Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-01-20
An Ashfn buIn Incidcnt.


An Ashfn buIn Incident.
fevery individual who went down
with the ill.fated railroad train at Ash.
tabula and lived through the experience
were TO write up his or her sensations
and adventures mono would display that
GOODNESS and heroism described by John.
son B. Orborn and his wife, who wers
on their way TO the Saginaw Valley.
Both are past forty, and Mr. Orburn is
au Ohio farmer, who lately purchased
farm in Saginaw county. AS the train
pulled out from Ashtabula the farmers
wife began eating luncheon, and her
husband was trying to read newspa.
per by the light of the dim lamp.
He says he felt the FIRST move
ment when the bridge gave way. IIe
first imagined that one of the wheels
under his car had become detached, as,
a corner of the car seemed TO settle
down little. He dropped tie paper
and seized the back OF the seat in front
of him. Then the whole car seemed 10
lift up, and several women shrieked In
alarm. There was no sensation of fall.
ing. On the contrary, both agree that
they thought the car was running up q
steep hill This would prove that the
rear end of their car settled down first.
From the time the bridge gave way ill
the cars struck the ice not more than
ten seconds could have elapsed, and yet
during that brief interval the husband
threw one arm around bis wife, sho
grasped the seat and asked what had
happened, and he told her TO secure
brace for her feet and added :-"Wa
are off the track and running through,
the felds!" The rear end of the car
struck first, smashing itself to kindling
wood, the debris being thrown over the
passengers in front. The farmer found
himself on the floor, held down by
mass Of wreck on his left leg, while his
wife was thrown across him, with tho
wreck of two or three seats holding her
against the side Of the car. While thus
held, and before either had spoken, ono
end of the car settled little aud the
wife was released Z At E
The womln cleared herself OF tho
broken seats just rs the fire started, aud
she then ascertained that her husband
was pinned fast 10 the floor by tho
wreck of matter on bis leg, which was
partially bent around one Of the iron
standards of seat. She worked with oil
her might To set bin free, but the ra.
ging flames were now only o few fee;
away, and the smoke aud beAtycre be-
coming terrible. a.
"SIary, are you liyingi" asked tho
husband, being his first words after the,
fall. She replied that she was not even
hurt, beyond bruise or two, and by
this time the shouting and confusion
around them proved that the train was
off the track, though neither one sus-
pected that it was more than tumble
into a wayside ditch. II was wonder.
full how woman could retain her prcss
ence.of mind under such exciting cir.
but Mrs Orburn didn'.
even cry out after the shock Scorcs
OF other passengers were sbrieking in
pain aud fright as tho cold water flood
ed one end Of the car and the flames
began to eat away at the other. !. -
"Mary. take hold Of my foot, bend
my leg toward you with all your might
and see if you can't break it," called
the husband, who thought lie could cas-
ily free himself if the leg was released
from its cranped position. The vile
seized bis foor ;meaning 70 obey bat-at
that moment ths car Iurcbed oyer-a alit-
lie aud her bDbaud released hihSslt
When they Left the car her -dfess was
On fire, showing thar aa1ibsr mihtne
would have enSeIoped both IN the
iames.
Both were able to walk TO the hotel
Is soon as released, having escaped
With only few bruises. The heroic
Tite and mother was not only ready 10 =
,bey her husbands orders, bat she bad :.
/ plan Of her own
aWhen | saw the flames jast upon .
Is, - she said,d sand While Iswas sareA.
hat my husband ntedd bE turne,l aiive.r r
made rp my mind TO put one of sths !.
'ushions over him, lie down on top Of
hat, and hope that while was being i.
'urned up help would come to him Tor
'ur cbildrcns ;sake."tf< Il 54t
II was afraid. she wouI1n't. be afrone :.
nough to break any .lrg." added tbs
husband, "and' then il would be all up
nth me. was going TO have her get
ut alal then,' srsti,srs.t .theu b. burnsd-
live, \ vaA ;eGsgay- Z wrD {, 4
sd this big kpiie p ray right hapd .
ocket, aud my hgH si1n was free 70
ct il and use II r-X YiHtysid. - y 3