The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-12
Most FFig6tfuI Railway
Wreck Of The 18th Century.
SAVED BY FATE
UP BY AROBBER.
War of Words and Bullets
The RObber Captured.

do / believe in fate2" Queried Prof
McCOmber of New York of party OF
gentlemen in the smoker Of a W aSh1ng-
ton south bound sleeper. Many an ar
gument have I had with the late Hon.
James G. Blaine on this subject He be-
heved in fate, in destiny. I did not;
though do to a great extent today
"A few years ago I, in company with
a noted physician Of Boston. started
from the Hub to Florida. 1t was the
first day of the terrible blizzard which
cost Roscoe COnklin and hundreds Of
others their lives. We were snow bound
in Connecticut until Thursday after
noon, when we slowly made our way to
New HOrk- w e were due TO leave New
York that Thursday night at o'clock
on the Tampa sleeper. Our berths We're
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
1875 q. m, and Savannah, Ga, the
next morning at a. M, which was the
same time the train leaving New York
at o'clock the night before reached
Savannah, and from Savannah the
sleepers of the two trains were cOnsOl-
idated and went on southwark as one
train.
ON this occasion as travel was very
heavy each train went southwark from
which left New York at g o'clock Thurs
day evening comprised the first section
We We're the second section; every. seat
was fun in each train, and many were
unable to secure accommodations on
either
THE sleeper of the first section went
through to Tampa, and it was necessa-
~ that the doctor go on it in order to
reach his winter home at Palatka that
evening. as section No. 2 stopped at
Jacksonville. The doctor tried to ex
change seats with q Mr. Redmond of
Montreal who was in the first section
This Mr.. Redmond refused to do,
though he did not go farther than Jack
Just this side the Blackshear river
we were sigraled by a man waving a
denly to a halt, and we were iDforne>-
that the bridge had given we I'd the
entire train Of II cars had come down a
precipice Of 20 feet
DIR. Flower took care Of most of the
wounded, and that evening he took a
car load of the wounded and 10 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
the section DR.. Flower had had reserv-
ed for himself We're In the midst of the
wreck, the man was killed outright and
the lady fatally injured. only living a
few weeks. The Canadian who refused
to exchange seats to accommodate the
doctor, had both legs broken, his Shout
der and elbow badly mashed, besides
being seriously injured internally.
terrible wreck.
I'm 1884 DR.. Flower made a profess
siOnal trip to Kansas While in south
ern Kansas he took a day off for hunt
ing. Wandering away from his COM
paniOns while strOIliug along the Dor
der of the Indian territory where game
seemed most plentiful, he was sur
prised by four robbers who suddenly
appeared from a thicket. He was or
dered 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 muzzles gives me neu-
ralgia-' They 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 so. when Doctor Flower re-
marked, i don't mind your taking my
money and watch, but feel sorry for
you because they can never do you
any good Why SOP demanded the
outlaw. Because you are now suffer-
ing with Brights Disease of the Kid
news. and have also a heart trouble
which of itself must soon kill you
How do you know-I have kidney and