BRAVE RALPH GORE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 29, 16 November 1883, Page 9

BRAVE RALPH GORE.

THE tragic death of poor, noble-hearted Ralph Gore, of Erie Pa. has been made all the more harrowing by a knowledge of the details Gore was a contractor, and, although poor and uneducated, he was a fine specimen of the true-hearted, whole-souled Irishman. On the morning that he went to the Poplar street excavation, for the last time, he was heard to remark that his orders for additional boardine op the Bides of the cutting had not been complied with, and that this neglect must be repaired immediately. There were about thirty laborers working at the bottom when he descended, and as he issued same orders, he noticed the fall of some gravel and sand from above Looking up, he turned pale, and Bhouted :'• Make for the ladders men, there will be a cave in 1" A rush took place for the ladders' and men scrambled and climbed over each other in the effort to reach the top before the treacherous wall caved in " Quick boys or you are lost!" exclaimed Gore, disdaining to take advantage "of the means of escape until all his men were safe. They were all up °??'*, r* el y ' who was rheumatic, and unable to move fast. • For God s sake come up, Gore 1" cried they, on the summit of the firm bank. •' Not to leave this poor fellow," replied the contractor, pomtmg to the decrepit old laborer. The sand and stones were now sliding down faster and faster, and tbe western wall appeared to be «n the point of bursting. vv *v , A ]] Mt v the olc l man cached the top and Gore made a bound for the ladder, but as he grasped the rung the bank broke, and fifty tons of sand descended with a crash. Situated as he was, Gore was only •truck by the lightest end of the mass, and was buried in the sand Up « • *' *, . A ,^ ne had Btruck him on the head, but not with sufficient force to kill him. He recovered himself in a few minutes, but was not able to extricate himself from the earth around him, the pressure of which was becoming greater every minute, "Boys, he shouted, "I guess 111 have to trouble you to dig me out you can, and if you can't, I'll be all tbe same obliged to you," A hun dred willing hands went to work to effect his deliverance. It was a te<lious process, for the only way to avoid an additional fall of earth was to makea transverse cutting. A sponge saturated with wine was lowered and he managed to get it with his teeth. Hour after hour passed, and yet the work of rescue was not half accomplished. " Boys Irfghtf 7^ k Cried ' and thCy t ° W him they WoUld workall

•-—.Si gr T aboTe was covered with people, many of whom were T^tt r?~n tOT - the P°° r fellow - Word wa9 Bilentl 7 Passed Srts, ,-^^™^ hm 3 y ln i he name of HeaveD > M another slide of earth immediately above Gore was threatening. It was now getting to be dusk, and an awful stillness fell upon 111. " Courage, Ralph, ayi lso 2? h . ave .y oa .': out a reporter, but the words had barely passed his lips when the dreaded slide began. The doomed man saw it coming and, ever anxious for the safety of others before «.L h C Cn . ed to } hem t0 kee P Wk from the edge for th«ir lives' Si^M vu P t " r ? < cd ofacewaßao facewaBa Bi g ht made strong men weep like children. « Good- bye, lads. Remember me to—" To whom Kalpn Gore wished to be remembered will never be known this side of the grave. The fall of earth that followed, buried his brave £££5£S SS£3£3£ lh£ "•*■ kim ° g him inßtaotlj --