The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-29
AN HEROIC swrrCmMAN.
He Meets His Death in n Futile Effort
TO save a woman's Lfro.
New York World.I

49, vi NVIIfs
AS the New York express train f.,m
philadelphia, on the PENNSYLVANIA railroad
which left the latter city Mt 3 o'clock YES,
tcrday afternoon, was entering Jersey Gitv
at 7:20, the gates at the Newark-avenue
crossing were descending rs q neatly
dressed woman was approaching from the
sac nearest % Henderson street. The
ga'c-tenders always begin to drop the gates
while there Is ample time for pedestrians
10 cross, and the gate was stopped TO allow
the woman to. pass. She reached the
upper side OF the crossing, that towards
Grove street, before the gate was
down, md there she stopped. The
gateman at The crank on the upper
side hallooed TO her to "hurry up" but
she paid no attention to the warning, and
abruptly turned on her heels and started
10 recross the rails. On nearing the lower
side, although the train was at Barrow
street, two blocks away, the careful gate
tender on that side shouted TO her to hurry
up, as the train was rapidly approaching.
but she turned 10 the right. and seeing the
train coming, dashed to the fence Just
above the lagman's but at the east
side Of the crossing. She clutcbed two
pahngs OF the fence, one with each
hand, and Just as she did this Lawrence
OBrlcn, a switchman, went to her aid.
although the train was not sevenfy-five
yaI DIS away. The distance between tie
train and fence was too narrow for there
to be the slightest hope OF the woman
saving her life, rs she would have been
carried in by the suction OF the train and
crushed 10 death under the wheels. This
was manifest to O'Brien, but he concluded
to sacrifice his own life 10 save that OF the
woman. He limped to the fence, for he
had lost the use Of one leg in the service OF
the company, and, catching hold OF the
woman, tried to toss her over the fence
to the street Of Railroad avenue, where
she would be away from danger, but
she had become excited 10y the approach
OF the train, and. being Il stout, power
fuI woman, made n vigorous but fatal
resistance. despite O'Brien's words OF
warning. She fought him stubbornly. and
when he found it was too late to hUIl her
over the fence he warned her TO cling to it
with all her strength. Just as he wa pre-
pairing 10 hold her with one hand and seize
the fence with the other she tainted or fell
backwards on the track. O'Brien reached
out to save her from falling. His right arm
caught her body as il reached the rail, but
lust then the train Numbered along and he
was struck by the pilot and hurled over
the fence into the street. The woman fell
on the track. Her head was hit by the
engine and turned so that the entire
train passed over her body lengthwise.
completely cutting the body in two.
The horribly-mangled body was gath
cred up and conveyed to the Morgue.
O'Brien was little less fortunate. lie was
not killed outright. and WAS carried To
Weeks drugstore, at the corner OF Newark
avenue and Henderson street, but died be-
fore medical aid could be summoned.
O'Brien was Il married man, and lived at
No. 2O5 Railroad avenue. lie was thirty
eight years old. He has been employed by
the railroad company for several years.
O'Brien lost the use OF his right leg two
years ago while endcayoring to save The
life Of a little girl who attempted to cross
the track ut Henderson street. The body
OF the woman was recognized 10y her
clothing and a letter found on her address
ed TO Mrs. Patrick Anthony.