The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
DIED AT THE LEVER.
Heroic Death of Brave but FoOlhardy
Knight of the Throttle.

Heroic Death Of Brave but FoOlhardy
Knight of the Throttle.
In my long service Us railroad en-.
gineer have become well acquainted
with oil and smoke, coal and cinders
1t was while firing" that the practical
knowledge of my engine was gained.
1t takes time to learn to fire well, so as
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
we'll as the engine,
What with shoveling coal oiling his
engine and looking after his stock
of coal and water the fireman is busy
man.
When began firing under Nell
Aness knew him to be 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
ty minutes late.
Our train was heavy, the rails frosty,
and the wheels seemed to stick to the
line while the icy winds almost froze
the blood in our veins. We used every
ounce of steam 1t takes more coal to
make steam on such a night, though
the fire seems to burn fercer 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 off the mile
stones at the rate of forty an hour
where the road was level. All, these
bleak winter nights
Hopefully we peer into the darkness,
but can only see what the headlight
shows us.
''No. 145" eastbound freight train
| running to Omaha would either side
, track at a small station called Sheldon
or one three miles further east called
Elbling, until we passed. We passed
Elbling at 1915, and it was comfort
{ to think there would be no delay on
our road, and we swept swiftly onward
> toward Sheldon, where we expected
| mo. las" to be safely sidetracked,
since she had not run into Elbling.
But an unavoidable accident had
occurred just around curve, where
the road followed the smooth, wind
9 ing bank of the Platte.
= An axle had broken and got one Of
r their cars off the track. The train
e hands-conductor and brakemen-were
e in the caboose for warmth, and did not
S notice the accident for q time. The
e train was finally brought to standstill
: and as they did so other cars were de
r RATED, which threw the whole trair
into confusion. Signals are often OBJ
: scure in the frosty air, and they said We
; came upon them very quickly after the
o signal lanterns were gotten out.
l. AS we shot around the curve going
g at great speed saw the steam from
It the freight engine Nell was looking
II out on his side.
;. eve are lost, Nelll' shouted. mo
145 is on our line" In an instant W,
had shut of, reversed and whistled fo
brakes.
y As we came up swung out, for saw
st death ahead of us.
IS Jump, Nelll" cried. He glanced
IT toward me, and then straight ahead
e The look on his face seemed to say t.
e me, 1T is all right for you to go;
e must not leave my engine" In tina
k one lightning glance l seemed to Sc
is the brave, heroic soul of my enginee
le shining in his honest, pleasant face
le Then I jumped, rolled over and owe
d down the steep river bank, and LANDED
rs on the ice. There was q mighty crash
lie and saw from the spot where ha'
fallen, dazed but unhurt, our engin
E. and several cars pitched headlong dow
ts the embankment. The silence of til
81 night was broken by agonizing cries 70
Is help and heartrending screams an
d prayers.
s, We who were uninjured worke
ic with will. Twelve passengers wer
= killed and many injured. Hooked an
er watched for Nell, hoping he woul
In soon be seen at work among us. Afte
he clearing away piles of wreck, we foun
es him at dawn lying under his engine i
I'd the shallow water beneath the ice. II
ne met death fearlessly with his hand O
- the lever giving his own life in til
hope that Others might be saved
Brave Nell Anessl He was, indeed,
hero. -Arkansaw Traveller.
n. Turning the Tables on the Church.
1t, One of the earlier yeomen of Bride
'r- ton was pump MAKER good either
no | I'D ,x,;4l, H,o .oI;r,;O,1a y,rafaranoao