The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-07-07

Il ~ tAC uCS(A VI lAS A1laSi
HA=I had been left quite com
Usa lau Portable little sum, and
hau at once started out to see the
world, being at last able to satisfy my
craving for travel to its full extent
and having no parental ties to hold
me to any one particular spot Of the
worlds circumference.
But I had somewhat overdone the
thing, not being possessed of a consti-
tuition that would stand much of q
strain. So had settled down at Las
Vegas to take things quietly for a
while, before going further.
1t was on the evening of October II.
1896, that the news was circulated in
the town that there had been an aw-
full wreck on the Santa Fe just below
iWatrous. A special was rapidly made
up Of an engine and two coaches, and
the call made for volunteers to assist
in any way that their services could
be of value. I made one of the num-
ber that promptly responded. and has
tily clambering aboard, We started for
the scene.
I shall never forget that distressing
sight, as, reaching the spot, we ;eaped
to the ground almost before the train
had slackened speed sufficiently to
make it safe to human life and limb to
alight. There lay tangled mass of
wood and iron piled in heaps, from
which came means and cries from the
imprisoned passengers and crews. One
of the forward coaches, together with
the mail and express car, was in
flames. While part of the impro-
yised wrecking crews gave their atten-
ton to helping the poor unfortunates
in the passenger coaches, others Of us
started in to save what part of the
mail and express cars valuable con-
Of the tongues of the flames rapidly
drawing nearer the end of the car
farthest from the engine. I was one
eff those who started to work on this
car, and Justify began to pull out the
sacks of mail and what merchandise
could be reached through the tremen-
,dous heat from the burning end of the
car.
The last sack of mail was not
snatched away in time to prevent half
its length being burned away entire.
had hold Of the leather handles and
gave a fearful tug, for the heat was
yo,in11}n tho h0 N
held to some object that weighted it
down, then gave suddenly, landing me
backwards, while a shower of letters
and small packages completely cov-
cred me.
After we had done all we could to
save the contents of the car, and taken
the last man from the twisted coaches,
we started back to Las Vegas with our
; mangled, suffering human freight.
It was after one o'clock when we ar
rived, and had tenderly carried the suf-
ferers to the nearest point where they
could receive medical and surgical at
tention, and, being quite fatigued with
my unusual exertion, I crawled into
bed and slept soundly until the sun
had arisen high IN the heavens the
next day.
Being nearly dressed. I reached for
my vest, when something fiuttered to
the floor. Picking it up I was sur
prised to find a half burned photo
graph. Evidently it had been caught
in my clothing in some way when the
mail bag scattered its contents over
me as I lay upon the ground. ard,
when 1 arose to my feet, had slipped
between my vest and shirt. said it
was a half burned photograph, but
that does not tell much. 1t was the
photograph of a beautiful young lady,
perhaps eighteen years Of age. Beau
.tiful? The most beautiful, I think,
had ever seen.
I sat down in my half dressed state
and stared at it for many long min
utes. And before I had finished star
ing at that beautiful image I had to
confess to myself that was helplessly
in love with the pretty, rounded face,
with its smiling eyes looking up so
confidently into mine. that saapely,
tempting mouth with its saucy. curling
lips, that wealth of tastily arranged
hair thrown back over the high fore
head.
Who was she? I cursed the flames
that had totally eaten away the part
of the card that might have given
some clue as to whom the photograph
er had been. or in what place the pho
tograph had been taken. If could
only know what town OF city it would
be enough. I would go at once to the
place and search every artists estab.
lishment until had found some trace
of my ideal.
Up to this time had bothered but
little about women. But here was a
dear little girl whose eyes looked up
into mine so smilingly. so conf!ingly
so pleadingly.. that my heart ached to
have them something more than I'M
ages on paper. to have those lips open
ard speak to me. to have those dainty
little ears capable of listening While
poured my story Of complete slavery