The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1895-04-27

N up OH ~ uuIQ seat 10 steep.
He slept soundly, for the day hnt
been a tircsome one, but after awhile
he began to dream. He thought thai
Bessie had chcwcd gum till she grew
smaller and smaller and finally wa,
nothing but one of the prizes In the
bags of popcorn, little sugar image
which he was about to eat when
Crashi
Dan was awake now. In an instant
he was rushing toward the sleeper.
Something dreadful had happened!
The train shook and shivcred and
swayed
There was n second crash and tear
ing sound, and the end of the car was
torn off and a cloud of steam rushed in
and about him.
The shock threw him to his feet, but
he crawled on. There was Bessie, he
had promised to take care of her
What would he say to the mother il
she were killed?
Yet 1t really wasn't his fault.
Would he never ge: to the end OF the
car?
! 1t seemed ages before he reached the
! platform, and his hand graspcd the
| twisted brakes. Overturned on the
track before him was tho sleeper. The
dim gray light Of the early morning
| just showed it's outlines. Farther than
that he could not see.
He jumped from the platform and
landed on the upturned side of the car.
|, He could hear cries inside and
through one of the windows a head
was thrust. With his heels he broke
the glass of the window nearest him,
then he crawlcd on to the next. and
next, breaking each In turn, till finally
he reached the fourth.
This was where Bessie was.
Here he crawled in, but there was no
one in the berth.
1t was lighter now. The sun must
have como up very quickly.
Then smell Of smoke revealed the
cause. The broken lamp at the end of
the car had set the bedding on fire.
The flames were spreading fast.
Through the broken windows people
were rushing, men and women, and
there were groans and shrieks on all
sides.
But he could see nothing of Bessie.
Could he have been mistaken in the
car.
Suddenly from beneath pile of
clothing he saw tiny hand thrust out,
and he heard a stiflcd cry.
Eagerly he pushed aside the heavy
blankets and pulled the child out. BY
the light of the flames now rapidly !
nearing them he could see how white
she looked, and her eyes were closed.
Could he be too late?
He tried to climb out of the window, |
but the seat on which he stood, broken |
by the crash, fell beneath his weight,
and he was thrown back into the car.
He struck heavily, and then there was
a sharp pain in his head and little Bes- |
sic almost fell from his arms.
He seized the broken bell rope that |
hung from its rings, and, placing tho |
child on his back, bound the cord |
around and around, thus binding her
tightly to him.
Then he tried second time to gain |
the window. This time there was a |
hand held down to help him, and in n
moment he felt the soft grass beneath
him and there was n sudden movement
Then there was terrible whirring
sound in his ears and the blacklist
night seemed to settle over everything
and he became unconscious.
News OF the disaster travelled fast,
and when the train bearing the
wrecked passengers drew into Detroit
there were hundreds of anxious friends
inquiring for dear ones. Strong men
were crying, and faces were white
with horror as they listened to the
story of the dreadful collision.
In one corner, faint and weary, sat
sad-faced mother, while her husband
wandered hithcr and thithcr in vain
search for their child.
"a little girl with blue eycs?' re-
peatcd one of the passengers after him.
"Letmc see, there was one but--herc,
porter, perhaps you can tell the gentle
man." and the passenger FASTENED
away.
There was one child killed, SIR" the
porter replied slowly. II hope it amt
yours, Pm sure. Just step this way
please"
lie turned to do SO with tears blind
ing his eyes But tiny hand caught
hold of his coat and a childish voice
cried: Don't run away, papa-ain't
you glad to see Bcssic?'
II told the ladies I'd sec she got
to you SAFE" Dan explained, as they
were being driven to Bessie's home
And when we was struck l knew
there wasn't no one else to look out
for her, special, 80 made straight for
her, and we managed to get out some
how, didn't we Bess?"
Dan strokcd tho silky hair Of the
child, and smiled at her with lips that
trcmbled.
Even now his head was dizzy and
there were queer pains running through
his body.
Yes" cried Bessie, with happy
laugh, rs II recalling some pleasant
time. 1T was awful funny going to
sleepin those funny boxes with curtains,
then woke up and was under great
big heap of blankets. Dan was real
good to me, Dan was, and all his lovely
candy got burnt up to nothing, and /
just think you ought to give him some
new, cause he took such good care o.
me, won't you, papa?"
Her sweet face was upturncd and