The morning call., 1894-09-02
A LEAP AND A RESCUE.
How Tramp Saved a Railroad
Train and What Came of II.


Train and What Came of 1t.
Coming East we met the fast mail at
ChaunceY, and as 1t passed the conductor
threw off copy of this journal, says the
Chicago Record. Picking itup and closing
the switch as we pulled off the siding l
went into the way car. lit my pipe aud
settled comfortably in the chair to enjoy
its contents. Following my usual custom.
| had glanced down the first column aud
was almost through the second when an
item caught nv attention. 1t related TO a
band of wandering men on a train at Lit
tie Rock who were seeking work.
The warm fire and my fragrant corncob
alike favored "Reminiscences. aud, following
the thread of recollection suggested by the
item, lived over again an experience
which is indeliby burned into my men,
DRY, and l wondered if the hero, the tramp
to whose course so many owed their lives
that June night. ever rides over the spot
in his private car without thinking of it,
! Extra Wallace, west bound, reached
Emerson at 10 P. NJ. June IS, 1878. In
switching out a car the forward brakeman
was so badly injured that we left him for
surgical treatment. l was braking be-
hind. From Emerson to Chauncey. twelve
miles, is up grade. and as Conductor Wal
lace had gone over to the engine was left
alone on the rear. The moon shone
brightly. and noticed number of tramps
riding out on top.
We had almost reached the summit and
the night express was only fifteen minutes
behind US when suddenly the speed slack
ened. The caboose, two cars of tel egraph
poles and three OF cinders had broken off,
l was standing on the load of poles and
had started for a brake when Que of the
poles became loosened from it's position
and rolled on my foot. l struggled des-
perately to free myself, for the cars had
started backward.
l thought of the express with her cargo
of precious lives. and struggled again.
seemed to hear the crash; the shrieks and
groans of the dying; the curses and
prayers. Minutes were years, and grew
old in the awful suspense. Then l heard
whistle and saw our front end following
down the hill. On the leading car the con-
ductor was swing back-up signal, while
the whistle blew a wild warning for No. 7.
Faster and faster spun the wheels. and
slowly but surely was the runaway over
taken.
l held my breath.
Only LW6uIy 1eeL
A form shot out over the chasm, swung
in clear relief for an Instant against the
sky ana then dropped safely on board the
car of cinders. At the same moment the
conductor gave stop signal and the gap
widened.
Well timed it was, for given a second
sooner and the leap would have been i'm
possible; later. aud a collision una
voidable.
In a short time every brake was set, and
as we slowed down l shrieked frantically:
Flag No. T. Take red light and flag the
exDress."
BE understood and obeyed without a
word. Fortunately or proVidentially. they
were late, and he got back far enough to
stop them. l was unconscious when at
last released. My foot was badly crushed,
and it was many weeks before was again
able TO report for duty. AS for our hero,
he proved to be one of the tramps l had
noticed and had volunteered for his dan
gerous task. When the superintendent.
who was on No. Z, learned the circum-
stances he offered him position as brake
man, promising him advancement as he
proved his ability. That was the begin
ming. To-day he is a prominent general
manager, and his name is a recognized
power In the railroad world,