The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-06-25
An Hour Of Terror.

There arrived in the city, Friday morn
ing, over the Grand Trunk Railway, a
man named Patrick Macarthur, who met
with a thrilling adventure about six miles
east of the junction on Thursday night.
He is a laboring man, and having no
money, and failing to get chance to
work his passage down from Fort Huron
on boat, he started to walk down on the
railroad track, and had nearly completed
his journey when the adventure befel
him. ~ l.l u4st
He laid by during the heat of the day
on Wednesday, and was walking in the
evening to make it up. While crossing
the tracks where a switch leads down
alongside the main track, he got his foot
caught fast in frog" and his efforts to
extricate it were of no avail. He had on
a stout boot, and it fitted so closely over
the instep that he could not draw his foot
out. In fact the boot was wedged in the
frog" so closely that the mans toes
were severely pinched. He pulled this
way and that, wrenched and twisted, but
the frog" held the foot like vice.
At length he could hardly move his leg
for the pain, and he found that he must
either be run over by the next passing
train or make same one understand his
situation. He shouted himself hoarse,
but no one came. The nearest house was
half a mile away, and if the farmer heard
the wild calls for help he gave them no
attention.
After the man had been prisoner for
upward of an hour, he heard the whistle
of down train. 1t was yet long way
of, and he had little time to think. He
had matchbox in his pocket, papers in
his bundle, and the idea came to him to
signal the train. Tearing the paper of
his bundle and getting at number OF
letters, he rolled them into heap, and
for fear that the flame would die too sud
denly he added two flannel shirts from the
bundle. The bundle was then made fast
to the end of his walking-stick, matches
produced, and he waited until the head
light of the locomotive should appear ur
the track.
1t finally greeted his vision, looking
like bright white star as it glistened
afar up the track. The rumble of the
train grew louder, the star grew larger
and brighter. He struck his match. The
flame fazed up brightly, but as he moved
it toward the bundle little gust of vino
blew it out! Was there time yet? VI
the track he could hear the thunder of +,
hundred heavy wheels, and the great ligh
of the locomotive glared at him like TIT
fiery eye of some wild beast.
Another match, an instant of fear ant
doubt, and then the paper blazed up ant
curled oyer and around the bundle anC
swayed right and left with the nigh
wind. He waved the signal back and
forth, and just when he was ready to be
lieve that death under the wheels wa
certain he heard the whistle for brakes
He could hear the wheels grinding ant
grooming, the hiss of steam as the engineel
threw back his lever, and then the heavy
train came to a stop with the great light
shining down upon him, paling his dyini
signal. He was saved, but the engine
had only thirty feet more to 60 to crust
him.
The fireman came forward, got crow
bar and released him, and he was takeI
back to the caboose. The train men wer,
very kind to him, and yesterday he foun(
acquaintance here who arranged for hi
board until he will be able to work. Hi
foot is badly swelled and very tender
and it will be several days before he will
be able to walk.-Detron Free Press.