The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-14
BRIGHTY's PRESENCE OF MIND.
Ii saves Many Lives In the Train Load OF
Sleeping Passengers.

Harry J. Brightly, night yardmnster OF the Big
galaxy Of heroes. To him are due credit honor,
and praise for saving the lives of score and
PERHAPS hundred passengers last night. At
the same place and under similar circumstances
an accident occurred n little more than u year
ago that resulted in the death Of several per-
train was the cause OF the horror. Destructive
n was the frightful wreck In May, 1903. it Is
stances that it would have been rendered insig-
niilcant In comparison with that OF last night
but FOR the prOmptness of one man.
The stiffness Of the night was suddenly dis
turbed by roar that may lie likened 10 the APP
of rsfhRSF yGhon Fro Gf SOUTH
rapidly, the ominous rumble filling the sleep
ing valley with tumult and awakening thunder
about the yard were not slow at diyiniPs ' the
policemen, and hotel runners were quick to
grasp the ominons Significance OF the roar
that was awakening the echoes and increas-
Ing in fury 1t came nearer and nearer,
Ike mighty monster mad and bent on de-
tie horrible ranbP Was the t Wsrn iS OF 1Pas
runaway train. Most OF them had passed
through on" e1periefinGe OF the kind, and they
where they then stood.
station building, the glare OF its headlight pene-
trating the gloom to the south from whence
ing engine was "A long train OF coaches, In which
two hundred or more passengers were peace
IullS hlttplnk UNCONSCIOUS tnht tneA were even
then almost In the very jaws of death. The
night owls, keenly sensitive OF their danger,
fled in wild confusion, all but one escaping. Tho
situation at that moment awful TO
contemplate. But one man stood between
the hundreds OF sleeping passengers and
eternity They were In veritahle death
trap. But few PAGES 10 the rear
WAS the yawning river. In front and danger
ously near was the runaway train, rushing on
with the velocity OF a whirlwind and gathering
momentum al every rail length as IL sped down
from the hilltops; No human agency was Dow
eFful enough Ia check the velocity OF the swiftly
turning wheels. The men about the station who
appreciated the situation were almost palsicd
with fear. The passenger train seemed 10 be in-
evitahly doomed Ia destruction.
But there was one man there with a cool head
and with nerves Of steel. That man v as Harry
Brightly, There WAS not mOmCat tO ho lost.
Thoroughly familiar with the intricate system
OF tracks In the yards, hc rushed TO n switch.
Before a watch could have licked "a dozen times
the runaway train would DE upon the sleeping
passengers That would have meant death 10
all 81 them. ln his anxiety 10 reach the
switch, Hurry brightly fell The accident
was almost fatal. But, rolling over bruised aud
almost frCnZied. he threw the switch just in the
nick II time "A second later the runaway tTaia
passed with mighty roar. A high embank.
meut ~ earth at the end OF the switch offered
but little resistance. The heavily laden cars
sped on, cutting through the stone and brick
walls OF the station building, passing through,
through the masonry from roof To foundation,
cut as with knife. A most disastrous wreck II
was, but II Is almost prOyidenttal that IL was nos
worse, But fIr Harry Brghty's thOughtfulness
and prpmptness the death trap would have been
converted into yeritable slaughter house.