The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-11
STORIES OF THE TOWN.
Physicinn,s Plight.

A dgnhed gentleman-a physic-
ian in the harvest time of his profess
slonal career-may be pardoned for
fearing death-when IL comes, of
course, with its fleshless digit pointing
directly at the disciple of Good Health.
Howbeit, the physician has more death
scenes to his credit than Hamlet ever
suffered, metaphorically speaking. He
knows death. as, we mortals know a
rival in business. He knows it's ter
rors, its ruthless power: he calls 1t by
name, meets IT halfway and fights ii
as foe, fights against fate and ham
mers at what his science taught him
to believe are weak spots in the black
demon.
But he has never been known to kill
it.
And it was this painful knowledge Of
his frailty which broke out in streaks
on the head of dignifed local physc-
ian not a. dozen days ago. The tragedy
was enacted on a small bridge over the
Lackawanna river, near the South
steel mill of the Lackawanna Iron and
Steel company. The bridge was built
for railroad traffic only and was par
| ticularly intended to move cars from
| the mill to the main track Of the Cen
tral Railroad of New Jersey, which at
this point follows the west bank of the
| river. To do this the bridge was built
at an angle across the river and the
west end marks the beginning of an
abrupt curve In the main track, the
part north of the bridge having the
| appearance of s1hting right straight
across the bridGFWn short, the bridge
from a distance seems to be part of
the main track.
our dignified physician had occasion
to use this bridge. With his little
valise in his hands he nervously be-
gan the trip, stepping from tie to tie
with the wicked water dancing under
his very eyes.
He is six foot tall. built proportion
ately, and every bit of him quivered.
half hundred steps did he take and
he stood in the middle of the bridge
when a long-drawn toot of>an engines
whistle made him stop and turn his
| head.
There, not 300 yards away, a fast
passenger train was bearing down up
on him.
Then was the time this physician be-
thought himself of his frailty. He got
pale. did this dignifed physician, he
| shook as the aGue had never shook his
patients; cold sweat trickled down his
brow, his heart beat a quick tattoo, his
fingers twitched on the handle of his
little valise, and he gasped. He had
never before in his experience seen
such symptoms. He was a very sick
man. With his eye he measured the
remaining space to the other side of
the bridge, and he looked back at the
train. 1t was almost upon him.
But, as he looked, he had the secret
satisfaction of seeing a man. all inno-
| cent of the impending doom, coming
across the bridge.
THE fool" thought the physician in
his soul; "let him die; he deserves to
! die-unless he's deaf. Goodbye, poor
fool; I'm going to take to the river"
With that he dropped his grip and
| crawled to the edge of the bridge. He
had one leg over when the all-innO-
cent man behind him rushed up and
exclaimed:
Don't, doctOr--don't jump: that train
Is going the other way" and he
| grasped the physicians coat and held
! him.
The dignifed physician looked up, his
! CLASSY eyes had divine looll-the train
had disappeared around the curve on
the main line.