The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-12-03
PERILs OF A HEROINE.
AN OPERATOR FACES DEATH
TO SAVE A TRAIN.
Almost Swallowed In tho Mad Current Of
stream. In thelAttempt-.A Ro-
mantle Culinination to .
Brave Deed.

| Miss Ransom was the telegraph
operator and station agent on little
road called the Columbia and Port
Deposit Dovision OF the Pennsylvania
Line This road Rugged the banks OF
The Susquehanna river from end to
end. and there wasn'ta spot on the
entire division OF forty miles that it
wasn't almost sure death to the train
to leave the rails
| Wrecks occurred on an average OF
once week. and were always fol-
lowed by several fatalities. The sta
tion she was located at was near i'm
mense limestone quarries wherein
some half hundred Italians were
employed.
| About 100 yards above tho station
was 100-foot trestle spanning
small stream al ordinary times but on
the day in question greatly swollen
and very swift as it emptied into the
river at that point A blast had just
been fired OF unusual force. and an
I immense rock landed directly on the
trestle, tearing it apart in the center
The swift water washing away the
debris and leaving gap in the rails
Of about twenty-five feet
The river was very high at that
point aud the small boats that wore
handy could not be propelled against
the swift current says the Washing
ton Star. The nearest bridge on the
little stream over which the trestle
was stretched was some three miles
distant
MMiss Ransom saw the mischief done
by the rock and Immediately rushed
out and told the superintendent OF the
Italian gang to send man or go
himself around the wreck and stop a
train that was due from the north in
half an hour. Tho superintendent
was an Italian. with smattering of
English. but who failed entirely to
see the gravity of the situation. The
only wire that ran along the road had
been stretched on the trestle for econ
omy's sake and had been broken with
/ the trestle, so that no communication
with the North could be had. Miss
Ransom tried to tell the Italian tho
true situation. but he only smiled and
with a shrug of the shoulders and
grimace walked back into the quarry
and resumed his overseeing.
The railroad was very crooked at this
point. many sharp curves obstructing
a long view ahead and matters looked
very blue for the train coming south.
The employees OF the road at the south
END had been told over the wire by
Miss Ransom the situation. and she
had been ordered to stop the train at
all hazards as they could not reach
her station in time to help her.
Time for talk was past and Miss
Ransom decided to act Going down
to tho rivers bank she got into a
small boat and pushed Off. hoping to
work her way around the break in the
trestle. In some way the current
pushed her boat in among some drift
wood. and in twinkle her boat was
overturned and she was laundering
in the deep. rushing water.
Miss Ransom had learned to swim.
and managed to reach out and grasp
heavy log as it swept by. With one
arm around this log she called for
help and at the same time tried to
work herself in toward the shore.
Soon after several Italians came run
ming to the rescue and in q short
time Miss Ransom was safe on shore.
But tho train was still coming south,
and nothing had been gained by the
adventure. Miss Ransom was the
coolest one in the crowd. 1t was now
too late to send man around by the
other bridge. and she determined to
try and cross the smaller stream in
some way. Followed by the Italians.
they ran up the bank OF the little
stream. but nothing could be found
on which n crossing could be made.
Miss Ransom hesitated but a min
ute to ask il anyone could swim. but
receiving a negative answer. she de-
cided with the aid OF plank. to try II
again, The Italians in their impetu-
Gus way tried to persuade her not to
tempt the swollen waters again. but
with the decision OF true heroine
who recognized tho danger the on
coming train was in. she cautiously
pushed the plank into the water and
with quick movement followed it
The brave girl had entered the water
some distance above the broken tres
tie in the hope OF gaining the opposite
shore before that point had
been reached. as TO be car.
ried cut into the river meant almos
certain death. The Italians encour
aged her with shouts OF praise. but
endeavor as she would 20 work her
way out of the current in mid-stream
but little Roadway was made.
Down stream the brave girl wa:
carried with swiftness that TOLD
palmer than words that her struggles
were fruitless AS she neared til,
broken trcstle inch by inch sh'
worked the plank over toward tn,
northern side. and as she was within
few feet OF that structure she aban
doned the plank and struck out with
forlorn hope OF reaching it unaided
Her foresight and strength prove'
staunch qualifications As she wa
being carried by the projecting ant
splintered trestle Miss Ransom CAV,
one last strong sweep OF her arms an,