The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-16
SAVING THE BABY.

A GALLANT DEED-wHAT KNIGHT OF THE
FooTBoARD DID.
The Burlington Hswkeye gives this
episode in railroad experience: j. b. Evans,
Jack Evans, as he is better known among
"the boys" is a young man about twenty
eight years old, and certainly not over
thirty, and great fsvorite among his asso-
ciates, clever, generous hearted man. In
his eveutful life, before he adopted railroad
Ing for a business, he travelled with "the
circus" and was star performer on the fly
ing trapeze Mr.. Evans quit starring"
threw up all his engagements, and took an
engine, but the physical prowess acquired
in his atheletic exercises did not desert him.
and his skill remained with him. But the
greatest and noblest feat our hero ever per
formed in bis life was one that wasn't down
ON the bills. and called out very unexpect-
ediy at little matinee Friday afternoon.
Evars, who Is in the employ. of the c.. b. *
O. railway, was running an extra, we be-
lieve, on the Red Oak branch. When about
a quarter of a mile east of Farragut, the
train then running at the rate of twenty
miles per hour, the engineer saw, hardly
seventy yards of him, little child about
eighteen month old. playing in the middle
of tho track. Quicker as thought he
squealed for brakes, and without ever
touching the throttle, leaving it wide open,
he seized the lever and threw 1t clear over,
reversing his engine with full head OF
steam on. But the heavy freight train had
acquired powerful momentum that could
NOT be overcome, and by the time, short as
it was, that Evans could hurry around and
take ais station by the pilot, the engine was
fright tully near the child, who. apparently
UNCONSCIOUS OF DANGER,
remained where it was when first discov-
oh ~
his STOPPING to seize the child as the train
swept down upon it, from his place on the
pilot, aud now his old athletic accomplish
ments and training. seconded by bis steady
nerve and GOODNESS, and the ability so char
acteristic of engine men to think rapidly aud
clearly in moments of great danger, came In
good play. Measuring his distance as care
fully and accurately ever he bad when
making a mid-air leap from a flying trapeze,
he summoned all his strength, and making
splendid leap, caught the child in his arms,
and without attempting to regain his feet,
threw himself over the rail with the agility
of q cat. II was a close call. Before be 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 rum
ming may be judged when it is known that
il moved five car lengths past where Evans
was living before il could he stopped. The
mother OF the child, who witnessed the
affair. was on the spot in flash, trembling,
weeping and almost speechless with excite
nent. Jack rose to his feet and handed her
the baby as coolly as though he had just
taken it out OF its cradle. "Madam," he said,
''you had better take better care of that
young one hereafter And he climbed into
bis cab and went ahead, more unconcerned
and less excited than any of the gentlemen
aft, serving their couatry by twisting
brakes