Daily Republican., 1882-10-26
ERGINEEE sIEG'S HEKOISM.
He ePuunges into a Bath OHFIre.

The train which left Jersey city on
the Pennsylvania road about ~
O'Clock on Monday afternoon WAS com
posed of ten passenger cars containing
$40 persons. The smoking car, which
was coupled to the tender, was 30 much
crowded that men stood in the aisle.
The train soon began to move swiftly,
and when about mile east Uf Hacken-
sack bridge it was going at the rate of 40
miles an hour. .3uddenly smoke and
fire poured through the front door of
the smoking-car, which was open, and
created CONSERVATION among the pass.
engers. The roaring flames were swept
back from the engine, and they almost
hid 1t aud the tender from sight,
"Shut the door, shut the door" was
shouted. The door was closed, but Gl-
most Immediately 1t flew open again,
and the engineer and fireman EMERGE
! from the fire and smoke and stun bled
into the car. The train dashed on with
no one to govern the engine. Men
rushed to the rear platform, and there
met a frightened crowd from the next
car. Others raised windows, only to
realize at what speed the train was 60
would be death.
"Get to that closet" shoutedi Engineer
Gus Sieg to the fireman, pointing to
the rear Of the car 'aLd work the air
brakes"
But the passage was blocked with
passengers, and the fireman found 1t
impossible to make headway.
"What is going to be dOne'" asked
Theodore Reeves of Newark of the en-.
gineer.
The latter made no reply, but rushed
back through the fiery doorway, climb.
Cd upon the tender and disappeared in
the flames. Although famed by the
wind the fire was 0arning more tiercely
thau before. The engineers cab was
| completely envelOped. Nearly min.
ute passed, and then the train came 20
a stop On the bridge over the HaCken-
sack River, aud the passengers knew
that the engineer had put on the air
brakes and reversed the engine. The
train having come to standstill, the
flames now shot upward and no longer
concealed the tender. Those who stood
nearest to the door saw a mans head
In the water tank on the tender. Two
men rushed for ward and lifted out the
engineer. He had jumpod into the wa.
ter to extinguish the fire That was cou-
suming him, aud was found leaning,
weak, and only half conscious, agaiuBs
the side of the tank.
His clothes had been burned off, and
his flesh was scorched on his body and
legs. From both hands the flesh hung
in Shreds.
They dipped water in pals from the
river and put out the flames. Con-
ductor Wheipley put 5oig on another
train and had him removed to Jersey
City. Passengers who saw him were
forced to tears as they praised his self
sacrifice, One Of them said last even.
ing
"Of all magnificent aud brave Iuen
he Is the best. We hadn't words
enough to express our sense of bis hero.
ism. If he dies he will be a martyr.
He saved traiuful of passengers from
an apparently certain and horrible
death, and II the Pennsylvania Rail
road doesu' take care of him and his
T'll issue call for the passengers TO
meet and take action"
The train was run TO Newark by the
fireman. Seig lay in st, Francis Hos.
pital, Jersey City, last night in pre-
Garious condition, bnt it was hoped by
the physicians that he might recover.
He is thirty eight years old, aud Is
marriad