The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-09-14

West Superior, Wis, Sept 5.-Engl-
neer William Best, Of the Great North.
crn, has redeemed hmself now 1t':ny
rate. 1t Will he remembered TINT dur
Ing the Great Northern strike Best was
accused of descrting his train on IN
open track and leaving train load of
passengers exposed to danger, instead
Of taking his train to q place of safc;y
before leaving the service Of the c0ln-
pany. Us he should have done. The
splendid service he rendered Saturday
night in connection with the rescue Of
people In the burned town of Hinckley
has not yet been told, but 1t stamps
Best as q brave man In the face of
danger and affords an exhibition of
courage and devotion to duty TINT can
not be too highly commended. Best
tells the story OF thnt fearful ride in
very graphic words. He says:
I'VE were brought face to face with
DEATH" he said. IF man could keep
his head In that dreadful holocaust. he
need not fear for his self control of
courage under any circumstances.
Soon after leaving Superior, Mt 1:15
p. m., had to light the headlight, ow-
ing to dense smoke, which turned day
into night. The smoke and heat ill.,
creased as We reached Hinckley. OK
pccted that when We reached that
point we would get into the open and
escape from the smoke. Ny surprise
was great, therefore, when we fuund
the fire right upon the town. II tool; but
n glance to Gee that the town WIS
doomed. The wind blew with ;.,ra.
violence and the flames fairly leap',l.
through the air. The people VIZ"
taken by surprise and were tc1Yar.s'
and helpless. The coming Of TIE j
seemed like strokje of lightning. j.!
most In an instant the town was s;rcu.
by pillows Of flames. We could Eot
pass Hinckley, and there WAS 10 Use
to look for orders, for tclegraph;c com
muEicati0H was cut off. 1t was one of
those cases where men have to make
up their minds In an instant and act
without hesitation. Here were hun
dreds of panic-strickcn people who
were doomed II they were not instantly
rescued. On the other hand safety
for the train and Its passengers lay In
prompt retreat. TO stay and rescue as
many as we could was our duty, o,
course, but the great question. AMI
upon 1t hung the lives of many lnln-
drefls. was-'H0w long dare we wait!
ed Barry was there in charge OF
the engine Of No. % and w. u. Camp.
hell, the conductor, as plucliy and brave
fellows as ever passed Il mile pest. We
knew We were safe In making time
for We could return on No. 23's time.
and as this train hud the right Of WAY.
we knew. that no other train would
dare to stay OH the main line witha,,t
orders IL moving south. We hastily
coupled II portion OF Campbelrs freight
train, with engine ahead, onto the rear
OF our train. The hame-pursuc;l peo-
pie rushed toward our train and piled
into the cars. Some of them were
aged, and there We're the helpless wo-
men and children who had tn be helped
aboard. We had to shift the position
Of tho train several times to prevent
it taking fire. We were almost breath.
Ing fire, as 1t WIS.
We saw many sights that waui,i
have filled us with horror, IL sccn Tin
DEL other circumstances We SAW pep
pie fall down, overcome by the heat
and smoke; saw mothers with their
babes make last despairing effort to
shelter their helpless charges. It was a
sight to make men weep. We saw
people surrounded by fire, but there is
no use trying to describe it to you. It
Is indescribable. IL Victor Hugo could
have seen that scething hell Of flame
he might have described 1t, but 1t would
take gifted tongue to tell 1t.
"A lew Of our passengers became
panic stricken and wanted me to mil
out. We got about 400 Hincklcy people
aboard. may be moro, and stopped to
take others who had run UP the track,
At last we realized that tho critical
moment had come to go. We could not
rescue lll OF the people. for they could
not get t. the train. AS many as came
to us We're taken. A very large Dpr.
centage of those who remained ner.
ished.
Away We went through the blazing
woods. II was a race with death
There was death lehintl, an:! SO far n,
we Knew, maybe ahead OF us. ,no. The
telegraph posts and tics were on fire.
anu q stream of flame passed uiltlc. the
train. The people were packed 50 close.
ly In the train that it was impossible
to move. We passed several bridges
that were Oh fire, the firo having aI.
ready reached them.
AT Partridge we stopped and pro-
cured water for the passengers. i'h.
fire was roaring behind us then M.
people ut Partridge thought they wcT:r
snfc. but 1t appears that within hulf
IN h0ur the fire had reached them.
rms 1act gives an idea of how fast tho.
fl;llnes Travelled. AT Hinckley and aj
along the line the wind blew a teuupc,r.
we all drew q sigh of relief when We
reached the limits Of Superior and
Knew that our precious freight was
safe" '