Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-11-11
PERILS OF A HEROINE.
AN OPERATOR FACES DEATH
TO SAVE A TRAIN,
Ainost Swallowed In the Mad Current of
stream in tho Attempt-.A Ro-
mantle Culmination to
Brave Deed.

Deposit lewiston OF the Pennsylvania
Line. This road Rugged the banks Of
the Susquehanna RIVER from end to
end and there wasn't spot on the
entire division of forty miles that il
wasn't almost sure death to the train
to leave tho rails
Wrecks occurred on an average oil
once week and were always fol.
lowed by several fatalities. The sta
ton she was located at was near i'm
mense limestone GuarrieS wherein
some half hundred Italians were
employed.
About 100 yards above the station
was II l00-loot trestle spanning a
small stream AZ 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
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. live feet
The river was very high at that
! point aud the small boats that were
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
Miss Ransom saw the mischief done
by the rock and Immediately rushed
out and told the superintendent OF the
Italian gang to send u man or go
himself around the wreck and stop a
train that was due from the north in
half an hour. Tho superintendent
was ar Italian with smattering OF
! English. but who failed entirely to
! see the gravity of the situation. The
only wire that ran along tho road had
been stretched on the trestle for econ
! omy's sake aud had been broken with
the trestle, SO that no communication
with the North could be had Miss
Ransom tried to tell the Italian the
true situation. but he only smiled and
with a shrug OF the shoulders and a
grimace walked back into the quarry
and resumed his overseeing.
The railroad was very crooked at this
poin'. many sharp curves obstruct n
long view ahead. and matters looked
very blue for the tram coming south.
The employees OF the road mt the south
END had been tod over the wire by
Miss Ransom tho 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 the rivers bank she got into a
small boat and pushed OIL hoping 10
work her way around the break in the
treste. In some way the current
pushed her boat in among some DRIFT.
wood. and in twinkle her boat was
overturned and she was houndering
in the deep rushing water
Miss hanson had learned to swim.
and managed to reach out and grasp
a heavJ 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 short
time Miss hanson was ga g on shore.
But tho train was still coming south.
and nothing had been gained by the
adventure Miss hanson was the
coolest one in the crowd. IL was now
too late to send n man around by the
other bridge, and she determ ned TO
try and cross the smaller stream in
some way. Followed by the Italians
they ran up tho bank OF the little
stream. but nothing could be found
on which a crossing could be made.
Miss Ransom hesitated but min
ute to ask if anyone could swim. but
receiving "a negative answer she de.
cided with the aid OF a plank. to try it
again. The Italians in their impetu-
GU; way tried to persuade her not to
tempt the swollen waters again. but
with the decision OF true heroine
who recognized the danger the ou-
coming train was in. she cautious Y
pushed the plank into the water and
with u 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
| SHOTO "GDtlOTc budJ point naQ
been reached. us 10 be car.
ried cut into the river meant almost
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 was
carried with n swiftness that told
palmer than words that her struggles
were fruiiless. AS sho neared the
broken tresLle. inch by inch she
worked the plank over toward the
northern side and as she was within
a few feet OF that structure she aban.
doned the plank and struck out with a
forlorn hope OF reaching 1t unaided.
Her fores ght and strength proved
siaunch qualifications As she was
being carried by the pro. Getting and
splinteyod trestle Miss Ransom gave
one last strong sweep OF her arms and
was enabled to grasp n heavy piece
OF timber.
Slowly and laboriously the heroi 10