St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-07-03
Most FriShtful Railway
Wreck Of the 10Th
Century!
SAVED BY FATE.
HELD UP BY A R0BBER.
War Of Words and Bullets. The
Robber Captured.

gentlemen IN the S1nOker Oh Washing
ton south bound sleeper. MANY an ar
pument have had with the late Hon.
lanes G. Blaine on this subject. He be-
Geyed in fate, in destiny. l did not;
though do to a great extent today.
"a few years ago l, in company with
noted physician OF Boston, started from
the Hub to Florida. 1t was the first day
ofthe terrible blizzard which cost Roscoe
Conklin and hundreds of Others their
lives. We were snow bound in Connec-
tcut until Thursday afternoon, when we
slowly made our way to New York. We
were due to leave New York that Thurs
day night at O'Clock on the Tampa
sleeper Our berths were reserved. 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 10.45 a. M, and
Savannah, Ca, the next morning at a.
m, which was the same time the train
leaving New York at 9 o'clock the night
before reached Savannah, and from Sa-
vannah the sleepers of the two trains
we're consolidated, and went on south
ward as ono train.
ION this occasion, as travel was very
heavy each train went southwark from
Savannah as section. The train which
left New York at Thursday evening
comprised the first section. We were the
second section; every seat was full in
each train, and many were unable to Sc
cure accommodations on either.
THE sleeper of the first section went
through to Tampa, and it was necessary
that the doctor go on it in order to preach
his winter home at Palatka that evening,
as section No. 2 stopped at Jacksonville.
The doctor tried to exchange seats with
Mr.. Redmond, of Montreal, who was
in the first section. This Mr.. Redmond
refused to do, though he did not go far
Their than Jacksonville that day.
Gust this side the Blackshear River we
were signalled by man waving a red
handkerchief. Our train came suddenly
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.
"Dr. Flower took care of most OF the
wounded, and that evening he took a
carload Of the wounded and ID 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 J
the section DR.. Flower had reserved tor
himself, were in the midst of the wreck,
the man was killed outright and the lady
fatally injured, only living few weeks.
The Canadian who refused to exchange
seats to accommodate the Doctor, had
both legs broken, his shoulder and elbow
badly mashed, besides being seriously in
ured internally. Twice was Dr. Flower
saved from this wreck.
"In 1854 DR.. Flower made a probes
sional trip to Kansas. While in South
ern Kansas he took day flor hunting
Wandering away from his companions
while strolling along the border OF the
Indian Territory where game seemed
most plentiful, he was surprised by four
robbers who suddenly appeared from a
thicket. He was ordered to throw up
his hands. All right, boys, he said, up
goes my hands, but don't point your
guns this way. The appearance. OF the
muzzles gives me the neuralgia. lhey
seemed to enjoy his half impudent reply
\ After the leader had relieved him OF his
watch and money he shook hands with
the Doctor and started to go, when Dr.
Flower remarked. i don't mind your
q taking my money and watch, but l Tee
sorry for YOU because they can never &c
you any good why SOL? demanded
the outlaw. Because you are now SUI
fering with Bright's disease of the KID
news, and have also a heart trouble
which Of itself must soon kill you How
do you know l have kidney and heart
trouble?" asked the robber. l DID no,
think any one in this wide world coule
tell sick man his trouble without ask
ing any questions except DR.. &c. Flowe
OF Boston, 1t was now the Doctor
turn. Drawing himself up to his tulles
height, and fastening his eyes on the ban
dit, he said, 1 am DR.. Flower OF Boston
The robber said in nervous tone,
have long wanted to see you. You cal
help me, can you not?' Yes, under Ger
tain conditions.' Name them, said tn
robber. That you return to me VIVA
you have taken, and that you give IN
$1,000, and change your present way {
living 4 can only give $500 today
but will agree to the other terms. "A
right said the Doctor. Now hands ii
and shell out and the robber goot
naturally handed over the $500 an
what he had taken from the Docto
Now said DIR. Flower, give me yot
name and address, MY name is DO
SS,ockerel but send everything for me I
VIM. Newmier, Mound City, Kan, and
Will receive it, and trust to your hone
n to preserve my secret
Today Bob Cockerel, under anoth
and his real name, is happy. prospero,
farmer at the head of family in mort
ern Missouri.
have seen scores of DR.. Flower
patients at different times, and they {
tell ofhis examination of their cases
the same accurate. and wonderful wa
am thoroughly convinced that there
a kind of fate or destiny about that m!
(which Ana1xp., l:.,. -.