A Kind Deed.

     Corporations are said to be "soulless", and it is quite the fashion to denounce railroad corporations especially. However much cause there may be for this we will not now argue, but we are pleased to know that many of the officers of these much abused corporations have souls and hearts that should put to blush their traducers. We copy from the Raleigh News and Observer the following notable illustration of how some railroad officers care for their employees:

     Mr. Alexander Bailey is a section master on the Raleigh & Gaston road. He was a soldier during the war and was severely wounded in the leg, which wound never healed. During the life of his good wife she nursed and kept the wound soothed to such an extent that it never interfered with Mr. Bailey's duties as section master.

Map found at Southern Specialty Maps
http://southernmaps.home.mindspring.com/maps/r&grr.htm

     Some time since he had the misfortune to lose his wife, and being always busy with his duties as the only head of the family and overseer on the road he could not give the wound proper attention. This neglect, which was unavoidable, caused a severe inflammation to ensue which soon became so bad that Mr. Bailey could not use his leg in walking. He procured a strap which he suspended from his shoulder to support the lower part of the leg after being bent a the knee and substituted a wooden leg from the knee and went on with his work from which he had not missed but one day in twenty years, on that day a sheriff summoned him to appear at court as a witness.

     Not long since President Robinson of the Seaboard Air Line, Maj. John C. Winder, general manager, and Capt. Wm. Smith, superintendent passed over the road on an inspection trip. Their train stopped at Neuse*, which is on Mr. Bailey's section, and he with his force was there at the time. President Robinson noticed that Mr. Bailey's leg was suspended by a strap and asked the cause. Mr. Bailey told him all about it. Mr. Robinson then asked why he did not have it amputated. Mr. Bailey replied that he would like to have it done but was not able. He could not afford to lose the time and pay the bill. The inspection train then came on to the city.

Help For Mr. Bailey

     There was some consultation among the officials and a short time after Mr. Bailey was sent for to come to Raleigh. He was provided with comfortable quarters at St. John's hospital. Mr. Bailey did not exactly know what this business meant. Soon after he arrived some prominent physicians called upon him and consulted him about his wound. It was found that he was not in a condition to undergo the operation of amputation then, and he was put upon treatment for the case.

     In a few days his leg was amputated, which of course confined him to the hospital for some time. A nice awning with cot, &c., was provided for him in the hospital yard where he could get the benefit of the fresh air with comfort and convenience when he was weary of the house. A nurse was employed for him, and he was made to spend several weeks there as pleasantly as possible.

     He has just returned to his home, but is as yet unable to work. When he returned a check was sent him for full time work, as though he had not missed a day from duty, and in addition to this a bill for medicine and attendance has just been paid, amounting to about $300. All this was done by the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad Company for an employee whose services they knew how to appreciate. Mr. Bailey is not at work, but his salary is paid him regularly by the company, and a man is employed in his place at a full salary until he small be able to resume work.

* Neuse was a crossroads in north central Wake County, named for the nearby Neuse River. It was probably located near where the railroad crosses the Neuse River.

[Taken from The Chatham Record (Pittsboro, NC) 18 Aug 1887]