The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-22

our business. and. without one thought
Of the consequences. Speeding along with
that maniac IN my wake. I found time to
collect my scattered senses and the ter
rible position / was i'm became more an
parent Behind me an iron monster with
a crazy engineer at the throttle and before
me tho excursion train filled with hun
dreds OF souls, and each approaching the
other every second.
Upon glancing down az my watch / saw
we would meet the excursion train In less
than half an hour. / shivered I'm COntem-
plating the consequences i must do
something Immediately.
Slowly / began to shut or steam: the
terrible speed slackened: the distance be-
tween the two engines decreased gradually
diminishing until a dun thud. followed by
a slight jar, told me We had come to-
gether. 1t was but the work OF "a moment
70 Chamber from my engine into the cab
where the crazy man was.
There a sight met by gaze that ] shall
never forget. Standing with his hands
on the throttle his eyes glaTing like hot
Goals and his whole form writhing in fury
the maniac presented a frightful appear
ance. Before could say a word or lay
a hand on him, he grasped coal pick and
made a terrible lunge at my head. For
tunate for me. sudden bend in the road
gave me a lurch. and the blow fell harm
less against the boiler head.
Then we came together in a regular
catch-aS-catch-can wrestle, such as we
see on the stake sometimes in a melo-
drama L was unarmed, while the mad
man seemed TO be possessed Of superhu-
man strength. The battle ragged iercely.
and my fireman. being a Mexican, left me
TO my fate 1 felt myself growing weaker
every moment A lull in the contest gave
me an opportunity to disengage one arm,
and 1 quickly shut of steam. This slight
advantage gave me renewed energy.
Gathering all my remaining strength, /
forced the mailman against the boiler in
such position that could hold him with
one hand while sought some weapon of
defense.
"A small bar of iron lying on the fire
mans seat was all / could procure, but
it proved my salvation. The maniac was
struggling fercely to liberate himself
from the position l had forced him into,
when l raised the iron and dealt him
blow on the head that completely stunned
him. The struggle was over. hut Il had
cost many precious moments. The sharp,
piercing blast of a whistle in the distance
aroused me. Weak and exhausted, / man
aged to make my way back to my own
engine. and slowly We began to move
forward. Hardly had l got under full
Roadway when the excursion train dashed
into view a short distance behind me.
Il called for brakes, and the engineer
of the excursion train Immediately shut
down, and a minute later we were ali at
stapdstill. Out came the passengers
with a rush to ascertain the cause OF the
stop. and when they were given the par
ticulars by the excited fireman, such a
shouting yoii never heard. One passen-
ger poured q stiff drink down my throat
and / pulled myself together and took
the engines TO the nearest siding. A week
later this watch now wearcame to me
with kind words from the company, and
over 100 passengers, and I treasure il very
highly. That was the closest shave of
my life" ~ 81