Evening journal., 1890-07-21
A FATHERS HER0ISm.
He Gave His Life to Preserve
His Children.
HURLED FROM ARAILRoAD TRACK
Thomas Faruuhar Rescued Hls Three
Little Daughters from In Front OF
Locomotive, but Was Himself Ground
10 Death beneath the Cruel Wheels.


Locomotive, but Was Himself Ground
20 Death beneath tile Cruel Wheels.
JERSEY C1TY, July e. Thomas Farquhar
was killed Saturday afternoon on the New
ark and New York railroad after he had
saved the lives Of his three children. The
accident occurred near the West Bergen
station Of. the railroad In the suburbs Of
Jersey City. MIR. Farquhar, who Ind been
spending the day with his children crab
bing in the Hackensack river was instant
ly killed and mangled beyond recognition.
The children were thrown down an en-
bankment BY the father and escaped with
several small bruises eaeh After the last
one--a little girl, yeurs old--had been
placed out OF danger he attempted to es-
cape, but was too late The cowcatcher Of
OF the locomotive struck him and threw
him up in the air. He was dead before the
train could be stopped
A Bright Home DesoIate.
Mr. Farquhar lived with his wife and
four little children in a small cottage 40
No. 70 Yale avenue. Jersey City lie was
employed as head packer in the dry goods
store Of Sweetser pembrook & Co, at No
37l Broadway, New York. A vacation had
been given him by the firm a week ago,
aud since then he has spent great deal OF
time on the river with his wife and little
girls. During the warm weather he would
either take theus grabbing or rowing, com
ing home late in the afternoon.
Mr.. Farquhar landed on the side OF the
river opposite his cottage. To reach the
cottage be was compelled TO cross the New
ark and New York railroad bridge, which
spans the river AT that point. He took the
children out OF the boat. and the party in
a jolly mood started over the bridge The
West Bergen side of the structure had
been safely reached, and Mr.. Farquhar was
about 10 leave the track and 20 down on
the sidewalk when the train for Newark
passed them.
II Was a Fatal Pause.
The children stopped to look at the
train. and 20 engrossed were they that the
express train from New York approaching
on the other track was not noticed The
noise made by the other train drowned the
sound OF the approaching engines whistle,
and Mr. Farquhar did not SEQ il until it
was within fifteen yards OF where the party
stood.
AT the point where the bridge begins the
emhankment slopes down about twelve
feet to the level ground. There was only
one chance to save his children from in
stant death, and even that was a small and
desperate one. This only chance was TO
throw the children dowu the embankment
They might sustain the fracture Of q limb,
but that could not then be helped.
His Life for HIS children
Throwing away the basket Of crabs he
leaped forward and seized the two young
est children, who stood rooted TO the spot
with fright He pitched them over tbs
embankment and they rolled down in safe
ty TO the sidewalk below He turned and
picked up the other little girl and threw
after the other two just as the iron cow
catcher struck him and threw him up ia
the air. He fell back under the whesls
and WAS instantly killed
Engineer Kennedy, who WAS on the ex-
press engine, had blown his whistle and
rung the bell TO attract the attention OF
Mr.. Farquhar and the children, but as
they did not leave the track he shut down
the airbrakes and whistled for the brake
men TO apply the outside ones. II was too
late. The train slipped along the rails
with great velocity, aud in q minute after
the party had been sighted Mr. Farauhar
had proved his heroism and lay dead under
the wheels Of the baggage car
The Children Slightly InJured.
The train stopped ten yards beyond the
spot where the accident happened. and En-
gineer Kennedy, followed by all Of the
train hands and most Of the passengers,
hocked around the body. Gentle hands
took il up and carried IL 10 one Of the rear
cars OF tho train and placed It on board.
Several passengers went down the en-
bankment 10 where the children sat, cry
ing from their bruises. They did not I'M
derstand what had happened Beyond a
few scratches, received ia rolling down the
steep incline, they were uninjured, but
presented a pitiRbls sight covered with
dust They we're taken on board paSsen-
ger coach and the train put back to West
Bergen, where the body was placed ia the
waiting room and the children left in
charge OF the attaches