The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-01-25
Remarkable Reunion at the
Union Station.
ONE CAME FROM OLD MEXICO.
The Other From Joplin. Both We're
Going to the Old Home in Lexing
ton, Va, and Met by Chances.

the whereabOut OF each other during
that time. met at Union station We'd
nesday.
They were Thomas Gaines OF the
City of Mexico, and Robert Gaines OF
Joplin, Mo.
The circumstances under which the
meeting occurred were remarkable.
By strange coincidence, both arriv-
ed in st. Louis early Wednesday
morning on their way to Virginia tC
to visit friends They came by differ
ent trains, but appeared at a window
in the main waiting room and pur
chased tickets for the same place.
! They had common destination,
and that was sufficient cause for
them to drop into a conversation, az
travellers will do III such cases, as
| they left the ticket window. They
walked into the Midway and were
soon promenading up and down the
big walk. Suddenly one turned to
| the other.
Il haven't asked your NAME he
said.
1T is Robert Gaines. And yOurs?'
For answer, the first speaker drew
from his pocket a card upon whic h
was engraved Thomas Gaines, and
handed it to his companion.
- oil - cd
way.
This is really interesting, he said.
1.-TWO men by the same name going
to the same destination-maybe we
are related | had a brother by the
name of Thomas, but the war sepa-
rated us.
Il had brother by the name OF
Robert, and our separation came
about in similar way"
And did your father live in Lex
ington, Va?' asked Robert.
Yes" was the reply.
Then we are brothers. lam Thorn
as and YOU are Robert.
The men stopped, looked at each
other, and then embraced and kissed.
The recognition was complete, and
the happy pair walked arm in arm to
"a seat in the waiting room where they
talked OF old times, the old home and
the father and mother they buried
when they were children, until they
were called to their train.
The story OF their separations not
less romantic than their meeting.
They were born at Lexington, Va.
Their parents died when they We're
children, leaving them some property
which they converted into cash ard
used in paying their way through
Washington and Lee University,
which is in Lexington. After gradu
ating they took what little money
remained to them and opened a store,
at which they prospered until the
civil war came on. They differed on
the questions raised by that great
conflict, and Robert allied himself
with the north, while Thomas remain
ed true to his southern instincts and
joined the confederate cause.
| Their regiments were in many bat
ties and they were pitted against each
other many times. But only once
was there recognition between them.
That came during the whirlwind of a
charge at Gettysburg. They advane-
ed upon each other with fixed bayo-
nets. The dust of battle cleared just
as they were about to strike and re-
vealed their faces. They saw, recog-
nized, spoke. lowered their bayonets
and sought other foes.
After that eventful day all became
! dark between them. When Appomat-
| tox came Robert went to Washington
with the victorious northern army.
| His regiment was disbanded in few
months. and he went TO New York,
| where he lived several years. Thomas
| returned to Lexington after the sur
render only to find that his business
had failed in his absence and that all
his property had been taken by ruth
less invaders. There were exciting
Iscenes in Mexico in that day, and
Thomas went there to fight for re-
Ipublicanism against monarchy. At
tier Maximilian' execution he was OF
ifered Inducements to remain. He took
advantage OF them and is now
wealthy. owning bank and several
lhaciendas. besides being connected by
marriage with one of the most dis