The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-04-07
A Thrilling Incident.


Columbus (Ga) Times
We went winding up the mountains,
our massive engine drawing US up the
curving grades, without an apparent
effort. Here arc there beautiful valleys
stretched out, and through them
coarsed placid streams pouring from
mountain springs. We had crossed
az iron bridge and made a curve st
the end Of which another was in sight,
winding II the leff, and 4 short die
lance from the track a cottage home
stood iii the shadow Of the hills. Look
ing past il to point just beyond
which was visible from my side Of the
engine, I saw-oh, horror, and l er-
citedIy exclaimed, a child on tie
track
At the exclamation the engineer
sprang from his scat. One glauoe
down the track and his face vas psi
lid. 4 ehild-threo yesrs cid perhaps
I stood midway between the rail-,
and not one hundred yar,Is from the
engine. "My Cod! I heard hun
after in az sgonisod tone. ] Looked
from him to the child sgsin. II stood
facing US, cisp7ing It's little hands rs
it was wont to do from It's mothers
arms, perhaps, at the passing Of the
cars. In another instant was thrown
forward-alaaost pitched through the
glass window in front Of NE. Ia the
same Instant / heard q scream, 6
/ woman's voice, and wish arms aloft,
and face pars'ygei vith terror, the
mother stool on the STEPS Of the cot
tage. Wa we're nearer the child, il
Ess not twenty yards from the engine,
which under the pressure Of the cir
brake was humping and jostling furi-
ously. I looked to the engineer, his
seat WAS vacant again ahead; the
pilot was within twenty feet Of the
child, the train still in motion, too
rapidly 10 be reaching it. saut NY
eyes, my heart stood still Again the
mothers heart-rending scream and !
opened my eyes to see the child tossed
several feet in the air. Ny head
swan, Us I averted ny eyes, and /
fancied I heard the crushing Of the
little form by the now slowly revolv.
iog wAeels, when in husky tones
heard from toward the cottage q mans
voice utter: THANK Godl"
| l opened my eyes, and standing
! upon the pilot was John Akers, hold
ing in his arms the child-its face
wreathed in smiles The engine wa.
now at q stand-still From the cot
tage the father came with blanched
face and trembling steps. The child
in merry accent called out, "Want &c
ride, papa2' lie took his baby from
John Akers extended hands, and
folding her in his arms, he SINK down
on the earth beside the track.
The engineer clambered back to hi.
perch and sounded the whistle. The
passengers looked out of the window {
wondering what had occurred. A
trembling hand drew the lever, which
started the engine to putting and hiss
ing until it was pacing 1T full speed
again. ! looked toward the engineer
his blue eyes were on the track
ahead, bat they we're dimmed, Tears
were on his cheeks as be perhaps
thought of what would have been his
I feelings if his own little girl had been
the one on the track. Not a word did
either speak until at Christianburg, on
the top Of the AIleghenies, two thou
sand feet above the level, the train
stopped for supper As we started to
leave the engine l grasped his hand.
you did a heroic thing, SRA
brave, noble act"
TWAS Il e air brake" he modsstly
replied, Twas the air brake that did
it."