Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-13
A CHARMED LIFE.
Miraculous Escape from Deuth Of
Captain Silas st. John.

Cincinnati EnQuirer.l
The Enquirer's special of last
Sunday morning giving an account
of the terrible collision on the
Louisville and Nashville railroad
contained this paragraph:
"When the crash came the ex-
press messenger, D. Fry, S. st.
John, route agent of the Adams
Express Company, and Mr.. Simp-
son, baggage-master, wercEsitting IN
the baggage car of the lightning
express. Fry and Simpson were
killed outright and st. John mlrac-
ulously escaped with only a badly
bruised leg"
Captain Silas st. John, the route
agent spoken of, who made such a
miraculous escape, is now in the
pay department of the Cincinnati
Hospital receiving treatment for a
bruised and swollen knee, the
fruits of the accident. He is a
gentleman whose life is full of ad-
venture and hair breadth escapes
from death. Few men of his age
now living can point to such a
career of daring deeds and lucky
outcomings. The writer had the
pleasure of a call and an hour
of friendly chat with Captain st.
John last Friday in his comfortable
apartment at the hospital. The
gentleman is heavy set, Of sandy
complexion, full faced, rather
handsome, and a most agreeable
companion.
CA narrow escape you have had,
Captain 2" referring to the Satur-
days collision experience.
"Well, yes, rather narrow"
smiled he, "but l am getting used
to it. My life seems to be made
mp of death grazing episodes.
About three months ago was mis-
taken for some ether fellow, and a
vengeful Southerner fired three
shots at me as / was leaving sta
ton standing on the platform of
the rear coach. Shortly aiterward
/ managed to get between a shooter
and a shootee in Nashville, and
couldn't get out of range until the
fellow had emptied his revolver all
around my ears. But l thought
sure was gone last Saturday"
Suppose you relate your expe-
rience."
81 have been in many accidents
on the rail during my express expe-
rience, but never in my whole
existence did appreciate so narrow
an escape. was sitting in a chail
in the express car. Mr.. Simpson
sat facing me just on the left, anC
Fry, my messenger, on the other
side. We felt the air brakes con
as soon as they were applied. l haC
lust time enough to exclaim,
S'Here we CO." when the crasE
came. Fry had arisen and made
step toward the door, when the
train struck. Simpson, too, arose
but hadn't moved cut of his tracks
Both men by getting mp lost theil
lives, being hit on the head anC
chest by the end of the teleScopeC
express car and crushed to deatl
between it and the baggage. NJ,
chair was turned half round, facinS
me to the rear, and throwing mt
Sat on the floor, while the chair
was smashed into a hundred pieces
In the few seconds that hung jus
around the crash | seemed to liy,
over my whole life. l cannot ac
count for the supernatural feeling
for | did not think Of danger
When l realized my situation, i
was to find myself on the floor in
sitting position, With my heac
jammed down on my chest witt
heavy baggage until I breathe(
with difficulty. | was LITERAL.
wedged in, unable to move. Simp
sons toes was spasmodically pick
ing me in the side, rs violen
death was wrenching his soul from
his body. The blood from the dy
ing messenger was raining down OF
me. You see l have no left arm
lost it in q fight with the Indians
which l will tell you about soon
1t was amputated at the shoulder
joint, and to keep my coat up,
have for years worn a wooden shoul
der. A heavy trunk caught thi
shoulder between one Of its end
and the side of the express car
crushing it like an eggshcll. Ha
not the arm been lost years ago,
would have been crushed like thi
wooden shoulder. 10 add to m
peril the steam from one Of the nj