money came harder in those days, but
l didn't mind that, for | was working to
get the dearest girl the sun ever shone
on. She was old man Grayson'S daug hter
and lived in. the county above here.
CHASED By A PRAIRIE FIRE.
1.-TWO days before we were to be married
l set out for Grayson's. The old man knew
how poor | was, but he liked me pretty
well, so he agreed to set us up with II
wagon and team rs n bridal present, so |
struck out on my pony. 1t WAS early when
started and | Travelled pretty nearly all
day by myself 1t was a right lonesome
kind of a thing to do, can tell you, but
don't know whether to be glad or sorry
when, along about dusk a man rode up
from the rear and joined me.
"iIe was "A long, loose jonted, kinder
hangdog looking fellow thought, and
felt sorter dubious when he proposed that
we join company, but | was pretty well
armed, and besides there was nothing else
to be done, so | consented. His name was
Tom Abbot.
"As we lay around the camp fire after
supper was over told him about my love
for Louie, about my wedding, my prospects
everything, in fact, and finally went &c
sleep with my head in the fellows lap
''The next day rs we logged along over
the parched, dry grass ! noticed about
noon that Abbot began to sniff the air like
a hound on the track of game. Finally lie
stood up in the stirrups and craned that
had come. He settled down in the saddle
kinder slow.
"'We must have left "A spark smoder
ing back yonder ut camp he said calmly
the prairie is on fire
"'My G0dn cried, my blood running
chill at the horror | knew the long stretci
of dry grts, that lay behind us aud before
us; ! knew the nature of prairie fire, ano
how little chance Of escape lay for us il
the front of its helliah fury.
abbot looked at ire a little scornfully
| fancicd, but his tone was very pitfu
when he said:
"'Poor fellow, do you think your littl,
nag will make it,
"'No.' | said, called to my senses by tn,
mans GOODNESS and trying to be calm my
self My pony is sorry little fellow, bu
| could not afford to get another
HIS LIFE FOR AN ACQUAINTANCE.
"Already could smell the smoke ant
hear in the distance the mad roar of til,
flying flames.
Its all up with MS, Abbot said
oh, Louie, my poor darling"
For Il moment the mans eyes flashed
| but he SAID very calmly rs he slipped from
| the saddle:
me, lad; mine will take you through
And leave you here to perish? No
| my God, man, save yourself cried.
| "'Thercs Il woman at the other ent
| waiting for you; for me there's-nothinE
| Coy
| 80 saying he set his big hand in m!
collar, dragged me from my horse an'
onto his, giving her "A cut that sent he
| dying across the plains faster than TIN
wind or fire or smoke. never cut the al
so fast before nor since, but of course j
| could not last forever
81 felt the hot glow, the smoke blinded
my eyes, the roar of the wind blown flame
| filled my ears. How long we ran this rae
! with the flames cannot tell. 1 heard tn
| splash and felt the cool waters rise VI
about me when my horse struck the river
| ford. After that got on know not how
| | seem now to have been conscious of moth
| ing till Louie was bending over me and he
arms were encrchng my hot cheeks"
The old mans eyes filled with tears.
The next day we were married." h
went on, land by and by, when We came OF
| home, we found in the fires track II littl
heap of bleached bones that crumbled at TIN
| touch. That was the last of Abbot, bu