Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1876 — Terrible Trial of Two Berry Pickers. [ARTICLE]

Terrible Trial of Two Berry Pickers.

A (N. Y.) paper saya; On Tuesday last two brothers named Taylor, aged respectively twelve and fifteen years, who reside a few miles ilorth of Lansingburg. started at an early hour on the quest for raspberries. Up the track of the Troy & Boston Railroad they trudged wearily, at times striking across fields, along the fences and into the ravines, whenever boalies looked promising. Theirs was no holiday excursion, no pleasure trip undertaken to while trwuy the day, but work rendered neoessary to procure the necessities of life for themselves and the loved ones at home- The day wore oh, the hour of noon drew nigh, the hot, scorching sun shone down upon them, but their success had been poor tltus far, and they must work on to, if possible, fill their baskets before they turned their weary steps homeward. It was about five o’clock to the afternoon when the disaster of the day came upon them. They were then about six miles from Lansingburg, iu a deep ravine on the west side of the Troy & Boston Railroad track. They had their baskets nearly filled and were waiting till they had picked the spot clean, when they proposed returning. There was no air where they were and the sun shone down upon them with a fierce glare, and, as the elder one said to his brother, it seemed like a furnace. (Shortly after speaking, the younger dbc, who was picking berries a short distance off, saw his brother reel and fall. Hastening to his side, he called him by name, but received no response. His idea then was that his brother had fainted, and he did the very best thing he could under the circumstances. He hastened to a brook near at hand, and, dipping his cap to it, he dashed tii£ contents in Ins brother’s face and on his head. Seeing no sign of returning consciousness, he again and again returned to the brook and bathed his brother’s head. At last the truth dawned upon his young mind that this was no ordinary case of fainting. He had heard of sunstroke and its fatal effects, and he knew that his brother had been prostrated by it. .Almost wild with alarm, he knew’ not what to do. There was no help nigh, and he dare not leave the sufferer to seek it. Naturally self possessed and reasoning, he exerted all his strength and took his brother in his arms; and between carrying and dragging him, reached the shade of a large tree that was not tor away. Here, lying him down he kept his head continually moist with w-ater, and taking his brother’s straw bat, he alternated the time with fanning and shouting for aid. The shades of evening gathered around him, and still no sign of consciousness greeted his anxious eyes. A little later the stricken lad moved uneasily and moaned. Even this manifestation of life was hailed with gladness by the watcher. Later still, he did not know how long, his ears were greeted with the feeble utterance. “ Where am I?” When informed, he attempted to rally and walk, but was unable, and he reluctantly made up his mind that they must spend the night there. Then the thought arose in their minds of the anxiety of the mother and sister at home, but there was no help for it, the elder was upable to walk, and he dared not trust his ‘brother alone in the darkness for fear he would lose his way. They were therefore obliged to spend the night there. Lying down, they- slept quietly until the first gray streaks of dawn were visible in the east. Arising, the elder brother found himself able to walk, and securing their baskets of berries that had cost them so dearly, they started homeward. When about half way home they met their mother and sister, who, having passed a night of the wildest anxiety ana alarm, had impatiently awaited the morning light and started forth on a search for the wanderers. Their joy on meeting the boys safe was unbounded. On the return home the story of the day’s adventures was told, and the mother there and then resolved that, come what would, berry picking in the future must be abandoned.