The Liberator

INTREPID ACTION AND NARROW ESCAPE.

Our amiable and worthy friend, Loring Moody, whose residence is in East Boston, performed a very gallant act on Monday afternoon last, at the imminent peril of his life, and much to his bodily injury; and must for some time be confined to his house, in consequence. The following handsome editorial notice of this act appears in the Morning Post of Wednesday, and we believe accurately gives the particulars:-

A NOBLE NON-RESISTANT. On Monday afternoon, two horses attached to a coach upon runners without a driver, came dashing along at the top of their speed up the ferry wharf from the Eastern rail-road depot, causing the people in the vicinity, among whom were several military gentlemen, to seek shelter in stores and doors to avoid being run over. Several children were playing at the head of the wharf, who seemed in imminent peril of being trampled under foot, when a man started from among those who were looking to their own safety, and placed himself in the road immediately before the horses, with the intention of arresting their progress. On they came at full speed, and every one present thought the man mad who had thus thrown himself before them, especially as the road was covered with ice, which rendered his footing insecure. Nevertheless, he stood his ground nobly, and as the horses dashed upon him, seized one of them by the bridle with such effect that he tripped up and rolled upon the ground, but the man was also thrown down by the shock, and the other horse continued plunging with such force that he drew the sleigh over the man, and then broke the shaft, leaving the carriage still upright on the runners. All danger over, the crowd came to the rescue, and secured the horses and picked up the man, who was lying on the ground almost insensible, with his body badly bruised and his clothes torn. In the carriage was a lady, who had almost fainted with fear, but had sustained no bodily injury. The individual who had thus exposed his life, and thereby had unquestionably saved several children from serious injury, not to speak of the passenger in the coach, was Mr. Loring Moody, a resident of East Boston, a well-known non-resistant. He was taken to the Eastern Exchange Hotel, where medical aid was procured, and subsequently was taken home in a carriage, and is now confined to his bed. Though a strong non-resistant, this act evinces a nobleness of nature that rose above self, where the safety of others was at stake. We regret to state that Mr. Moody is not overburdened with the good things of this life, and as he has a family dependant upon his labors, he can ill afford the loss of time which his generous daring has entailed upon him.

Our readers will be glad to know the sequel of this touching story. 'The friends are aware, that Mr Moody's devotion to our cause has left him wholly dependant on his own exertions for support. His dress was entirely destroyed. The lady in the coach was the daughter of Col. Pierce, of Portsmouth, N. H., reputed to be a very wealthy man. Although close to the spot, he never took the trouble to come near Mr. Moody during the scene; but, a day or two after, waited on him at his house, thanked him for the bold feat, which, he said, had saved his daughter's life, and presented him a folded bill—which, we understand, proved to be ten dollars! The young lady will hardly feel flattered to learn at what price her life was valued by her father. We really hope, for his own credit, as well as to evince his appreciation of a noble act which few persons would at any time have the courage to perform, that Col. Pierce will yet take Mr. Moody's case into consideration—his destitution, the situation of his family, his bodily bruises and sufferings, his narrow escape from instant death, while saving the life of Col. P's daughter, and probably the lives or limbs of others, his confinement to his bed, and the expense of his illness—and make such a donation as so remarkable a case demands. Surely, he cannot have been aware of Mr. Moody's real situation.

There will doubtless be some generous-minded persons, who, on reading this account, and learning the true situation of Mr. Moody, will feel a desire to convey to him some token of their sympathy, and appreciation of his benevolent intrepidity. Anything left for him at the Anti-Slavery Office, 21 Cornhill, or addressed to him at that place, will be immediately put into his hands. Of course, he has no knowledge of any such intimation on our part; but a case like this presents itself not in the light of a favor or gratuity on the part of contributors, but as a debt of generous self-sacrifice which ought at once to be cancelled, with interest.