Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-25
CHIOlRDS A Nd
ID I S G o r ID S


at the thighs, yet he was happy.
unconscious of the full import of the
handicap the fates had allotted to him
In his battle with a cold and fiercely
competitive world. He was nearing
his ninth year. It was a picture that
would have moved any human with an
ounce Of sentiment or sympathy in his
soul. We saw him in a small Iowa
town. He was helping another boy
load barrels on a wagon. Seemingly
he loved TO work His little eyes
popped with enthusiasm. He was such
boy as you would want to see given
chance He was craving an oppor-
tunity TO be useful. It was to be ex-
pected that he suffered discomfort as
he wobbled along on his two stubs
rolling barrel, over the top of which
his little head was barely visible. 1t
was hot day. He was perspiring
freely. He took his cap off, mopped
his brow with a red handkerchief, but
he did not complain.
mo. the heat don't bother me-" he
said. "Of course it's hot, but it's al
ways hot in summer, amt it? they
amt no use in kicking, but / couldn't
kick if | wanted to-" and the boy shed an
optimistic smile at the several persons
who were standing nearby, some OF
them almost moved to tears by the
struggle he was making TO keep up
with his companion, the latter twice
his size and equipped with a pair OF
healthy legs. One man suggested pass
ing of the hat for the benefit of the
cripple The boy minus the limbs
overheard him. This is not a circus"
the lad said. I'm getting paid for
my work, but 1 thank you just the
same. I'm not sick. I'm strong, only
don't do very we'll on my feet, be-
cause l amt got none"
We asked a native how the boy came
to such a plight. 1t was the old story
of the adventurous child and the rail-
road train. Three years before the
boy tried to beat a passenger train
across the track a mile outside the
town. He failed to do it. He was run
over. Both his limbs were amputated
by the wheels of the train. For days
it was thought the boy would die. but
he was brave, and told his parents he
was going to pull through and grow
up and be a useful man despite loss
of his legs. And he did recover. The
case attracted attention over that part
of the state. II came to the attention
of high official of he railroad COM
pany whose train manned the child.
The official asked for full details Of
the accident. The legal department,
which is not supposed to be sentimental
or sympathetic, reported that the COM
pany was blameless; in fact, the child
was a trespasser, and that his parents
should be reprimanded for having per-
mitted him to wander on railroad prop
erty, especially in view of the danger
he was facing in doing so. The little
fellow, it appears, was known to every
body in the town. All felt sorry for
him and for his parents. He was the
only child. His father was a coal
miner. He drank and afforded his fam
lily sort of hand-to-mouth existence
Despite his crude environment, the
child blossomed and grew and thrived
and won his way into the affections of
the people Of the town. He spent most
of his time visiting among the neigh
bors. He ran errands for them and
was always ready to be useful in what
ever task was assigned him. Hence
it is only natural that the accident on
the railroad should have aroused the
people of the town. The railroad was
to blame, was the universal verdict. 1t
ran it's trains too fast through the
place. The company ought to be made
to pay dearly for what it did to Bobby
that's the little fellows name
But railroad officials hear such com
ment every time some we'll known per
son is hit by the cars and were not at
all exercised by the feeling that was
running through the town over the &C
cident that had befallen Bobby. The
shyster lawyer was on the Job He
told BObbys parents they ought to get
enough money out of the railroad cor |
remainder of their lives. They agreed /
with him. SO he would start suit. In
the meantime the high official of the /
Of the accident decided that he would |
10 something for Bobby, or rather his !
company would. SO in a few DAYS he |
dropped into the town, stopped at a !
hotel and sent for BObbys parents /
They came. The roads official said /
his company was not liable to the ex- /
tent OF cent, but he explained the pa |
-hetiC side of the case had appealed to |
him, and he wanted to help the boy, if +
he would be permitted to do So The |
father remembered what his attorney /
had told him-that the company would +
Try to bribe him into a settlement. and /
hat he should reject it, He told the |
railroad official TO explain his offer /
ne ala. lie SAID the company would +
put the boy in school, educate him and |
give him a position for life, and that |
when he had attained his growth he |
would be furnished the best pair Of |
artificial limbs purchasable. The |
ather said he would give his answer
he following day. When the confer
ence with the railroad official ended
he father went to his lawyer. The I
awyer ridiculed the proposal. He
said that is what the corporations al
ways do-try to browbeat poor, fgnor-
ant folks into a bargain they would
i've to regret. Wen get the money
md we can buy the kid the legs our
selves" said the lawyer The railroad
'fficial was told his offer was not
acceptable.
The suit for damages was filed. The
ury awarded the boys guardian $500.
The railroad willingly paid the amount.
It's lawyers said they could
lave the verdict reversed if they car