Omaha daily bee., 1892-11-13
A REAL HEROINE,
How a Brave Telegraph Operator Saved {,


Train.
Miss Ransom was the telegraph orcr-
atorand station agent on IL little road
called the Columbia and Port Deposit
division of the Pennsylvania line, SAYS
the Washington Star. This road
hugged the banks of the Susquehan ma
river from end to end, and there WASH
spot on the entire division of forty
miles That 1T WASH almost sure death to
leave the rails.
Wrecks occurred on an average of
once week and were always followed
by severe fatalities. TIE station she
was Located at was near immense lime
stone Quarrles wherein some half hun
dred Italians were employed. A bout
100 feet above the station was 1OO-foo,
trestlc spanning II small stream at ordi-
nary times, but on the day in question
greatly swollen and very swift us it
emptled into the river at that point.
A blast had just been fired of unusual
force and an immense rock landed di-
rectly 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. and
the small boats that were handy could
not be prope' led against the swift cur
rent. The nearest bridge on the little
stream over which the trestle was
stretched was some three mics distant.
Miss Ransom saw the mischief done
by the rock and Immediately rushed out
and told the superintendent of the Ital-
ian gang to send man or go himself
around the wreck and stop Il train that
was due from the north in about half an
hour. The superintendent was an [tal-
ian, with II smattering of Eoglish, an
he failed entirely to see the gravity of
the situation.
The only wire that ran along the road
had been stretched on tho estle for
econOmys sake and had been broken
with the t"estle, SO that no communcu-
tion with the north could be had. Miss
Ransom tried to tell the Italian the true
situation. but he Only smiled, and with
sbrug OF his shoulders ana II grimace
walked back into the quarry and re-
sumed his overseeing.
Miss Ransom hesitated but minute to
ask If any one in the crowd could swim,
and, receiving n negative answer. de
clded, with the aid OF Il PLANK, to try
crossing tho river. The Italians in
their impetuous way tried to persuade
her not to attempt the Swollen waters,
but with the decision OF Il true heroine
who realized the danger the oncoming
train was in she cautiously pushed the
plank into the water and with IL quick
movement followed it.
The brave giil had entered the water
some distance above the broken tres,le
in the hope of gaining the opposite
shore some distance before that point
should be reached, as to be carried out
into tho river meant almost certain
death. The Italians encouraged her
with shouts of praise, but endeavor as
she would to work her way out of the
current in midstream, but little head
way was made.
Down stream the brave girl was car
ried with a swiftness that told palmer
than words that her struggles Wore
fruitless. AS she neared the broken
trestle, inch by inch she worked The
plank over toward the northern side,
and as she was within a few feet of that
structure she abandoned the plank and
struck out with one forlorn hope of
reaching it. unaided. Her foresight and
strength proved stanch Qualifications
AS she was being carried past the pro-
jecting and splintered trestle Miss Ran
som gave one last long sweep of her
arms and was enabled to grasp IA heavy
piece of timber.
Slowly and laboriously the heroine
worked her way out OF the water and up
through the trestle, as her strength
commenced to show signs OF waning
and finally reached the top. For only
IA few seconds did she hesitate TO gasp
for breath and regain strength when the
noise of the incoming train could be
heard and II few seconds later dashed
into view. The wild gesticulations of
the brave girl caught the attention of
the engineer almost instantly. tho
brakes were app.ied and the train
brought to a standsUill right on the
curve and in sight of the broken
trestle.
Without any quiver in her voice Miss
Ransom told the engineer ofthe mishap
in matter-of-fact way, without any en-
bellishment-, related her experience in
trying to prevent thu train from going
through the treste into the river. The
dozen or 30 passengers were dumbfound-
ed by the girl matter-of-fa fact bravery,
and crowded around her and almost
hugged her in enthusiasm and thankful
ness.
Did the girl make her mark in the
telegraph profession? Not much. She
married the engineer whose life she
had saved.
The Last Resort.
Chicago Tribune: ''Is this Nine.
Pompomf' breathlessly inquired man