The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-11

became so gloomy that the lamps were
I lighted IN many OF the houses all day
long,
Although no farmer came to town that
day, there was one boy who did come
and his coming deserves to rank with
! some Of the great rides OF history, not FOR
Its herOlsm In grand way, but the devo-
ton to simple duty of the rider and the
awful Risk OF the journey. 1t was an as
tonlshed group OF loungers at the post
office into which the boy burst that day
What Is that you?" cried the post
master; Joe, you're the biggest fool l
ever saw"
IT was indeed, Joe Ia SWEET" as he
was called although 40 one knew why,
for his real name was Alexander La
Llberte. He smiled IN his queer way and
tried to make light Of the deed, but when
his face was examined half Of 1t was
found 10 be frozen, several fingers were
sim, and, although he wore a coon-skin
cap, his head was so badly frosted that
the skin came off In many places In the
course of the next few days,
"Haw,. haw, huw!' Late? Well, yes"
they all reared. You won't see any
train into this town before Monday,a
SNAA ~ ~ AiNhs ~ NSA by ~ NtANAAs
The editor pated at the thought. No
train for five days and the wires all
down! Then he frightened up and de-
termlned to make the best Of 1t, He
shut the office up. sending the boys
home, and with his wife spent the day
with the college chum who had induced
him to come Up into that frigid zone a
few months previously Throughout the
It,v, sol, htsghpF ard TIM nDll
more piercing, the drifts became great
er, and the day became 80 gloomy that
lamps We're lighted In many of the
houses all day long.
Although no farmer came TO town
that day, there was one boy who did
come, and his coming deserves to rank
with some of the great rides of history,
not for It's herolsm IN grand way. but
the devotion to simple duty OF the rider
and the awful risk of the Journey II
was an astonished group of loungers at
the postoHlce into which the boy burst
that day
What! Is that your" cried the post
master; Joe, you're the biggest fool
ever saw"
II was indeed Joe La SWEET" as he
was called, although 40 one knew why,
for his real name was Alexander La
Llbertc. lie smiled In his queer way
and tried 10 make light Of the deed, but
when his face was examined half OF It
was found to be frozen, several fingers
were stia, and, although he wore a
coon-skin cap, his head was so badly
frosted that the skin came off In many
places tn the course Of the next few
days.
Joe" Is F.ench-Indlan beg who
carries the mail from Olga twenty miles
east of I.angdon. He had gone over
that distance with the storm In his face;
over prairie without the sign Of q pain,
though a hllly stretch Of 4 few miles,
where a mlsstep by his horse would
have meant disaster, without being able
TO see more than twenty feet In any d.
rertlon. riding In frail, slender sled,
with little covering, Nothing but his IN
dian instinct and that OF his indian pom
les could have brought him safely
through the most terrible storm which
the northwest ever knew. And, al
though there was nothing of the heroic
about 1t, It seemed that this ignorant
Notwithstanding illlterate half
breed" fell, that he was In duty bound
bv hls contract to deliver that mail, on
that day. and that no obstacle should
he allowed to stand IN his way Per-
Mans In that sense (lnd In what better
way may we judge actlons?) his act
was heroic.
The storm ragged on oil that night and