The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-24
MOST FRIGHTFUL RAILWAY
WRECK OF THE 18th CENTURY
SAVED BY FATE
HELD UP BY A ROBBER.
War of Words and BulIetS--The
Robber Captured.

McCom Der, of New York, of a party OF
gentlemen in the smoker Of Washing
ton south bound sleeper. MANY an
argument have had with the late Hon
James G. Blaine on this subject. He
believed in fate, in destiny. 1 did not;
though 1 do to a great extent today.
"a few years ago !, 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
afternoon, when We slowly made our
way TO New York. We were due to
leave New York that Thursday 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 Washing
ton at 10:45 a. m, and Savannah, Ga,
the next morning at z a m, which was
the same time the train leaving New
York at 9 o'clock the night before
reached Savannah, and from Savannah
the sleepers of the two trains were con-
solidated, and went on southword as
one train.
'On this occasion, as travel was very
heavy each train went southwark from
Savannah as a 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
secure accommodations on either
THE sleeper of the first section went
through to Tampa, and il was neces-
sary that the doctor go on IL in order
TO reach his winter home at Paladka
that evening, as section No. 2 stopped
at Jacksonville. The doctor t1ied 60
exchange seats with Mr.. Redmond, of
Montreal, who was in the first section.
This Mr.. Redmond refused to do,
though he did not go farther than Jack
sonville that day.
Just this side the Blackshear river
we were 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
'fDr. Flower took care of most of the
wounded, and that evening he took
car load Of the wounded and Is 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;
the section DR.. Flower had had reserved
for himself, were 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
shoulder and elbow badly mashed, be-
sides being seriously injured internally
Twice was DR.. Flower saved from this
terrible wreck.
In 1884 DR.. Flower made a profess
siona1 trip to Kansas. While in south
ern Kansas he took a day off for hunt
ing. Wandering away from his COM
panions 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 ap-
pearance of the muzzles gives me the
neuralgia 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 stated to go, when Dr. Flower re-
marked, L don't mind you taking my
watch and money, but feel sorroy for
you because they can never do you any
good Why so?' demanded the outlaw.
~,
Bright's Disease of the Kidneys, and
have also heart trouble which of itself
must soon kill you How do YOU
know I have kidney and heart trouble?'
asked the robber. L did not think any
one in this wide world could tell a sick
man his trouble without asking any
questions except DR.. r. c. Flower. OF
Boston, 1t was now the Doctors turn.
Drawing himself up to his fullest height.
end fastening his eye, on the bandit, ne
said: L am DR.. Flower, of Boston
The robber said in a nervous tone. 4
have long wanted TO see you. You can
help me. can you not?' Yes. under GER
tain condition Name Them said the
robber. That you return TO me what
you have taken, and that you give me
$1,000 and change your present way OF
living I can only give 500 today, but
I will agree to the other terms All
right. said the Doctor Now hands up
| and shell out and the robber good ma
| tUredly handed over the 500 and what
! he had taken from the Doctor. Now.
| said DR.. Flower, give me your name and
| address, My name is Bob Cockerel
| but send everything for me to VIM New
| mier. Mound City, Kan. and I will re-
! ceive 1t, and l trust to your honor to
| preserve my secret
| To-day Bob Cockerel under another
| end his real. name is a happy prosper
| Gus farmer. at the head of a family in
| northern Missouri.
l have seen scores of DR.. Flowers
! patients at different times. and they al
/ tell OF his examination Of their cases II
/ the same accurate and wonderful way
! l am thoroughly convinced that there Is
/ kind OF fate or destiny about that man
| which enables him 10 perform almost
supernatural wonders in his profession
He is the most pleasing man person.
| ally you ever met Polite. kind and
sympathetic 10 an extreme: children ar,
especially fond Of him. and never want
/ 10 leave him. He is the most eloquent
/ and fascinating orator on the American
/ platform His language is the express
| sion always OF the most beautiful and
Fpoetical speech
| Socially he is genial and generous
he Is absolutely fearless. ! don't th!ns
/ he knows what fear is. He believes
that whatever is. is best That he is II
this world - do work. and that he wi
| stay here until Il is done. He has Erea-
confidence in himself, and has gcot
/ reasons TO have I don't think he eve
! knew defeat. and II he did don't thinl
| he would recognize IL. OF would be Iona
| in turning il 70 a victory. He Is mos,
/ peacefully inclined. bu, when forced :,
/ fight he IS the most dangerous and