The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-06-22

body" that included the whole car, he
went back to the day coach and curled |
up on hard seat to sleep.
He slept soundly, for the day had
been a tiresome one, but after awhile
he began to dream He thought that
Bessie had chewed gum till she grew
smaller and smaller and finally was
nothing but one of the prizes in the
bags of popcorn. little sugar image
which he was about to eat when
Crash!
Dan was awake now. In an instant
he was rushing toward the sleeper.
Something dreadful had happened
The train shock and shivered and
swayed.
There was a second crash and tear
ing sound, and the end of the car was
torn off and 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 II
she were killed?
Yet it really wasn't his fault.
Would he never get to the end of the
car?
1t seemed ages before he reached the
platform, and his hand grasped the
twisted brakes Overturned on the
track before him was the sleeper. The
dim gray light of the early morning
just showed its outlines Farther than
that he could not see.
ha lat
landed on the upturned side of the car.
He could hear cries inside and
through one of the windows head
was thrust. With his heels he broke
the glass of the window nearest him.
then he crawled on to the next, and
next, breaking each IN turn, till finally
be 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 come up very quickly.
Then a 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 stifed 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 It's rings, and, placing the
child on his back, bound the cord
around and around, thus binding hel
tightly to him.
/
the window. This time there was 9
hand held down to help him, and in Q
moment he felt the soft grass beneath
him and there was sudden movement
of the little body pressed close to him
Then there was terrible whirrinG
sound in his ears and the blackes
night seemed to settle over everything
and he became unconscious.
News Of the disaster travelled fast
and when the train bearing tn
wrecked passengers drew into Detroi
there were hundreds of anxious friend
inquiring for dear ones. Strong mel
. were crying, and faces were whit
with horror as they listened to tn
story of the dreadful collision.
In one corner, faint and weary, sat
, sad-faced mother, while her husban
wandered hither and thither in val
, search for their child.
5 "a little girl with blue eyes?" n
D peated one of the passengers after him
i LIFETIME see, there was one but-her'
I porter, perhaps you can tell the gentl'
man." and the passenger hastene
: away.
. "There was one child killed, sir, !" til
porter replied slowly. II hope 1t ain
n yours, I'm sure. just step this wa
please"
}. He turned to do so with tears blin
= ing his eyes. But tiny hand caugl
!. hold of his coat and childish vol
cried: Don't run away, papa-ain
you glad to see Bessie?"
= az told the ladies I'd see she g
= to you SAFE" Dan explained, as thu
- were being driven to Bessie's hom
: "And when we was struck ! kne
there wasn't no one else to look o
! for her, special, so made straight 4
= her, and we managed to get out som
:. how, didn't we Bess?"
J" Dan stroked the silky hair OF t
:. child, and smiled at her with lips tn
trembled.
\ Even now his head was dizzy q
:. there were queer pains running throul
his body.
"Yes," cried Bessie, with hap
= laugh, as II recalling some please
N time. 1T was awful funny going
=, sleepin those funny boxes with curtain
~ then woke up and was under gre
70 big heap of blankets Dan was n
"a good to me, Dan was, and all his love
q: candy got burnt up to nothing, ane
Us Just think you ought to give him sol
new, cause he took such good care
Is. !, me, won't you, papa?"