Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1912 — MINER’S 30-YEAR REWARD [ARTICLE]

MINER’S 30-YEAR REWARD

Congressman Lewis of Maryland, Whom He Befriended as a Boy, Opens New Vista. Scranton, Pa. —Edward Donnelly, track layer in the Taylor mine, who lives In Minooka, is firmly convinced that It pays to befriend homeless boys, for his kind actions toward a friendless orphan thirty years ago have borne fruit, and the chances are that he will in a few days retire from the mines forever. 'Thirty years ago there appeared In Minooka a young Welsh boy by the name of Lewis. —He secured employment in the Carr’S Patch mine, but, being the only Welsh boy in the community, his life was made miserable by his companions until Edward Donnelly came to his rescue. Donnelly constituted himself the champion of the youth and frequently fought his battles. ■ 1 ... , Lewis drifted away from this section of the country, and that was the last heard from him until last week, when Congressman D. J. Lewis of Maryland reached the city to attend the meeting of the State Grange. After addressing the grangers Congressmen Lewis hurried out to Minooka and hunted up Donnelly. The meeting was fraught with reminiscences of the past, for Lewis the orphan boy and Lewis the congressman proved to be one and the same. Before leaving Congressman Lewis Informed his erstwhile champion that he should prepare" to give up the mines, as he meant to find a more remunerative as well as a pleasanter berth for Mm in the government service.