The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-15
MOST FRlGHTFUL RAILWAY.
WRECK OF THE 18th CENTURY
SAVED BY FATE
HELD UP BY A ROBBER.
War of WORDS and Bullets.
The RObber Captured.

J ton SOuth-bound SIeepefS Many an
argument have had with the late Hon.
James G. Blaine on this subject. He
believed in fate. in destiny. l did not;
though do to great extent to-day.
"a few years ago !, In company with
noted physician OF Boston, started from
the Hub to Florida. 1t WAS the first day
8 of the terrible blizzard which cost Ros-
oce Conklin and hundreds of others their
lives. We were snow-bound in Connec-
ticut until Thursday afternoon, when we
slowly made our way TO New YORK..
Y We were due to leave New York that
Thursday night at o'clock on the sleep
er Tampa. Our berths were reserved.
q 1t was 10 o'clock before we reached New
York, and the Florida train had left
on time. We left Jersey City on the very
early train the next morning, which
reached Washington at 1915 Il. m, and
& Savannah, Ca, the next morning at z
o. M which was the same time the train
leaving New York at o'clock the night
before reached Savannah, and from
Savannah the seepers of the two trains
! were consolidated, and went on south
ward as one train
ION this occasion, as travel was very
heavy. each train went southwark from
Savannah as II section. The train which
left New York at 9 o'clock Thursday
evening comprised the first section. We
i We're the second section every seat was
=
8 to secure accommodations on either.
THE sleeper of the first section went
through to Tampa, and ii was necessary
that the doctor go on it in order to reach
his winter home at Palatka that evening
az section No. stopped at Jacksonville.
The doctor tried to change seats with
Mr.. Redmond, of Montreal who was in
the first section. This Mr.. Redmond re-
fused to do, though he did not so fur
ther than jacksonville that day.
Just this side of the Blackshear River
we were siSnaled by man waving n red
Z handkerchief. Our train came suddenly
TO halt. and we were Informed that the
bridge had given way, and the entire
train of eleven cars had come down n
4 precipice of seventy feet
3 DIR. Flower took care of most of the
( wounded. and that evening he took a car
& load of the wounded and thirteen of the
dead TO Jacksonville. Had he not been
there very many of the wounded would
soon have been among the dead Now.
Inc wonderful part of this story is this:
8 me lady anu gentleman to whom was
y sold (Thursday evening in New York;
the section DR.. Flower had had reserved
n 1or himself were in the midst of the
wreck the man was killed outright and
the ady fatally injured only living n
rev weeks The Canadian who refused
> TO exchange seats to accommodates tbo
doctor had both legs broken. his sbonI-
- er and elbow badly smashed. besides
neing seriously injured internally.
twice was Dr. Flower saved from This
terrible wreck.
IN 1854 DR.. Fowler made a profession
al trip TO Kansas. While in Southern
Kansas he took day off for hunting
wandering away from his companions
while strolling along the border of The
inalan Territory, where game seemed
most plentiful, he was surprised nv fonr
Ioppers who suddenly appeared from, a
thicket' he was ordered to throw up his
hahus' All right, boys he said: nm
soes my hands, but don't point Your
sums .tiis way. The appearance of the
muzzles gives me the neuralria, Thn,.
seemed to enjoy his half impudent rnnI,
Aiter the leader had relieved him ~ ~
watch and money he shook hands ,,.i,h
the doctor and started to go. whom Dr
ROVER remarked: i don't mind van,
taking my money and watch, but 7 fec,
sorry Tor you because they can neyo, ~
you any good WHY SOP dem,ndo, Wv, ho
outlaw. Because you are now sur
Ing from Bright's Disease of The Eid
heyS, and have also a heart troSi,
winch OF Itself must soon k,l, ,,
TOW 90 you know that have kiIna,,
anu neart trouble asked the robhor
49, iiot 'hink any one in this Wild,
Worid could tell sick man his troni,,s
Witnout asking any question exccnt ny
~. =: fIower, of Boston, II was No..
me DOCTORS turn. Drawing b,meo,f Nv
10 MS FULLEST height, and fasteninm w ~
eyes on the bandit, he said. Il one M ,s
hlower OF Boston, The robber ca ia T.,
nervous tone. 1 have long wanted 70 60
you. fou can help me, can you no, -.
es. unoer certain conditions .Nao,o
+ them. said the robber' That yon ra
turn TO me what you have taken ana
4 tnat you give me $1,000 and change YOU
present way of living I can ONLY civ
4 sYop to-day, but will agree to the orr
Terms. All right said the doctor
NOW hands up and shell OUT ma ~
ROPER good naturedly handed over tho
SiVo and what he had taken from tho
doctor. Now said DIR. Flower. .eiva
me your name and address NV nsn,a
is BOD Cockerel, but send everything 10
me TO VIM. Newmier, Mound CITY, Ksn
and will receive it, and trust to your
honor to preserve my secret
To-day Bob Cockerel under snotbo,
and his real, name is a happy. prosner
Gus farmer. at the head of a familv :,
Northern Missouri. III
- have seen scores of DIR. FIower.s
patients at different times. and tbev
All tell OF his examination Of their ases
IN the same accurate and wonderf,,I
way. am thoroughly convinced that
there ~ kind of fate or destiny about
that man which enables him to perform
almost supernatural wonders in his pro-
fession. "a
HE is the most pleasing man person
ally you ever met. Polite, kind and svm-
pathetic to an extreme; children arc
.eHneciaIIy fond NJ b;,,, q -, -