Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-15
MOST lRIGB1TOL RAILWAY
WRECK on 1Hl I9THClNIURYl
SAVED BY FATE!
HELD UP ny A RoBDER.
War of Words and Bullets-The
Robber Captured.


James G. Blaine on this subject. He
believed In fate, in destiny. l did not;
| though I do TO a great extent to-day.
"a few years ago ]. In company with
a noted physician OF Boston. started
from the Hub to Florida. IL was the
| first day OF the terrible blizzard which
cost Roscoe Conklln and hundreds OF
| others their lives We were snow-bound
| I'm Connecticut until Thursday afternoon,
when We slowly made our way to New
York We were due to leave New York
that Thursday night at 3 o'clock on the
| Tampa sleeper. Our berths were re-
served It 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 morn
ing. which reached Washington at 1915
| A. NJ, and Savannah. Ga, the next morn
| ing at o'clock. which was the same
time the train leaving New York at
o'clock the night before reached Sayan-
nah, and from Savannah the sleepers OF
the two trains were consolidated, anc
went on southwark as one train.
ION this occasion, as travel was very
heavy each train went southwark from
Savannah as a section. The train when
left New York at Thursday evening
comprised the first section. we were
the second section; every seat was fun
in each train. and many were unable 10
secure accommodations on either
1.-The sleeper Of the first section went
through TO Tampa, and 1t was neces-
sary that the doctor go on 1t. In order to
reach his winter home, at Palatka, that
evening as section No. 2 stopped at Jack
sonyilIe The doctor tried 10 change
seats with a Mr.. Redmond. of Montreal,
who was in the first section. This Mr..
Redmond refused to do, though he ola
not 20 farther than Jacksonville that
day.
"Just this side the Blackshear river
we we're signalled by a man waving a
red handkerchief. Our train came sud
denly to a halt, and we were informed
that the bridge had given way, and the
entire train OF eleven cars had come
down a precipice of seventy feet.
OR Flower took care OF most OF the
wounded and that evening he took
carload 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. the wonderful part Of this story Is
this: The lady and gentleman to whom was
sold Thursday evening. in New YORK;
tho section Dr. Flower had had reserved
for himself were In the midst or the
wreck. the man was killed outright and
the lady fatally injured, only living
few weeks The Canadian VINO leiuseu
IN exchange seats to accommodate the
r,uctor rad both legs broken, his shoulder
and elbow badly mashed besides peirs
seriously injured internally. Twice was
Or Flower saved from this terrible
wreck. .,.,
'In 1884 DIR. Flower made proiesslonai
trim TO Kansas. While in Southern Kan
cas- he took a day off for hunting wan
dering away from his companions VIII
.troIljng along the border Of the lndiah
ndUri,nry where game seemed most plen-
,,fuI he was surprised by four ROD
hers who suddenly appeared from
,bicl,at He was ordered to throw up
hts hands 'An right. boys he saiu'
nm goes my hands, but don't point your
ems this way; the appearance OF tn'
n,uZzles gives me the neuralgia lneS
see,red TO enjoy his half impudent reply
Af,er the leader had relieved him or ms
urotch and money he shook hands Win
the Doctor and started to so, Wheh III
Flover remarked: I don't nina your
taking my money and watch out ieei
sorry for you because they can hese,
ia You any good why soF oeiiiaiiueu
tho outlaw. Because you are no" sur
ferine with Brights disease OF 'he hiu-
news. and have also heart touuie'
which of itself must soon Kili you, INV
a. ,,n, know I have kidney and heart
..,.t,a9, asked the robber. 4 did not
tbink any one in this wide worid couiu
,alI a sick man his trouble without ask
ING any questions. except Dr. X. u
Flower of Boston 1t was now the DOC
TOYS turn. Drawing himself up 10 MS
fullest height, and fastening his eyes on
the bandit, he said, Il am DIR. Flower
~ Roston.' The robber said In nervous
tone. 4 have long wanted TO see you
You can help me. can you notF les,
under certain conditions Name thehl'
aaid the robber' That you return 10
me what You have taken, ana that you
1--WE me $1,000 and change your preseh.
wav Of living L can only give you s'V
to-day. but l will agree 10 the o.nei
terms AN right SAID the Doo.Vi.
sn,oy hands I'D and shell out and the
robNr good naturedly HANDED over .ne
s7go Ma what he had taken from the
Doctor. Now said DR.. Flower. give
49,, your name and address. My name is
poh Cockerel. but send everything to me
80 yin,am Newmer, Mound City. han.'
IA T viii receive II, and trust TO your
honor 10 preserve my secret
MIDDAY Rob Cockerei, under another
and his real. name is happy. prosperous
farmer at the head OF family, In North-
ern Missouri ,uo.,.o.,.
"r have seen scores OF DR.. Flowers
,o,,ents AT different times and they all
tau of his examination OF their cases IN
The same accurate and wonderful way.
am thoroughly convinced that there Is
a kind of fate or destiny about tnat man.
which enables him to perform almost SUI
,ernatural wonders In his profession.
"He is the most pleasing man persohai
IN YOU ever met. PoH'e' kiiu' anu
s,hatic TO an extreme; children are
especially fond OF him, ana never wan.
70 Leave him. He is the most eloquent
- soso,ratine orator on the American
nlstform. His language Is the express
sion always OF the most De"u'i'ui anu
"socialIv he is genial and generous;
he "a absolutely fearless. | don't think
he knows what fear is. He believes
that whatever Is Is best That he is In
,his world 10 do a work. and that he
Ill, stav here until II is done. He has
rreat confidence in himself. and has good
saasons 10 have. don't think he ever
,,row defeat. and II he did i
Son't think he would recognize
% or would be long In turning
q 10 A victory. He Is most peaceaply
inclined. but when forced TO fight he Is
the most dangerous and determined foe
man ever had.
But the most wonderful feature OF this
wonderful mans life is his ability 10 d.
agnose accurately any disease In man.
woman. or child without asking ques-
lion or ever being told thing. ] am abb
soIuteIy certain that there Is not sick
man or woman on this earth. don't
care how subtle and complicated their
.I-a... hut that II Dr. Flower could