Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-06-27
DIED At THE LEVER.
Beroio Death Of Brave but FooIharSdy
knight Of the Throttle.

Beroio Death Of a Brave but FooIhardy
knight Of the Throttle.
In my long service as a railroad en-
Rineer have become well acquainted
with oil and smoke, coal and cinders
1t was while firing" that the practical
knowledge Of my engine was gained.
IL takes time 70 learn 10 fire well, 50 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
well as the engine.
What with shoveling coal, oiling his
engine and looking after his stock
Of coal and water the fireman is a busy
man
When ! began firing under Nell
Aness knew him to be a good hearted.
pleasant fellow, and he always spoke
pleasantly 70 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 was heavy, the rails frosty,
and the wheels seemed 70 stick to the
line, while the icy winds almost froze
the blood in our veins We used every
ounce of steam. IL 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 be
handled her that he meant 70 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 An. 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 l0;45, and it was a comfort
70 think there would be no delay on
our road, and we swept swiftly onward
toward Sheldon, where we expected
mo. las" 70 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
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
In the caboOse for warmth. and did not
notice the accident for a time The
train was finally brought TO a standstill,
and as they did so other cars were de
rallied. which threw the whole train
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 saw the steam from
the freight engine. Nell was looking
out on his side
We are lost, Nell,' | shouted. No.
las is on our line. In an instant we
had shut of, reversed and whistled for
brakes.
As we came up swung out, for saw
death ahead of US
Jump, Nellr' l cried. He glanced
toward me. and then straight ahead
The look on his face seemed 70 say to
me, 1T is all right for you to go;
must not leave my engine" In that
one lightning glance | seemed to see
the brave, heroic soul of my engineer
shining in bis honest, pleasant face
Then jumped, rolled over and over
down the steep river bank, and landed
on the ice There was a mighty crash,
and | saw from the spot where had
fallen, dazed but unhurt, our engine
and several cars pitched headlong down
the embankInent The silence of the
night was broken by agonizing cries for
help and heartrending screams and
prayers.
We who were uninjured worked
with a will Twelve passengers were
killed and many injured looked and
watched for Nell, hoping be would
soon be seen at work among US After
clearing away piles of wreck, we found
him at dawn lying under his engine in
the shallow water beneath the ice He
met death fearlessly 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.