The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-24
|DEETH|XI LOVE and DUTY
IA Fathers Mad Race to Catch a
Glimpse Of His Dying Son.
5ohn Boone, an Engineer, Drives His
Iron Monster at Frightful Speed.
Twenty Miles Made in
Nineteen Minutes. Wins
by O Few Seconds.

John Boone, one Of the oldest and
best known engineers on tho Baltimore
and Ohio Southwestern railroad, risked
his life the other afternoon in order to
see his injured son, Melvin, before he
sdisd.
4 The father, who has charge of switch
engine, threw open the throttle when
he learned his son had been fatally hurt,
md he ran distance Of IS miles in 10
minutes. He reached his son s side just
IN time to sec him breathe his last. Tho
sSoero was most dramatic one Tho
story of the fast run fairly teens with
exciting events.
t@ Molvin Boone was employed by tho
Baltimore and Ohio South western rail
road as q brakeman. Several members
Of his family, including his father, have
been employed By the road for many
years, and all Of them arc we'll known
and popular in railroad circles. About
"A O'Clock Molyin, who had just left his
homo. prepared to go to work, boarded
. freight train passing Brownstown,
Ind, Etation. Ho succeeded in getting
on, and Immediately started up tho
ladder of one of the cars intending 10
walk back to the caboose.
just as he reached the roof of the car
he saw water Pipe ahead which had
been left hanging from tho tank. Before
he could stoop the obstruction struck
him, knocking him to the ground He
WIS badly mangled, and the physicians
who attended him said ho could live but
short time. The dying man begged to
see his father.
bfr. Boone was at work on his switch
engine at North Vernon, rs miles away.
3 He was immediately notified by tele-
CRASH of his sons condition. When the
message reached Mr.. Boone he was just
ahout to come from his days work. He
hadSfinished firing up, aud his fireman
wns at his post. AS soon as no read tho
sad i'news no threw the throttle wide
open. Before the fireman knew what
ha6 happened the switch engine was
dashing along at a frightful rate of
speed. He begged Mr.. Boone to stop,
but the latter heard him not.
The lives OF both men were liable to
be sacrificed ut any moment Neither
was familiar with the condition of the
road as fnr as other trains were concern
cd. at any moment they might dash
into train. Signals were passed I'M
needed. and the old engine tore along.
the boiler threatening to explode ut any
moment. Mr.. Boone skoveled coal in
the fire recklessly, and every pound Of
steam that could possibly be made was
put on. Several times the fireman was
en the point of jumping from the en-
CINE, SO dangerous had the situation be.
como
Engineer Boone held him back, and
by the greatest efforts induced him to
put ON more coal. As the road was clear
the.engine dashed along past ali man
nef OF signals. Boone sat on his seat
holding the throttle open as far as it
was possible and watched the second
hand. ON his watch go round Fortu-
nately the road between North Vernon
ana Brownstown happened to be clear,
but hnd any train been running on the
division there is no telling what would
have happened.
Exactly 10 minutes after Boone start
cd his engine dashed into tho Browns.
town station. The run was most re.
mai haplt oue. L No distance Is exactly
rs miles, and the speed averaged SO
3-l9 miles AN hour, which is n most
wonderful performance when tho fact
that the trip was made by switch eli
CINE is taken into consideration. As
soon as Mr.. Boone arrived he was driven
to his dying sons side. The young mau
had regained consciousness for the first
tinae He recognized his father, and as
he placed his hand III his he died with
out attering word.
Mr.. Boone is nearly crazed with grief.
He is well advanced in years aud was
thoroughly wrapped up in his son. The
strain of his daring and exciting run
told greatly upon him, and he is com
pletely Frustrated. 1t is doubtful if he
will be fitted for work in many weeks.
In railroad circles the great run is the
topic of conversation, and although Mr..
Boone's act was not in accordance with
railroad rules the officials Of the com
gany admire him moro than they blame
Haas. --Pittsburg Dispatch.
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