The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-02-02
LOVE TRIED By FIRE.

If every individual who weBt down with
the ill-fated railroad train at Asiltabula and
lived through the experience were To write
up his on her sensations and adventures
none would display that coolness and he
Ioism described 10y johnson 3. Osburn and
his wife, who were on their way to the
Saginaw Valley. Both are past forty. and
MIR. Oshurn is an Ohio farmer, who lately
purchased a farm in Saginaw county. As
the train pulled out from AshiaLnIa fine
farmers wife began eating luncheon, and
her husband naS trying 10 read neNsDa-
per by the light OF the dim lamp.
He says hc heard the first movement
when the bridge gave way. pe first inn
agiued that one Of the wheels under his ear
had become detached, as a corner Of the
car seemed 10 settle down a little He
dropped the paper and seized the back of
the seat in front OF him. Then the whole
car seemed to lift up. and several women
shrieked in alarm. There was 40 sensation
ut falling. On the contrary, both agree
that they Thought the car was running up A
steep hill. This would prove that the rear
end of their ear settled down first. From
the time the bridge gave way till the cars
struck the ice not more than ten seconds
coui'i have elapsed, and yet in that brief IN
teTval the husband threw cue arm arorltd
ms wife, she graSped the seat and asked
what was thc matter. aud he tod her to Sc
cure y brace Tor her feet and added I'VE
are of tie track and running through The
fields y The rear end of their car stlucl,
first. smashing itself to kindling wood, the
debris being thrown over the passengers in
front. The farmer found himself on the
floor, held down 10y mass OF wreck on his
left leg. while his wife was thrown across
hi'n, with the wreck of two or three seats
holding her against the side of the car
While thus held, and before either had sI,o-
ken, one end of the car settled little and
the wife released.
MARY, are ynu living? - asked the hus-
band, being his first words after the fall.
She replied that she was not even huIt be-
yond bruise OF two, and by this time the
shouting and confusion around them proved
that tile train was uG the track, though
neither one suspected that it was more than
tumble into a waySide ditch. 1t was
wonderful how Il woman could retain her
presence OF mind under such exciting cir
cumStanceS, bat MiS. OSburn didn't even
cry out after tie shock. Scores of uI her
passengers were shrickiug in pain aud
fright as the cold waters flooded one end Of
the car and the flames began to eat away
at the other
The woman cleared herselfof tie broken
seats Just as the fire started. and She then
Fast to the noor by tie wreck Of matter ON
his leg, which was PARTIALLY bent around
one OF the iron standards of seat She
worked with all heI might To set hirn free,
but the rag in" flames were nov only "A few
feet away. and ihe smoke and heat were
becoming terrible.
''Mary, take hold Of my foot, bcrd my
leg towards Nnu with all yuur might and
see if you can't break IT," called ;hc hus-
band. who thought he could easily free him
self If the leg was released from its crampcd
position. Tho wife seized his foot. mean
ing to obey. but at that niomeut tie car
lulched over a little aud her husband re-
leased himself. When they left the car
Ter dress was on fire. showing That another
minute would have envcloTed both in the
flames.
Both were able TO walk to the hotel rs
soon as released, having escaped with only
Il few bruises. The heroic wife and mother
WAS not only ready to obey her husband's
orders, but she had plan OF her own
when SAW thc flames Just upon us
she said, ''aHd while | was sure that my
husband would bc burned alive. l made MP
my minti to put one of the cushions over
him, lie down on top of tha. and hone that.
while | Was being burned up lclp would
come to him for our childieu's sake
Il was afraid she wouldn't lie strong
enough to break my leg" added the hus-
band, land then it xonld be all up with
me. / was going to have her get out. and
then. rather than be burned alive, 1 was
going to. Well, had this big knife
in my right hand pocket, and my right ann
was free to get it and use it -