Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-08-05
DIED AT THE LEVER.

III NY AOAAA cCINAlC u n EdAlTOAu I'll
gineer / have become well acquainted
with oil and smoke, coal and cinders
II was while firing" that the practical
knowledge of my engine was gained
II takes time to learn to fire well, 80 a.
to have the highest pressure of steam
at the grade where needed. His fire
must be kept steady and hot, and It is
necessary that he know the road as
well as the engine.
What with shoveling coal, oiling hs
engine and looking after his stock
Of coal and water the fireman Is a busy
man.
When l began firing under Nell
Aness knew him to be a good hearted.
pleasant fellow, and he always spoke
pleasantly to me while / was learning
my duties, and ! must have been a try
ing chap at first.
One bitter cold night In the month
Of January found us pulling out Of
Omaha, westward bound, about TWEEN
~ minStes late.
Our train wa heavy, the rails frostJ,
and the wheels seemed TO stick TO the
line, while the icy winds almost frcze
the blood in our veins We used every
ounce Of steam. It takes more coal to
make steam on such a night, though
the fire seems TO burn fiercer and
brighter.
As we pulled out Nell showed in his
determined manner and by the way he
handled her that he meant TO make up
the twenty minutes, for all ahead our
line was clear.
On we sped. counting of the mile
stones at the rate Of forty an hour
where the road was level Al, these
bleak winter nightsi
Hopefully we peer into the darkness
but car only see what the headlight
shows us.
NO. 145" eastbound freight train
running 10 OMAHA would either side
track at a small station called Sheldo4
or one three miles further east called
Elbling. until we passed. We passed
Elbling at lO:45, and il was a comfort
TO think there would be no delay on
road. and we swept swiftly onward
toward Sheldon, where we expected
mo. AS" to be safely ~sidetracked,
since she had not run into Elbling.
But an unavoidable accident had
occurred just around a curve, where
the road followed the smooth. wind,
ing bank Of the Platte.
An axle had broken and got one OF
their cars of the track The train
hands-conductor and brakemen-were
10 the eaboose for warmth, and did not
notice the accident for a time. The
train was finally brought to a standstin
and as they did so other cars were do
rallied, which threw the whole traiA
into confusion. Signals are often OBJ
scure in the frosty air, and they said we
came upon them very quickly after the
signal lanterns were gotten out
As we shot around the curve going
at a great speed l say Ge steam from
the freight engine. Nell was looking
out on his side.
I'VE are lost, Nelp ! shouted. mo.
145 is on our line" In an instant we
bad shut of, reversed and whistled for
brakes.
As we came up I swung out, for I saw
death ahead of us.
Jump. Nel" | cried. He glanced
toward me, and then straight ahead.
The look on his face seemed to say to J
me. 1T is all right for you to go; l
must not leave my enginel" In that
one lightning glance l seemed to see
the brave, heroic soul of my engineer
shining in his honest. pleasant face,
Then l jumped, rolled over and over
down the steep river bank. and landed
the ice. There was a mighty crash,
and | saw from the spot where | had
dazed but unhurt, our engine
and several MS pitched headlong down
the em~bsnkment The silence of the
night was broken by agonizing cries for
help and heartrending creams and
prayers.
We who were uninjured WORKED
with a will Twelve passengers were
killed and many injured. looked and
watched for Nell. hoping he would
soon be seen at work among us. After
away piles of wreck, we found
him at dawn lying under his engine in
the shallow water beneath the ice. He
met death fe~arlessly with his hand on
the lever, giving his own life in the
hope that others might be saved.
Brave Nell Anessl He was. indeed, a
hero. -Arkansaw Traveller.