The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-28
LIFE STORY.
Thrilling Incidents in
Strange Career.
COLONEL GARDNE
Relates His Adventures on
Land and Sea.

Col. Robert Gardner, who has charge
of the New York branch of the Volun-
teers of America, came to Worcester
Sunday. and since that time has adj
dressed a number of meetings. Last
blight he took charge of the meeting
IN the armory, of the local post, and
gave the members a Bible talk.
He also announced that the illness
Of Capt. Howard, who has done meri-
torious work in Worcester, would ne
tessitate him taking a rest and that
eome one would be sent out to assist
him. One of Col. GARDENERS most in
teresting lectures is entitled From
darkness to light" and is practically
the story of his life. In the course
of his talk, Col. Gardner says:
Col. Gardner said in part that he was
the son of Christian parents, and up to
the time of his leaving home was ac-
customed to attend church regularly,
but as a boy he conceived g. violent
dislike for the church. Early in life he
went to New York to take up bust
ness career. Al this time he broke all
church connections and became rapidly
possessed of the habits so easily ac-
CURED when good associations are
lacking.
After a time he went on the stage
and from respectable parts gradually
sank lower and lower until the lowest
level was reached. He afterward en-
listed in the service of the United
States and served five years on the
frontier. Re then drifted to the Pacific
coas. and While in San Francisco met
an acquaintance who had shipped that
day on a whaling vessel bound on a
three Years cruise in the Arctic
regions. 1t took but little persuasion
TO have him agree to accompany the
expedition.
After a season in the north Col.
Gardner and some of his companions
became tired of the life they were lead
ing, and. taking one of the ship s
boats deserted and attempted to work
their way south. The job was more
than they had bargained for and finally
the party went ashore on small ISL
and. They were destitute of food. and
Col. Gardner lay down and confidently
expected to die.
At this time, as he lay waiting for
what seemed like almost certain death,
all the events of his life were lived over
again, and then and there he promised
Almighty GOD that if he was delivered,
he would lead a Christian life.
short time after he was found by the
ships crew and taken to a native hut,
where he was gradually brought back
to life. His hands, feet and face were
badly frost bitten, and for a time his
life was despaired of.
Finally the captain of the ship de-
cided that amputation was necessary
If his feet were to be saved. None of
the appliances commonly associated
with surgery at the present time were
ho hut A,oa l1Hy n
a 5 an instrument, both great toes We're
amputated, and he was carried back
to his bunk to die. as his associates
supposed.
Some one had told the captain of the
ship that the only thing that should
be given a man in his condition In the
way of eatables was raw deer meat,
and for weeks this was the only food
allowed him. He grew steadily weak
err and finally when the ice broke up
and the ship prepared to sail away, he
was put ashore in charge of the ma
tives.
Food sufficient to last him five days
was left with him, as the captain
stated that he would probably die in
side of that time. AS matter of fact
he was slowly starving to death. The
man I'm whose charge he was left, I'M
derstood that if given the usual food
Lis patient would die, but as the lat
ter had only five days to live, anyway
he decided on giving him something
n ore palatable than raw meat. He
called at the hut next morning to see
If the patient was dead, but found him
very much alive and hungry. His con-
dition improved steadily. and finally
Col Gardner arrived in San Fran
cisco.
Soon after arriving in his old haunts
ne forgot his promise to God, and the
first place he entered after arriving in
the city was a saloon, where he at
tempted to drown his sorrow. This
could not be done, however, and he
returned to his lodgings to pray.
The next Sunday he attended fash
lonable church. but the sermon did not
appeal to him. He was finally at
tracted 10 a meeting of a few people in
a small hall where the doctrine for
which his soul hungered was preached.
From this on, he was a better man, and
at last came into a position to take
charge of the work of the American
Volunteers in New York city.
Col. Gardner also took part in the
afternoon meeting of the w G. T. ",
in addition to addressing the local
brancb of tha UO1untperS