The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-05
Safety in q Fire-ilOx.

The following strange story is told by
Fort Wayne brakeman who Is employed
an the eastern division:
at was ON a light engine which was
1,eing hauled over the Union Pacific road
from Denver TO Omaha. My position
was that of brakeman, and as it was
wet. nasty night and / did not care 10
expose myself any more than was neces-
fary / sneaked .1to the cab Of the dead
engine and tried TO keep myself as warm
as 1 could vito The aid of an cid blanket
] found i'm the engineers chest, which
wrapped about me and laid down on the
bunk. About the time that j got COM
fortably fixed and was doing, with my
ewes half close I, was startled 10y a loud,
long piercing All for brakes. / knew old
Billy Dunkan, the engineer, would never
have let out such a blast as that unless
fn the presence of great danger. Hastily
throwing on the Old blanket Jumped up
and peered through the darkness. We
Were running along about thirty-nVe
miles an hour, ana right ahead OF US j
was startled TO perceive another tfain
approaching at higher rate OF speed.
There was not much chance 10 jump, as
ST was Internally dark. and ! knew there
was a high ciim close TO the track al
that place. ! was about 10 drop on my
knees and pray Tor forgiveness for my
past sins, when l luckily thought that
IN. Gre-box would bc "A good, safe riace
An which TO weather the collision, and IN
an instant had jumped through the iire-
door.
| landed on some clinkers, which had
been left on the crate bars. and had Just
gOt on my knees when there came an
awful crash, such as l had never heard
An my life before and felt the old mogul
going first up and then down, down, and
oh those
seconds We're paralyzing. l was tumbled
about pretty roughly. and had the skin
Knocked OF my legs and my head cut,
iut nothing could crush me. for | was In
nm iron safe that was well built. although
A. was never intended for a life-preserVer.
thought once. however. that II was all
sp with me- for I felt the old boiler col
lapslng under the weight Of loaded cars
That were piling on top OF t. After VINE
syerything was still. and, knowing that
the worst was over, unless the debris
took fire and roasted me alive. | made an
fffort 10 crawl out, but could not do so.
b. car trucks and frames were piled
high above the wreck. | thought II was
h month TN the wrecking train came,
and then began 10 cry out like mad
tnan and implore help They must have
thought that ] was lying under the en-
tine with my legs crushed for they gave
an their attention TO me, and after
while they got the trucks cleared away.
and who did ! see but big Barney. the
wreckmaster, crawling between two car
slis with "A bottle of whisky I'm his hand.
BEFORE he got out 20 where | was | reach
IA out and grabbed the bottle. and you
rhould have seen the look on his face
when he perceived my safe and sound
md getting away with good whisky. II
was some time before they got me out,
md beyond the bruises already mentioned.
was as sound as before the wreck. POOR
old Billy. the engineer. was killed. as was
elso the fireman OF the other engine. and
two tramps who were on car next 20
the light engine were crushed 10 Jelly.
uhe nrebox saved my life, and ] never
heard of another man having saved his
bacon in the same manner. "-Pittsburg
Post.