Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1878 — How a Life Was Saved—The Reward of Perseverance. [ARTICLE]

How a Life Was Saved—The Reward of Perseverance.

There was a terrible accident at South Norwalk, Conn., twenty-five years ago. The draw over the railroad bridge had been by some carelessness left open, and the engineer, mistaking the signal, dashed on, and down thundered and crashed the train. The loss of life was terrible, and very many were crushed and badly wounded. Even now, after so many years, it is spoken of as one of the great horrors. People living near by, and ethers who were attracted to the scene of the accident, worked nobly, and rendered all the assistance they could. Men came in boats, and tenderly lifted the dead and dying bodies from the water, carried them up on the bank, and laid them gently down to be further cared for. Among those attracted to the scene was a middle-aged man,' who was a stage-driver, whose route was between New Canaan and South Norwalk. He saw them bringing up on the bank the bodies of those taken from . the water, and one body particularly attracted him. It was the body of a fair young girl, and a ~strange feeling seemed to tell him "that she was not dead. He felt of her hand. It was cold and clammy. Placing his ear over her heart he could detect no beating. Yet something within him said she was not dead. A physician, after making an examination, pronounced life extinct, and the driver to assist the othersin caring forthe wounded. He turned to go, and again that irresistible feeling impelled him to try to save the girl's life. Securing the assistance of two woman, he began a vigorous rubbing of the body. He labored on until the water fairly poured from him. The lazy curiosity-seekers gathered around and said it was a foolish task, she was past helping. Nevertheless, on he worked. No cnange was observed for half an hour, and his heart began to sink. For the last time he began a desperate renewal of his exertions alone, for the women had stopped, and, as he drew himself up to go away, the girl, with a low moan, opened and closed her eyeg. With a 1 rush, the; blood dashed to his heart, and he almost fainted, and with open-mothed astonishment the throngs again gathered around. After “a little attention She was restored-to consciousness, and “her life had-been saved. .

After she had learned the facts she went to her deliverer, and, with tears of joy, thanked him. She was the only daughter of very wealthy parents, and deep was their' fratitude. When the girl took him to er home, her mother kissed him, embraced him and cried for joy. Her father gave him a handsome gdliUwKrcirandctiatn-aTntclothing;-everything that wealth could lavish on him was done. He was urged to pass the remainder of his life with them; but he declined this, and went back to ness. This was twenty-five years ago. Regularly every, year since then, he ' Jias received a present in money sufli - cient to keep him in luxury for the next twelve months, beside presents without end from these grateful hearts. He has only to express a wish and it is gladly gratified. He lives in his lowly way, and he is an old man now, and slowly drawing near to his end.— N-. Y. Sun.' — < Last year ifi Massachusetts 12,737 couples were joined in the bond of wedlock. . £)£.these there were 9,915 bachr. elors who chose maidens to be their wives, and 608 who chose widows; while 1,396 widowers married maidens and 818 married widows. From this it appears that 788 more widowers than widows were married again, and that 1,396 maidens married Widowers, when brily 608 bachelors married widows.