Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-25

McElwan, one of the stereotypers,
was up before the minister last night,
and as ] have always been his conf
DENTAL friend, got a bid. Had a tip
top time-a Scotch high-balf-and oh,
say, Jack, but ] did feel queer this
morning. Mac says there is nothing
on earth like bein' in love, and / have
known all about this for long time
carried his little love notes and tried
to keep his fences in shape. My, but
she is a peach. Oh, say. Collie, now
honest, We're you ever in love?"
Here are the tickets, Ted. Run
along and dent be such bother
And as the youngsters shrill whis-
tie died away in the distance Collins
dropped into his chair, and flood of
memories came over him induced by
the Office boys innocent remark. Il
believe | did very nearly love Vera,
pretty, gentle Vera" Something OF a
smile lighted up his usually stern feat
ures. He probed the sleeping cat with
his pencil "Mouser. did l ever tell
you about Vera? l don't believe any
one ever knew how much cared for
her. | don't very often admit it to
myself and l never had chance to
tell her. Somehow, pussycat, used
to go up to her house, away back east
there. every other evening, but l new
or realized how much sunshine she
meant to my life until the other fellow
came and then it was too late. May
be ] ought to be glad that she is
happy, and | try to think | am, but
La fellow can't help, once in a while,
thinking about what might have been.
You see, Mouser. I hadn't anything to
offer her then. was just a plain re-
porter with so much per and the fu-
ture looming up was not as bright
as"
A violent ring at the telephone bell
brought Collins to his feet again with
jerk. IF fellow might just have
| FIVE minutes in which to think around
here" he muttered.
His hello" was not of the gentle
sort and caused the Central girl to
jump.
Il Just wanted to tell you" she be-
gan timidly, "that-that there is a ter
rible wreck out on the K. & G. divi-
sion and they have 'phoned here for
aid" To his frantic endeavors to get
| further particulars she rang off with
| tantalizing you are in beastly HUI
NOR for Christmas eve-thought I'd
tell you so.'
1t was wild twenty mile ride that
| Collins had on the relief engine that
| Christmas eve ere they reached the
scene of the disaster. 1t was just such
| journey, filled with excitement, ap-
prehension and anticipation as many
newsgatherer has taken before and
since. The heavy Trans-western
| limited train had escaped total de-
| molition in a most miraculous manner.
| Running at full speed, drawn by two
engines, 1t had crashed into freight
train while rounding the curve at Ce-
| dar Bridge. The first engine OF the
| limited and the engine of the freight
train had telescoped into one another
with terrific force, the passenger train
with it's second engine being hurled
back fully fifty feet by the force of the
collision All the freight cars had been
| thrown from the track and demolish-
| ed
| The engineers and firemen of both
| limited engines had seen the freight
| Just a moment before the crash came
and had saved their lives by jumping,
| but all were severely injured. The
! passengers were considerably shaken
up, but almost all escaped with bad
bruises This, in brief, is an outline
of the facts that confronted Collins.
The snow, which early in the even,
ing had begun to flutter softly in
feathery flakes, had gradually become
] heavier and now the wind rising, was
blowing perfect gale. 1t was wild
j night and something of the horrors he
!, had witnessed filled the city editor Of
the Arrow with feeling of awe.
4 He entered the long, low, freight
shed, which had been quickly trans
formed into temporary hospital
where strange, wierd scene met his
gaze. On heaps of old sacks and bag
gage, of which cots were hastily i'm
provised, lay the victims of the terri
Bile catastrophe. "A sad Christmas
for manyah happy home" was his half
spoken thought
| The doctors were few and trying tc
be every place at once. Even tho will
ing assistance had quickly come from
the village near by, many of the
would-be helpers were only in the way
thru their lack of knowledge of what
4 to do in such an emergency.
This is a bad nights work." re
marked a young physician, near the
door, to the newsman. There ought
to be dozen of us instead of FOUR
Collins made his way quietly among
the wounded. He nodded with {
CHEEKY word to the fireman
who lay with bruised head and one
leg crushed. Further on he came tt
the engineer of the forward engine
whose head had been crushed ant
knee sprained. He knew them all
these gallant trainmen, and was dull.
recognized at each cot where the sui
ferer was conscious of his Cheerful
smile and ready sympathy. He pass
ed on to the further end Of the Ion:
room, here and there seeing familia
; face among the passengers. Sudden
ly he paused by cot on which wa
!, stretched a fine looking elderly gentle
! man, whose left arm lay bruised an
|, helpless on the faded coverlet. TIL
!. injured man seemed to be in a sort c
? stupor from the shock and pain an
!. entirely oblivious to the pleadings an
: entreaties of the young woman VIII
. knelt by his side. Speak to me fail
or ONLY saw Won know me- oh