The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-24

Just above Bridgeport, and the engineer
Stood with his hand ON the throttle,
waiting to start UP, when the conductor
Ed. Parker gave him the signal to go
ahead-that the draw was closed and
the way clear.
two young ladies, school teachers,
climbed down from the car, intending TO
cross the track to reach the platform.
Assisting each other down from the car,
they did not see the milk train from New
York, which had crossed the drawbridge
and was laundering along straight to-
ward them. Suddenly u quick, wild
shrek from the engine of the rapidly ap-
pgOaching train warned them OF their
danger, and, looking down the track,
they saw their. peril Clutehing each
others hands, with blanched faces they
| dashed forward; then, becoming con-
| fused, rushed backward, then up the
track; then, overwhelmed by their great
danger, stood still, entirely paralyzed
from fear, right on the track, with the
| train rushing rapidly down upon them.
| Perhaps in their lear they screamed, but
the screams from The engine drowned all
EOther noises.
| The engineer appeared as though he
lifelt the agony which was heard in the
ishrieks from the engine, and these
lseemed TO urge the brakemen to almost
lisuperhumaG efforts at their brakes to
lstop the train. They knew not what was
lithe cause. of this fierce urging them to
great effort, They dared not look 70 see
the cause, for it is instant dismissal tor
a. brakeman to scarcely take his eyes
from MS brakes when the danger signal
is given.
But the train could not. be stopped in
time to save the women. The passen-
gers ON both trains gazed on this thrill
ing scene with horror-s tricken eyes. and
clenched teeth. and waited to feel the
awful crunching which would tell The IN
all was over.
Immediately upon hearing the engine
shrek, the center brakeman of the sta
tionary train, Otto Hoyt,saW the danger
that threatened the women, and spring
ing from the front platform OF has car,
dashed up the track TO their rescue. But
the numbering train was right behind
him, and before he could reach the end
OF his car, was also upon him. 10 at
tempt to go lnrther was. certain death,
| 80, springing Sideways, he crouched
down close by the wheels of his own Car,
| barely having time to StoOp as the train
rushed by, the steam from the engine
scalding him as it sped forward.
At the sameInstant that Hoyt saw the
women, the end brakeman, Clarence
| Hollis, who was standing on the front
platform of the last Car, saw them also.
They were standing right below the end
| OF his car, and, jumping down, he madly
| ran up the track toward them, knowing
| that il was indeed u race ior life, the en-
| CINE SO close behind that he could feel
| the earth tremble. He reached them,
and, without pausing IN his speed,
clutched them both firmly by the neck, !,
and quickly throwing himself backward,
struck against his own car, and holding
| them at arms length close up to his car,
while the tram Numbered by. He had
| saved them; but SO narrow was the es-
| cape that tue engine struck his cap and
carried it up the track.
After the ladies were attended to, the
| passengers gathered around Mr.. Hollis
and shook his hands and cheered him
Justify. He then walked back to his
brakes just as though he had done moth.
ing heroic.
The railroad company, recognizing his
bravery, have promoted him to the posi-
ton of baggage-master, and 1t is TO be
hoped that before great while we shall
see the word "Condactor," in gilt let
ters, on his cap, for he is made of the
right stuff for arailroad man. He is one
who would sacrifice his life, If need be,
in the line OF duty. The other brake,
man, Hoyt, has also been promoted to
the position of end brakeman, made va.
cant by the promotion oil Hollis-this
position having higher salary than an
ordinary brakeman's.