Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-04
HIS PREsEN 1)F MIND.
he Great FIuc and Goodness
OF Z Newss2oy.
He savoi Many Peoples Lives il j Moment
Of Great psgiL

physician the other day The subject Of
railroad accidents ana escapes came
up. "0ne Of tie ELECTROMAGNETIC IN
stances Of presence Of mind Of which |
have ever heard" said he, .was relat-
ed to me by Colonel John D. Wick
llife not long ago. 1t was on the
Louisville & Nashville railroad. near
the Muldraugh's Hin tunnel. at that
time the science OF running trains was
10 very elementary state. The prac-
lice was to run them al one way at 4
time In the morning the trains
would be started from Nashville to
louisville. and in Sac evening they
would be run back. They went in
sections. Colonel Wiekliffe one even
ing was one of 81 party of Off
GERS and others who made up a train
70 Nashville. They Nere preceded by
another train and st a distance of
about mile tn ri one followed.
lney pulled out from the depot at
late hour and made IS good time as
possible when fairly on the road.
Everything went smoothly enough till
the tunnel was reached, when the first
train was halted by signal just before
entering. Upon investigation it was
found that freight train had broken
down in the passage.
Every one who has been over the
road knows how steep Is the grade of
Muldraugh's hill. To climb it the en-
gineers put on every ounce of steam
and take off the brakes till the friction
is reduced to a minimum. The sum
NIT is but a short distance from the
tunnel and deep curve in the track
hides an approaching train till within
few hundred yards. Up this incline,
but hidden by the curve, was heard the
putting of the third train. The pom
derous engine was laboring gallantly
and drawing the long string of cars
behind her as easily as trotter the
light sulky of his driver. The summit
was reached and. with wild shrek
of delight, the train sprang around the
first curve and darted apon the trestle-
work. The momentum gained in the
upward struggle carried it across with
race-horse speed and the track quivered
and stretched beneath Its eager tread.
The cold night air vihrated with the
putting of the engine and the hills
echoed and re-echoed the shrieks of
the whistle. The traip was not two
minutes distarce frcm the second
section when first heard The horror
stricken passengers in front were
caught in trap. The rear train had
been totally forgotten and it was now
bearing down upon them, bringing
death and torture nearer and nearer.
"At that awful momsnt a newsboy,
with great bundle of papers, dashed
like mad through the car to the rear.
The men yielded an instant passage
and he was but a moment in reaching
the rear platform. How he managed
it no one knew, but he had whipped
out a match and haa bundle of
papers in flames just as the headlight
of the advancing engine appeared
around the curve. His entire stock
famed up. and he waved and shouted,
his face and form lit up IS perhaps was
Casabianca's on that fatal day at Ira
/ falgar. The engineer saw him just in
time. lie reversed his engine and put
on the breaks so rapidly shat his train
simply bumped against the one in
front. The pluck and presence of
/ mind of the boy had saved scores Of
lives.
about Ave minutes after the pas
sengers realized that they were saved.
! collection was taken np among the
officers and the newsboy was made
richer by $500. wish that ! could
recall his name. but it Is doubtful If it
win ever be known - Lonisrille COur-
/ &c. Ts,ss3.g,0I