Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-11
SAFETY IN THE FIRE BOX.
How n Brakeman Saved His Life in a
Terrible Railway Collision.


The following strange story is told
by Fort Wayne brakeman Who is en-
ployed on the eastern division:
1T was on a light engine which was
being hauled over the Union Pacific
Road from Denver To Omaha. Ny posi-
ton was that of brakeman. and as il
was wet. nasty night and | did not
care to expose myself any more than
was necessary. ! sneaked into the cab
OF the dead engine and tried to keep
myself as warm as | could with the
aid of an old blanket / found in the
engineers chest. which l wrapped
about me and laid down on the bunk.
About the time that got comfortably
fixed and was doing. with my eyes half
closed. | was started by n loud, long
piercing call for brakes | knew old
Billy Dunkan. the engineer, would
never have let out such blast as that
unless in the presence of great danger.
Hastily throwing off the old blanket
| jumped up and peered through the
darkness. We We're running along
about thirty-five miles IAN hour. and
right ahead of us | WAS startled TO
perceive another train approaching at
Il higher rate of speed. There was not
much chance Ia jump. as il waS intern
ally dark. and knew there was Il high
cliff close to the track ut that place. |
was about To drop on my knees and
pray for forgiveness for my past sins.
when | luckily thought that the fire
box would be II good. safe place in
which To weather the collision. and in
All instant | had jumped through the
fire door
| landed on some clinkerS. which hal
been left on the CRATE bars. and had
just got on my knees when there came
an awful crash. such as | had never
heard in my life before, and | felt the
old mogul going first up and then down.
down. and the sickening sensations of
those few seconds were paralyzing.
was tumbled about pretty roughly. and
had the skin Knocked off my legs and
my head cut but nothing could crush
me. for | was III an iron safe that was
well built. although it WAS never intend
eel for Il life-preServer. | thought once
however. that ii WAS all up with me.
for felt the old boiler collapsing under
the weight OF loaded cars that were
piling on top of it, After awhile every
thing was still and. knowing that the
worst was over. unless the debris took
fire and roasted me alive. | made an
effort TO crawl out. but could not do so.
rs ear trucks and frames We're piled
high above the wreck. | thought il
was Il month till the wrecking train
came. and then / began To cry out like
a mailman and implore help They
must have thought that | WAS lying UNI
der the engine with my legs crushed,
for they gave all their attention To me,
and after Il while they got the trucks
cleared away. and who did | see but
biz Barney. the wreckmaSter. crawling
between two car stills with bottle of
whisky in his hand. Before he got out
10 where | was | reached out and
grabbed the bottle and YOU should have
seen the look on his face when he per-
Cpived me safe and sound and getting
away with good whisky. 1t was some
yond the bruises already mentioned,
| was as sound rs before the wreck.
Poor old Billy, the engineer. was killed,
as was also the fireman of the other en-
CINE. and two tramps, who We're on a
car next 10 the light engine. were
crushed TO Il jelly. The tireboX saved
my life. and never heard of another
II Ia;
manner. "-Pittsburg Post