Evening journal., 1910-03-25
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Pioneer Who Showed
His Gratitude
BY "HOlIsnd."

1 fhNhf-'Ns
This daily series OF anecdotes and Incl
dents that throw new. interesting and tre-
quentiy dramatic light on famous events |
and personalities OF the past have been /
collected by Mr.. Edwards during near /
forty years Of more or less intimate se-
leaders since the Civii War. Each an
ecdote or incident is fresh from Mr.. Ed |
in part it constitutes NEW NEWS OF |
YESTERDAY, garnered from the men
who made the uews-the history-or from
equally authoritative sources. As i'm |
portant contributions Of the Human in /
terost' sort TO American history, these |
articles have distinctive value all their
own.
81 really believe that 7 was never so
forcibiy Impressed with the truth that is
in the Bible story of the widows mite as
was at the time I was one Of a party OF
railroad men who, at the invitation Of it's
president. Marvin Hughitt, made the trst
trip IN the early eighties, over the eX-
tension Of the Chicago and Northwestern
Railroad from Galena. H., to Pierre, 5.
D." said to mo once the late James d.
Laying who for over three decades prior
to his death In 1908 had held numerous
important positions with such famous
railroads as the Pennsylvania, the Big
-Four and the Chicago and Northwestern.
Mr. Hughitt,' continued Mr.. Laying, at
that time vicespresident of the Big -Four,
had carried the Northwestern almost in
a straight line some seven hundred or
eight hundred miles across an absolutely
uninhabited region and he wanted to
show us how the road had been built,
what the remote West looked like, and
where the terminal then was, and to give
us some sense Of the absolute isolation
and loneliness that were characteristic Of
much the greater part of the country on
either side Of the extension of his railway
system. Why, we went mile after mile
without seeing any living thing except
prairie dogs. and birds, We did not even
see an Indian.
"I think Il was the second morning after
our departure from Chicago and just as
We were ready for breakfast that We
heard the engine whistle. II sounded like
a salute. OF course, we were all excite
ment especially as the train began to slow
down.
1--WE went 10 the platform OF the car,
and what do you suppose we saw? As /
live it was a human being. a man, away
out lntft on AlC UidlllNf WIN ilQA a NAEA
OF habitation anywhere as far as the eye
could reach.
"You should have seen him. He was a
pioneer in every sense of the word. He
had beard that ran in ripples because 1t
was curly. away down upon his chest.
And his hair was long and he wore a
sort Of fur cap, but 1 can't describe his
clothes. for they were indescribable, ex-
cept that / noticed that his trousers were
tucked into cowhide boots.
Where do you live?' 1 asked him,
when the train had come to a stop.
Back yonder, about fifty miles, he
said.
Where are you going2' I asked.
" "A bit yonder,' he replied. am look
ing for a lost horse
'Hayo you come all the fifty miles on
that huntT / asked.
" Yes I reckon my shack is about fifty
miles from here
" Would you like ride on the train?'
asked.
'1Iis face lighted up, and no gave me a
very courteous bow.
~ suttenly would he exclaimed.
haven't been on a train Of cars in tor
years
I'VE took him aboard and gave hin
some breakfast, and no told US that the
nearest shack TO that point. no thought
was ten miles away. adding that il he
could get there quickly he thought he
would ind some trace Of his horse. Sc
we took him on ten miles and put him of
in front of a miserable broken dowT
shack Then, as we started to leave IA,
said: Might I ask when you reckon tC
come back this wayg We told him IL
about three days.
"wcll, three days later, as we nearet
that shack on our return. the enginee
whistled as If in salute. the train s.owl!
came 10 a stop, VIC went to the platform
and there. by the track. stood our pioneer
We invited him to join the party, addini
that we would take him as far east as H.
wanted TO go. He shook his head.
I reckon TIL stay here he said. Nv
got track OF my horse; I'll find him in
day or two But 1 wanted to meet yo
and show that I had some feeling becaus
you treated me right the other day. 1 can
do much. but I'm going to ask you to talk
these He reached down into his capa
cious pockets and in queer sort Of baskC
which he had made, apparently, out c
prairie grass he placed two or three fist
;. fuls OF luscious looking wild plums an
handed them up 10 us. IT'S all I've &c
10 give YOU he said Maybe they'll tasi
good. And some day / hope can do be
ter
"Then. bowing us good bye, this lionel
man OF the then remote West started q
his solitary way over the prairies. Al
Il ever there was sense Of gratitude
gift, it was conveyed to US as we e.
those Wild plums while we watched the
giver fade from view
! Copyright, 1910 by L. J. Edwards)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell
: "The Lumberman Who Took the Ro
q of for General Grant"
Only One "5RoMo oUtNlNE"
That is LAXATIVE BROMO QUINN
Look for the signature of L. W. GROV
. aHfa