Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-10-20
A Mailman ON the Engine.

PrrTsBURG, Pa, October 15.-An extra
freight train, drawn by engine No. $50,
coming west, was not far from Derry sta
ton yesterday morning when it met with
an accident. Derry is in Westmoreland
county, forty-six miles east of this city.
The train was heavy one. In addition
to the regular drawing engine there was
a pushing engine on behind. Suddenly
the drawhead OF the forward car gave way
and the engine, released from its heavy
weight, sprang ahead for a few feet, when
it stopped. A brakeman should have been
sent to the rear to notify the engineer Of
the pushing engine of the accident, but it
seems that this act of caution was omitted.
Switchman John Bley, of the Derry
switches, and Fireman James Maloney
went to repair damages. Bley crawled
under the front platform of the disabled
car and Maloney was resting on one knee
at the bull-nose Of the coupling when the
the train started. The engineer of the
engine i'm the rear had opened his throttle
and in an instant Bley's body was being
| rolled over and over under the platform
and mangled almost beyond recognition.
Maloney tried to jump to his feet, but was
too late. He was pushed along by the
platform and before lie could clear himself
from the rails he was caught between the
car and the forward engine, which was
| standing on the track where the engineer
had stopped it.
AS soon as the train could be stopped
the trainmen and engineer went to the
assistance of the injured men. Maloney
was shrieking with pain. He was speed
lily extricated and was suffering the most
frghtful agony. A portion Of his scalp
| was almost torn from his head and his
lfe-blood, pouring from deep cash seven
inches in length, dyed the ground. His
left arm was broken and hung limp and
lfeless. His shoulder was crushed and
the flesh hung from it in ribbons. lie
was injured internally. Blood ran from
| his mouth. His face was red with it and
his clothes were saturated. Tenderly
the trainmen lifted the injured fireman
| from the ground and carried him to the
engine. They placed him upon his back
| in the cab and went back for Switchman
Bley. He was beyond all help. When
his mangled and bleeding body was pull
cd from beneath the car life was extinct.
While the trainmen were Standing
about the remains 4 wild scene was enact
| ed in the cab of the engine. In spite OF
his terrible injuries and great loss oil
blood Fireman Maloney's strength was
not exhausted. His terrible suffering had
turned his brain. Delirium had seized
him. Jumping to his feet he danced
about and uttered such wild, frightful
shrieks as only madmen can utter. There
was no one there to control him. 1t
would have been dangerous to have at
tempted it, He was at home OH the ell
CINE. With the blood streaming from his
gaping wounds the raving maniac seized
the throttle and pulled the valve wide
open. The engine jumped away in an
instant and started down grade ut
frightful velocity. 1t was all done in an
instant. Fortunately the track was clear
and the mailman had nothing to hinder
him in the hcadlong race. The six miles
to LatrObe were passed over in twink
ling. Then the maniac's strength appa-
rently gave way. Before he fell 10 the
noor unconscious he seized the throttle
and turned it the other way. Perhaps 1t
was done in falling. At all events, when
the engine had reached the bottom OF the
grade mile further OH it came to stand
There a party of trainmen found it and Oh
the floor of the cab they found the body
of Maloney, lying in a pool Of blood. The
body was taken to the office OF physi-
clan, who dressed the wounds temporarily
and pronounced them fatal. The dying
man was brought to this city and is now
in the hospital. He is unmarried and
Pittsburg is his home. Bley leaves wife
and four children.