The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-13
4 Thriir,ns Incident.

We went winding up the noun
lains, our massive engine drawing
us up the curving grades, without
an apparent effort. Here and there
beautiful valleys stretched out, and
through them coursed placid
streams pouring from mountain
springs. We had crossed an iron
bridge and made curve at the
end OF which another was in sight,
winding to the left, and a short dis
lance from the track cottage home
stood in the shadow of the hills.
Looking past it to a point just be-
yond which was visible from my
side Of the engine, | saw-oh, hor-
ror and ! excitedly exclaimed,
"A child on tha track p
At the exclamation the engineer
sprang from his seat. One glance
down the track and his face was pal
lid. 4 child-threc years old per-
haps-stood midway between the
rails, and not one hundred yards
from the engine. My God - l
heard him utter in an agonized tone.
| looked from him to the child
again. 1t stood facing US, clapping
its little hands as it was wont 70 do
from its smothers arms, perhaps, at the
passing Of the cars. In another in
slant Twas thrown forward-almOss
pitched through the glass window
In front OF me. In tuesame instant
] heard a scream, and with arms
aloft, and face paralyzed with terror
the mother stood on the cottage
steps. We were nearer the child, it
was not twenty yards from the en-
gine, which under the pressure of
the air brake was humping and JOS
ting furiously. looked to the en-
gineer, his seat was vacant; again
ahead; the pilot was within twenty
feet OF the child, the train still In
motion, too rapidly to be checked
before reaching it. | shut my eyes,
my heart stood still. Again the
mothers heart-rending scream and
l opened nay eyes to see the child
tossed several feet in the air. Ny
head swan as | ayerted my eyes,
and | fancied / heard the crushing
of the little form beneath the now
SLOWLY revolving wheels, when in
husky tones L heard from toward
the cottage a mans voics utter
Thank God p
| opened my eyes, and standing
on the pilot was John Akers, and
holding in his arms the child-its
face wreathed in smiles. The en-
CINE was now at a stand-still. From
the cottage the father came with
face and trembling steps.
The child in merry accent called
out, Want to ride, papa ?" He
took his baby from John Aker's ex-
tended hands, and folding her in
bis arms, he sank down on the earth
beside the track.
The engineer clambered back 10
his perch and sounded the whistle
The passengers looked out of the
windows wondering what had oc-
cured. A trembling hand drew the
ever, which started the engine to
putting and Kissing until It was pac-
ng at full speed again. / looked
.oward the engineer-his blue eyes
we're on the track ahead bat they
we're dimnIcd. Tears were on his
,heeks as he perhaps thought Of
What would have been his feelings
f his own little girl had been the
,ne on the track. Not a word did
.ither speak until at Christianburg
IN the top Of the Alleghanies
two thousand feet above the
eyel, the train stopped for supper
rs we started to leave the engine
grasped his hand
You did heroic thing, sir-a
)rave, noble act.
Twas the air brake, hemodestly
.eplied, twas the air brake that
lid it. t.'-Colun5us( Ga Times.