The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-18
SAFETY IN THE FIRE BOX.
How a Brakeman Saved His Life In a Ter.
rible Railway Collision.

How Brakeman saved His Life In a Ter
rible Railway Collision.
The following strange story is told
by Fort Wayne brakeman who is en-
ployed on the eastern division:
at was on light engine which was
being hauled over the Union Pacific
road from Denver to Omaha Ny posi-
ton was that of brakeman, and as it was
wet, nasty night and L did not care to
expose myself more than was neces-
gary, 1 sneaked into the cab of the
dead engine and tried to keep myself
as warm as could with the aid of an
old blanket l found in the engineers
chest. which I 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 startled by loud, long, piercing
call for brakes. knew old Billy Dun
kan, the engineer, would never have
let out such a blast as that unless in
the presence of great danger. Hastily
throwing off the old blanket jumped
up and peered through the darkness.
We were running along about thirty
FIVE miles an hour, and right ahead of
us l was startled to perceive another
train approaching at a higher rate of
speed. There was not much chance to
jump, and it was Internally dark, and
] knew there was a high cliff close to
the track at that place. l was about
to drop on my knees and pray for for
giveness for my past sins, when
luckily thought that the fire box would
be a good, safe place in which to
weather the collision, and in an in
slant had jumped through the fire
door,
i landed on some clinkers, which
had been left on the great 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 siclzening
sensation 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 l was
in an iron safe that was well-built, al
though it was never intended for a
ever. that 1t 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 everything
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 as
,ar trucks and frames were piled hioh
above the wreck, l thought it was
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 under
The engine with my legs crushed, for
they gave all their attention to me,
and after awhile, they got the trucks;
cleared away, and who did l see but.
big Barney, the wreclmaster, crawl
.ng between two car stills with bottle
Of whisky in his hand. Before he got
put to where / was l reached out and |
grab bed the bottle, and you should
have seen the look on his face when he |
perceived me safe and sound and get
ting away with good whisky. 1t was |
some time before they got me out, and |
beyond the bruises already mentioned, |
[ was as sound as before the wreck. |
Poor old Billy, the engineer, was |
killed, and two tramps, who were on a
ar next to the light engine, were
rushed to Jelly. The firebox saved |
nv life, and | never heard of another /
nan having saved his bacon IN the /
anne manner. Pitts burgh Post