The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-16
A STRANGE STORY.

SHO NAyt oA4 Ala AGIo JASu tAAtOL w AC1u
Pittsburg, fell In with a young fellow
who was on his way to the Rocky noun
tains-I think Denver was his objective
point. He was young Virginia lawyer
who had been educated at the University
of Pennsylvania.
During one of our chats the boy--for he
was scarcely more than a boy, being prob
ably % years of age-took me into his
confidence considerably and showed me
photograph of a beautiful girl of whom he
seemed exceedingly proud and told me she
was his sweetheart, TO whom he was en-
gagged and whom he expected to marry as
soon as he could become established in
practice.
Along about five miles back, where you
noticed that old mill down by the creek, is
a smooth piece of track for nearly two
miles, and upon reaching that little
stretch the engineer usually pulls his
throttle open a little wider and lets the
train run at a very lively rate. It is
very level piece of track, and there is not
much danger in fast running there.
Suddenly, however, and without any
warning, the engine left the rails and the
long train of coaches followed. There was
no embankment, only fiat piece of coun-
try, and SO 1t was not SO disastrous as it
otherwise would have been. I was SO
bruised and stunned that scarcely real
lied what had occurred. 1t was after
O'Clock in the evening, and I had scarcely
more than extrioated myself from the car,
which was literally torn TO pieces, when
the wreck caught Oh fire. Most of tho pas
sengers, however, had been rescued, but
few of them were still in the wreck, and
so we started in at once to assist the train
men in doing what we could. I lost sight
of my companion as soon as the car went
over but after got out of the car won
dered where he was.
Just then the flames shot into the air,
and we heard shrek. Rushing to the
other side of the car I beheld my young
friend underneath a heavy beam-in fact,
the lower half of his body was under the
debris of the wreck, and he was damned
in SO tight that we could not possibly re-
move him without more assistance. We
had nothing to work with, only one az
having been taken out of the cars, and
that was broken and of little use The
flames had already reached his feet and
his cries for help were heartrending, can
assure you. There was absolutely moth
ing we could do to help him-not a thing
in which we could get any water, and if
there had been there was not a drop nearer
than a mile, for the creek at that point
was at least that far away. pulled at
the debris until I burned my left hand SO
severely that have used it but very little
since, and, as you see, it is badly SCARED.
We worked trying to save him until the
fire drove us back. His appeals were
something terrible to hear, and he begged
US again and again to shoot him. This,
of course, no one would do, although it
would have been the thing to put him out
of his misery.
But just then help came to him.
From the side of the track in the dark
ness-for it was an inky night-appeared
a slender figure in white. 1t came up
without a sound. I stood where I could
see her very plainly, for the figure was
that of young woman. Her face was
ashen, her features perfect, and / recog
nized at once in her features the photo
graph my young friend had shown me on
the train. She glided up to where the vic
tim lay. We heard the sharp report of a
pistol and the apparition vanished instant
~. I just had time to see the poor fellow
before the flames closed over him, and
there was a bullet hole in his forehead. He
was dead. The flames rushed over him,
and turned away.
The next day from out the ruins we
took his remains. The skull was badly
charred, but in it was a hole like that
made by ball, and inside of the remains
of the skull was small piece of molten
lead. I went to the telegraph Office only
a few miles down the track, and tele-
graphed to the girl, whose name and adj
dress he had fortunately given me. An
answer came from the girls father stating
that steps would at once be taken for the
proper care of the remains, and that they
would be taken back to the Old Dominion
From there / went home. Only a short
while after that and was compelled to
make another trip to Virginia. While in
the state I CHANGED to pass through the
town where the prospective father-in-law
of the young man resided, and so / took
the liberty of calling at his home, know
ing that they would no doubt like to hear
about the accident in which the young
man met SO untimely an end.
The old gentleman was at homo and
very glad to see me. told him all the
circumstances of the strange event that
had taken place. When was through he
went into another room and brought out a
small pistol and said he had no doubt that
was the weapon that put Harry, as he
called him, out of misery. He said that
the night before the accident occurred his
daughter, the lady to whom my young &C.
quaintance was engaged, was taken sud
denly i'll and died before morning. On
the table in her room was this small,
ivory handled pistol, which her fiance had
presented to her before he left It was
loaded.
The morning after the accident one car
fridge was found to have been exploded,
and no one could possibly account for the
curious happening, as the pistol had not
been touched by any one after the young
lady's death. I had the little lump of lead
which I found in the unfortunate young
mans skull, and we weighed it and also
one of the pistol balls, and after careful
| examination they were found to be of ex-
actly the same caliber. I am firmly of the
belief that the spirit of that young woman
came that dark and awful night to the re-
lief of her intended husband. --Philadel
| phia Times.
Butter, lard and other shortening can
be dispensed with when DR.. Prices Bak-
| ing Powder is used. It makes pie crust
dainty and healthful