The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-10-16
HIS PRESENCE OF MIND.
The Great Pluck and Goodness
of a Newsboy.
He Saved Many Peoples Lives in Moment
of Great Peril

sAe ~'s'Se AiJ tOoPioo bi'oS 49, A~0@N<NNN
of Great Peril
In conversation with a prominent
physician the other day the subject of
railroad accidents and escapes came
up. "One of the most remarkable'in-
stances of presence of mind of which l
have ever heard" said he, "was relat-
ed to me by Colonel John d. Wick
life not long ago. 1t was on the
Louisville & Nashville railroad. near
the Muldraugh's Hill tunnel. At that
time the science of running trains was
in very elementary state. The prac-
tice was to run them all one way at
time. In the morning the trains
would be started from Nashville to
Louisville, and in the evening they
would be run back. They went in
sections. Colonel Wickliffe one even
ing was one Of a party of Off
GERS and others who made up train
to Nashville. They were preceded by
another train and at distance of
about mile a third one followed.
They pulled out from the depot at a
late hour and made as 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 minimum. The sum-
NIT is but 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 us easily as a trotter the
light sullly of his driver. The summit
was reached and, with wild shrick
of delight, the train sprang around the
first curve and darted upon 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 vibrated with the
putting of the engine and the hills
echoed and re-echoed the shrieks of
the whistle. The tain was not two
minutes distarce from 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
cat that awful moment 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 moment in reaching
the rear platform. How he managed
it no one knew, but he had whipped
out match and had 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 as 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 that his train
simply bumped against the one in
front. The pluck and presence Of
mind of the boy had saved scores Of
lives.
about FIVE minutes after the pas
sengers realized that they were saved
a collection was taken up among tht
officers and the newsboy was made
richer by $500. l wish that l coult
recall his name, but it is doubtful if it
will ever be known" Louisville Cour'
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