The Evening critic., 1882-10-24
HEROIC ENGINEER sIEG.
Dashing Into n Fiery Furnace TO
Save His Passengers from Destruc-
ffOn


lion.
Joseph A. sleg was, until Sunday, simple
engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Ho
had probably always done his duty faithfully
and well. on Sunday no developed Into n
grand hero. on that day he pulled out OF
Jersey City with train of ten passenger
coaches 1lled with not less than 600 pas
ecngcre. After running few miles, tho wood
work OF tho cab took flrc, and tho heat was so
Intense that both sieg and his fireman woro
driven from tholr positions to the door OF tho
smoking-car, which was next to the tender.
But II was only for a moment. Siog looked
control. He resiized tbnt u" upen n him deponded
tho liycs of GOO passengers. What had oc-
Cured had occupied only few seconds OF
time. He turned to his fireman and bade him
go 10 the closet In the rear OF tho car and use
the levor OF tho air.bralle which Is there, which
would have checked tho speed OF tho train.
The fireman started to obey tho order, but no
found his way blocked by an imponetrable
mass OF excited men, Iammod together In the
aisle.
what took place thon Theodore Reeves, OF
Newark, who was I'm tho second seat OF tho
smoklDgcar, described "a follows; "The pas
sengers wore all excited and It was impossible
for the fireman TO force his way through thom
TO get to the closet. said to the engineer
standing near me, what Is 70 bo dono.' Ho
made no answer, but turned his face to tho Gu
glne and setting his teeth together he sprang
through tho door and saw him indstlnctly
through the smoke climb upon tho tcnder.
Then he disappeared In the llames beyond
The excitement in the car continued. We felt
how helpless we were then, packed In like
cattle. The only hope, apparently, lay In tho
desperate act OF tho engineer. was revolving
over In my mind tho feasibility OF dropping
from tho car window near me into the Hacken-
sack River when the train should cross tho
bridge.
"presently we felt that tho speed OF the train
was being lessened, and finally with lurch
and bump II came TO n full stop. We hastily
clambered out and found that we had stopped
on tho Hackcnsack Bridge. The flames from
tho cab, released from the strong pressure OF
air caused by the speed OF tho train, now
mounted upward. About two hundred people
were on the ties Of the bridge and heads pro.
tudcd from the windows OF all the rear coaches,
In some OF which the passengers wero igno-
rant OF the cause OF the sudden stoppage.
"The passengers nearest the engine now
eaw tho head and shoulders of n man appear
Ing above tho water tank on tho TENDER Sew
| eral men sprang on the tender and drew him
| out. II was Engineer Sieg. Ho was weak and
| half unconscious. Tho clothes were completely
| burned from him. His face was dlsngured
| and his hands were shockingly burned. His
| body was bllstered so badly that some OF the
| flesh was stripped Off In moving him. In tho
| meantime, ready hands supplied with pals
| drew water from tho river and dashed 1t over
| the burning cab soon putting out tho 0ames,"
| Tho engineer was placed temporarily In n
| forward car, and Conductor Whelpley, who
| was In the third passenger coach when tho
| fire occurred, and who had employed himself
| In quieting the fears of the passengers, or
| dered up an engine and freight car, which
| was standing on the opposite track on the
| meadows near the bridge. Sieg was placed on
| the freight car and taken to Jersey City,where
| he was conveyed to st. Francis Hospital. A
| reporter visited the hospital last evening to
| inquire about his condition. The sister In
| charge expressed her belief that he would
| 1.-Two, although his injuries were very serious.