Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-01
THE HERO sWITcHMAN.
An Account Of His Unavalliag
Bravery. -,
coNJEcTUREs AS TO THE CAUSE
OF Macduffs Deadly Freny-Probaby
Financial Troubles Coupled With
JealOssy-His Brother Story
of the Crime.

NEW YORK, April 30.-The body OF the
gallant Larry" o Brien, the switch tender
who lost his life while vainly attempting
to save that of Mrs. Jane Anthony at the
Newark avenue crossing of the Pennsylya-
mia Railroad in Jersey cIty on Friday even
ing, lay in the front room of his apartments
at the corner of Railroad avenue and Var
ick street yesterday. Both legs OF the un-
fortunate man were broken, and at
the base Of the skull was
a cruel gaping wound. A brnise
upon the left cheek was the only disigure-
ment Of the face, which wore a peaceful
expression. Curious crowds besieged the
scene of the aecident nearly all day ysster-
day. and the gatemen at the crossing were
kept busy, even at times to q partial neg
lect Of their duties, in answering questions
and pointing out the spot where the heroic
switch tender and the woman for whom he
had displayed his unavailing bravery had
been struck and killed. Early in the morn
ing workmen had cleared away, all eyi-
nothing for morbidity to feast upon.
Too Marrow for Safety.
"Why would not both have been safe by
clipging close to the fenee?'' was ques-
ton frequently asked. Said gentleman,
when this suggestion was made to him,
''You have no idea how these Pullman cars
overlap the track. There is only space OF
few inches between them and the fence.
Railroad hands know this, and when tram
is approaching ON each track a man INSIDE
the fence makes haste to scale 1t.
An explanation OF the singular actlons OF
Mrs. Anthony was afforded yesterday: She
was afflicted with deafness, and heard
neither the noise of the approaching train
nor the warning cries OF Swtchman
O'Brien. 1t is the rule that the gates at
crossings shall be lowered before an ap.
preaching train comes within two blocks oil
the crossing 1t seems that on this occa'
sion there was an interval between the
time al which the gate tenders on either
side lowered their gates. The near gate
was open as Mrs. Anthony reached it. She
essayed to cross, but found the far gate
closed. Then she attempted to return, but
found escape cut off by the lowering OF the
gate under which she had entered.
In Trap.
She was in a trap, AID the locomotive
headlight of the approaching train was
bearing down rapidly upon her. 1t was
then about block away, and her perilous
position apparently dazed her faculties. so
that for ar instant she stood still. OBrien,
who was also within the lane formed by
the two fences, but upon the opposite
track, seeing her imminent danger, shouted
to her to come to him. She probably did
not hear him, for she made dash right IN
the face Of the oncOming train, and then
swerving to one side Clasped the pickets of
the fence and screamed. 1t was almost
certain death for both, but o Brien hesitated
not an instant. In three bounds he
had crossed the track and reached
the woman. He was powerful man, and
grasping her around the body attempted to
tear her from the fence. He failed, for she
held a tight grip. Again he tried, and this
time succeeded His head caught, howey-
er, and both fell backward upon the track.
Conscious OF his imminent peril, O'Brien
rolled over quickly, until his body was off
the track. He was an instant too late. The
pilot OF the engine struck him on the back
OF the head. He was whirled around and
his legs, slung upon the track, were crushed
beneath the wheels. The woman was
frightfully mangled.