The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-25


station, they were to be switched to allow
a passenger train to go by.
Every iulnute the train was gaming
/ speed and seeing nothing uut death before
them II they stayed on the cars the brake
men rlsked their limbs by jumping. The
engineer, too, unable to put on the brakes.
| gave the word to Fireman Jim Collins and
/ sprang to the ground.
COLLINS BRAVERY.
But Collins was made Indifferent material
ami resolved to stop the train. He first
reversed the engine aud opened tue sand
chest; then climbing on his hands and knees
over the tender he crawled over the cars
one oy one as fast as he could, putting on
the brakes. just as he distinguished the
hgnts OF Coalport in the distance he felt the
train slacken Its speed, and, turning one
more brake, he fell in q faint on the top of
car.
GRADUALLY the train slowed down but did
not stop until 1t had run to Tannery a small
station two miles past Coalport. There
some OF the yard hands saw that something
was wrong and leaped aboard and
stopped the engine. Collins was
lowered to the ground and revived
he was affected by his terrible experience
for several days, but is consoled by the
thought that his heroic act saved scores of
lives.
AT BIG SNANTY STATION.
Another instance wherein fireman ap-
peared as the bright particular star occurred
not long since at Big Shanty station out in
Kansas. The Alton hummer was running
at great rate of speed down grade, the
engineer and fireman being in the cab and
both keeping sharp lookout ahead AT
siding few miles distant another train
was to be passed.
The engineer was but human and forgot.
The fireman expected him to shut down the
engine every minute, but on and on he
went, and rounded the last curve between
the train and the siding with a rush. Then
1t was too late. Another headlight dashed
into view.
The engineer, with a wild cry of fright
threw himself from the window of the cab
and rolled down the bank out of harms
way. Not SO his fireman. Quick as flash he
spreng over the boiler and was in tho
engineers place. Back come the ponderous
lever and on with crash went the air
brakes
Some claim that the fireman did not have
time to reason. His hand flew to the air
lever, throttle and whistle valve as If con-
trolled by mechanism. The motion was
wholly involuntary.
II the engineer had time to think that On
accident was about to happen and had time
to throw himself from the cab window, his
fireman had an equal chance for his life. As it
1t was, his life paid the forfeit for his
bravery. But it was a case of educated
bravery, as often found IN che tender as in
the cab OF the locomotive. Such men, long
accustomed to danger, show no fear OF
death.
At the longest but few seconds had
elapsed from the time the engine pass d the
switch until the two headlights crashed
together. Probably the fireman saw from
the color Of the switch lamp that there was
trouble ahead. If he did the time which
elapsed before the crash might have
occupied twenty seconds. 1t would have
been as easy to jump through the cab
window as to have made the motions nee.
essary to save the train.
Here is fine point for metaphysicians'
The fireman must have thought that his
time had come. A man thinks hard in
seconds like those. He may not be able to
tell his exact thoughts. but he knew that
responsibility rested upon him. Experience
brought about that state of mind. He had
been over the road hundreds of times, each
time with mind full of the dangers of his
position. He was constantly fearing an oc-
currence such as took place at Big Shauty.
When the supreme instant came and the
engineer threw himself from the cab he
looked upon 1t as inevitable, and, clinching
his teeth, he did his duty religiously.
Probably he. murmured a prayer for
himself as he closed the throttle and the
air brake, and for the sleeping passengers
behind him. His action was not mechanical.
1t was sort of bravery for which years of
Of experience had trained an already brave,
cool man.
Not one Of the passengers was killed. and
only a small number were injured, but the
fireman lost his life. But what of that he
did his duty as only brave men know how.
An Tcicle Suddenly Thrust Down Your
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