Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-28
An rraineer,. HeroIsm.

NEW YoRK. Ostober % The train on
the Pennsylvania road, which left jersey City at
I:l5 p m to-day. was made up OF ten passenger
coaches all of which were, is usual on Sundays,
crowded with people IL is computed that there
Conductor Whelpiey had charge, and the engineer
was Joseph A. Sieg, married man OF inlddie age,
who lives in jersey City. By the time mat the
train had reached the bergen cut It's speed was
about thirty-fye miles an hour Inc smoking-car,
which was next TO the tender OF the engine. Was
crowded with men. many OF whom STOOD ~ IN the
aisle. Suddenly though the front door OF the car,
which was open and let In stroug current OF air.
came A Whit of smoke, Immediately followed by 4
dense volume Of smoke and tongue OF lame
The passengers who were seated spranS up
in alarm, and those VINO stood near tne front
door shrank back the smoke and flame
Increased. One man grasped the door and siam
med 1t shut. The next instantlt was dashed open
again and two men threw themselves into the car.
One of these was Seg. the engineer and the other
sbat bo1red directly over the iron tender the pas
sengers could that the cab OF the engine was in
flames, while the open door OF the engine furnace
was mass 0f lire. The smoking-car passengers
were filled WITH CONSERVATION. Those nearest the
another excited crowd issuing from the front door
of the second ear. the passengers OF which had by
Inflammation from the blazing cab. The other
passengers raised windows and looked out to see
that the train was dashing along as great Speed
and that il would be fatal to jump.
Engineer sieg stood near the front door for an
now without control. He realized that upon hi ~
depended the lives of 600 passengers. What had
occurred had only occupied a few seconds OF time
He turned to MS reIns n AID babe him TO go TO the
closet in the rear OF the car and the lever OF
the afr.brake which is there, and which Would
nave checked the speed OF The train. The fireman
started 70 obey the order, but found MS way
blocked BY an inpen traDle mass OF excited men,
iammed together In tho aisle. What took place
then Theodore Reeves, of Newark, VINO was IN the
second scat OF the snOking-car, described as fol-
lows: The passengers we're all excited, and 1t was
impossible for the fireman TO force MS way through
them 10 get to the closet. said % the engineer
standine near me: what Is to be done?" He made
no answer but turned his face to the engine and
setting his teeth together he sprang through the
door and I saw him indisti actly IN the hames pc
voni The excite lueut in the car continued We
felI how bopele ( we we're there, picked IN IKE
cattle The oniy hope apparently lay IN the des-
perate act OF the engineer. was IeYolYlnS over
In NV mind the feasibility of dropping from the car
window near me into the HacE eiisack river wneh
the train should cross the bridge. Presently we
FELT that the speed of the train was being lessene
and finally, with lurch and bump, II came 70
a full stop We hastily clambered ous and found
that we had stopped on the Hackensaek brld e.
Tbe flames IRON the cab, released from the siroi
pressure OF air caused by the speed, now mounted
upward. About 200 people we're on the tei OF IN Z
bridge, and heads protruded from the WINDOWS OF
Ali the rear coaches, in some OF which the passeh-
gers were igaorLut of the cause OF the sudden
EtORpRae. The passengers nearest the engine now
saw the head and shoulders OF man appearlhs
gprang on the ten .er and drew him out. 1t was
Engineer Sicg. He was weak and half uncOn,
scious The clothes completely burned
from him His face was disigured and his hands
shockingly burned His body was bllstered 50
badly that some of the flesh was stripped on IN
moving him. In the meantime ready hands
supplied with pals, drew water from the river
ana dashed it over the burning cab. soon putting
out the flames. Sieg will probably die