Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-07
A FEARLESS ENGINEER.
An Act OF Cool, Deliberate. Self.Sae-
riflcing HerOIsm.
Richmond. (YnN Whin.

The highest order of human courage Is
that which impels man in his cool and re-
f1ective moments to confront approaching
danger of DEATH that it may be averted
from others. An act of such cool, deliber-
ste, self-sacrifcing heroism, in which Mr..
R P. Irving. young engineer on the Ohio
and Chesapeake railroad. was the actor, de-
serves the record. On Wednesday of last
week eleven trains were blocked at Waynes-
boro awaiting the arrival and passage of
extras which were behind time.
These having finally come up and passed
on their way westward, the eastward bound
freights were at liberty to resume their way.
The first of the eleven started up the heavy
grade toward the tunnel, but, owing to the
sleety condition of the track, could make
no headwav. Mr.. Irving, the engineer of
the train next behind, uncoupled his engine
and came to the assistance of the other.
Their united forces got the heavilY-laden
train under way, and Mr.. Irving, after help
ing 1t over the heaviest grade, uncoupled
his engine and backed down the grade to
his own train. He was scarcely in posi-
ton again when the familiar ratting
sound of an approaching train struck
his ears. He looked up and for an instant
stood horror-stricken, as he saw section
of the train he had helped up the grade
coming back slowly now, but gathering
speed as it moved. He realized the situs-
ton in an instant. Thirteen heavily laden
cars had by some accident become uncou-
pied from the rest of the train, and were
now returning down o seventy -fve-foot
grade, threatening a collision with the
standing trains, that must entail an i'm
mense destruction of property, besides the
maugling of human victims.
The young engineer did not hesitate mo-
ment. He saw there was but one thing to
do, and he did it, though he knew that his
own life must In all likelihood be the sacri-
fee. The approaching section had already
gathered considerable headway, when he
put his engine in motion to meet It and break
the force of the collision. Whatever might
be his own fate, the lives and property be-
hind him would be saved. It
was a terrific spectacle-the heavy
cars with their thousands of tons burden
laundering down the grade and threatening
to immediate whatever opposed their path
the single engine, under a full head of
steam, fairly leaping up the grade as If
anxious for the dreadful encounter. The
young engineer was seen by several as he
passed flying into the jaws of death. He
stood with his hands upon the lever, pale
but resOlute, slightly STOPPING as he
watched the descending mass that at the
next moment was to overwhelm him and
his engine and consign him to a frightful
death.
The shock came. The intrepid engineer
had somewhat lightened 1t by reversing his
lever at the last moment. The crash was
awful. The foremost car fairly mounted
the opposing engine, dashing itself to
pieces. A scene of wreck and ruin en-
sued. We have no particulars OF the extent
of the damage or the loss to the company.
Nor are we much concerned about that.
What does concern us is the fact that the
brave engineer lay in the midst of the
wreck. bruised and stunned, but beyond
that unhurt Behind him stood the long
train of cars which he had saved from
wreck, and around his PROSTATE form stood
those whose lives he had saved by an act
which has few parallels for boldness,
promptitude and deliberate self sacrifice.