The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-08-07

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 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 come 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 we're 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 stihed 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
sharp pain in his head and little Bes-
= roIl 10
He seized the broken bell-rope that
hung from its rings, and, placing the
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 a
moment he felt the soft grass beneath
him and there was a sudden movement
of the little body pressed close to him.
Then there was a 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
for dear ones. Strong men were cry
ing, and faces were white with horror
as they listened to the story of the
dreadful collision.
In one corner, faint and weary, sat a
sad-faced mother, while her husband
wandered hither and thither in vain
search for their child.
"a little girl with blue eyes?" re-
peated one of the passengers after him.
Let me see, there was one but-here,
porter, perhaps you can tell the gentle
man." and the passenger fastened
away.
"There was one child killed, sir"
the porter replied slowly. "I hope it
amt yours, Pm sure. Just step this
way, please"
He turned to do so with tears blind
ing his eyes. But tiny hand caught
hold of his coat and childish voice
cried: "Don't run away, papa-ain't
you glad to see Bessie?"
81 told the ladies I'd see 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, so l made straight for her, and
we managed to get out somehow,
didn't we Bess?"
Dan stroked the silky hair of the
child, and smiled at her with lips that
trembled.
Even now his head was dizzy and
there were queer pains running through
his body.
eyes" cried Bessie, with happy
laugh, as if recalling some pleasant
time. 1T was awful funny going to
sleep in those funny boxes with cur
tains, then l woke up and was under a
great big heap of blankets. Dan was
real good to me, Dap was, and all his
lovely candy got burnt up to nothing
and l 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 upturned and her
hand was slipped into Dan's-and he
hastily swallowed big lump in his
throat as he muttered:
81 didn't do nothing. "-Louisville
| Courier Journal