Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
RACED WITH DEATH.
Engineer Boone's Desperate Ride t
See His Dying Son.

beSt-known engineers on the Baltimore
and Ohio Southwestern railroad, riSke+1
his life this afternoon in order to see
his injured son, Melvin, before he died. |
The father who has charge of a |
switch engine threw open the throttle
when he learned his son had been
fatally hurt and he ran distance oil
twenty-eight miles liz nineteen min
utes. He reached his sons side Just in |
time to see him breathe his last. TheI
scene was a most dramatic one. The!
story Of the fast run fairly teens with
exciting events.
Melvin Boone was employed by the
Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern
railroad as a brakeman. Several men,
bers Of his family, including his father.
have been employed by the road for
many years, and all of them are we'll
known and popular in railroad circles.
About 4 o'clock Melvin, who had just
left his home, preparing to go to work,
boarded a freight train passing Brown
town station. He succeeded in getting
on and Immediately started up the
ladder of one OF the cars intending to
walk back to the caboCse.
Just as he reached the roof of the car
he saw a water pipe ahead which had
been left hanging from the tank. Be
lore he could stoop the obstruction
struck him, knocking him to the
ground. He was badly mangled and
the physicians who attended him said
he could live but a short time. The
dying man begged to see his father.
Mr.. Boone was at work on his switch
engine at North Vernon, twenty-eight
miles away. He was Immediately no
tilted by telegraph of his sons condi-
ton. When the message reached Mr..
Boone he was just about to come from
his days work He had finished firing
up and as he read the sad news he
threw the throttle wide open. Before
the fireman knew what had 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 at any moment. Neither
was familiar with the condition Of the
road as far as other trains were con
cerned. AT any moment they might
dash into a train. Signals were passed
UNDECIDED and the old engine tore
along, the boiler threatening to eX-
plode at any moment. Mr.. Boone
shoveled coal in the fire recklessly, and
90 rl,n,
sibly be made was put on. Several
times the fireman was on the point of
jumping from the engine, so dangerous
had the situa ton become.
Engineer Boone held him back, and
by the greatest efforts induced him to
put Oh more coal. As the road was
clear the engine dashed along past all
manner 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.
Fortunately the road between North
Vernon and here happened to be clear,
but had any train been running on the
division there is no telling what would
have happened.
Exactly in nineteen minutes after
Boone started his engine dashed into
the Brownstown station. The run was
most remarkable. The distance is eX-
actly tWenty-eight miles and the speed
averaged eighty-three and three-nine-
teenths miles an hour, which is a most
wonderful performance, when the fact
that the trip was made by a switch en-
CINE is taken into considera ton. AS
soon as Mr.. Boone arrived he was
taken to his dying sons side. The
young man had regatned consciousness
for the first time. He recognized his
father, and, as he placed his hand in
his, he died without uttering a word.
Mr. Boone is nearly crazed with
grief. He is we'll advanced in years
and was thoroughly wrapped up in his
son. The strain of his daring and eX-i
citing run told greatly upon him and
he is completely prostrated. 1t isl
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 theI
officials of the company admire him
more than they blame him.-Browns-
town Telegram to Pittsburg Dispatch.