The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-12
4 Gallant Deed-HOW Jack Evans
Saved the Baby.
From the Burlington Hawkeye.

From the Burlington Hawkeye.
J. B. Evans, "Jack Evans" as he is
better known among "the boys" is
young man about twenty-eight years old,
and certainly not over thirty, and great
favorite among his associates, clever,
generous-hearted man. In his eveDtful
life, before he adopted railroading for
business, he travelled with ''the circus"
and was a star performer on the flying
trapeze Doubtless some of the gor-
geously colored poster cuts of handsome,
symmetrical men, in glove-ftting tights
and scarlet small clothes, Sailing thro'
the air with the greatest of ease" were
originally executed for Senor Juan del
Evans, but this has nothing to do
with our story. Mr.. Evans quit
starring" threw 'upall his engagements
and took an engine, but the physical
prowess acquired in his athletic exercis-
es did not desert him, and his skill re-
mained with him. Often when he is
s'laid out" on the side-track he gives the
boys impromptu exhibitions of "life in
the ring" with grace, skill and agility,
and fills that part of the country so full
of double sommersanlts, hand-springs
and flying leaps that the air has favor
greatest and noblest feat our hero ever
performed in his life was one that wasn't
down the bills, and called out very un-
expectedly at a little matinee Friday af-
ternoon.
Evans, who is the employe of the c.,
P. & Q. railway, was running an extra,
we believe, on the Red Oak branch.
When about a quarter of a mile east of
Farragut, the train then running at a
rate of twenty miles an hour, the engin-
eer saw, hardly seventy yards ahead of
him, little child, about eighteen months
old, playing in the middle of the track.
Quick as thought, he whistled for brakes,
and without ever touching the throttle,
leaving it wide open, he seIzed the lever
and threw it clear over, reversing his en-
gine with full head of steam on. But
the heavy freight train had acquired a
powerful momentum that could not be
overcome, and by the time, short as it
was, that Evans could hurry around and
take his station on the pilot, the engine
was frightfully near the child, who ap-
parently unconscious of danger, remain
ed where it was when first discovered.
Evans saw there was no chance of his
STOPPING to seize the child as the train
swept down upon it, from his place on
the pilot, and now his old athletic ac-
complishments and training, aided by
his steady nerve and GOODNESS, and The
ability so characteristic of enginemen
to think rapidly and clearly in moments
of great danger, came in good play
Measuring his distance as carefully and
accurately as ever he had when making
mid air leap from flying trapeze, he
summoned all his strength, and making
a splendid leap, caught the child in hi:
arms, and without attempting to regain
| his feet threw himself over the rail with
the agility of cat. 1t was a close call
Before he had quite cleared the track the
pilot struck his foot, but he rolled safely
out of the way for several yards, still
holding the child in his arms.
The rate at which the train was run
ming may be judged when it is known
that it moved five car lengths past where
Evans was lying before it could be stop
ped. The mother of the child, who wit
messed the affair, was on the spot in &
fash, trembling, weeping, and almos
speechless with excitement. Jack rosC
to his feet and handed her the baby al
coolly as though he had just taken it ou
of its cradle. Madam" he said, "yor
had better take better care of that young
one hereafter" And he climbed int
the cab and went ahead more unconcern
ed and less excited than any of the gen
tlemen aft, serving their country by
twisting brakes. 1t was gallant deed
and we'll performed, and among the ma
ny thrilling legends which already fiji
the pages of the Romance of the Road,
railroad men will have one more to re
late in the intervals of duty, and that
too, one whose chief value is that ther'
Is naught of exaggeration in its detail
l-"How Jack Evans Saved the Baby