The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-12-26

the east tracks right ahead of tho
train. She was bareheaded, and had
been busy picking up coal on the track,
and had been startled by the sudden
approach of the..train, which was spin
ming along at the rate of twenty miles
an hour. Wilkins slapped Engineer
Helmke, who was at the brake, on the
back, and pointed to the woman.
'tBy Jove," he cried, "we're liable
to hit her,"
At that instant the Hackensack mail
train, scooting along at speed of
thirty miles an hour, shot out of the
tunnel, and the woman Strengthened
up from her stopping position and
stepped over to the west track, along
which the mail train was speeding.
The woman didn't see the train until
she was on the track. She looked first
atone train and then ct the other, and
stood stock still in her perilous posi-
ton.
Engineer Helmke and Fireman Will
kins saw at glance that the woman
was completely bewildered, and so
frightened that she was utterly unable
to get out of danger.
''Slow up a little" cried Wilkins,
"and I'll Jump for her. It's the only
thing to do now"
The engineer reversed the wheels of
the express, and it glided by, just
grazing the woman, who stood tremb.
ling on the other track. Wilkins
sprang from the cab just ahead of her
and landed on lot of broken stone
and was nearly thrown from his feet
by the insecure footing. Engineer
Doremus OF the Hackensack train saw
the big, --broad shouldered fireman
jump at the very instant he rounded
the cure. He yanked open the whistle
valve, and the engine let loose shrill
scream of warning, while he put on
the air brake and reversed the engine
as quick as lightning. Wilkins ran to
the woman, and lifting her bodily,
held her up in his arms as he stood IN
the narrow and rough path between
the tracks. The mail train shot past
with the driving wheels grinding the
reverse way on the tracks. Its i'm
petus was SO great that though all
brakes were on, it traversed distance
twice the length of the train before it
slowed up and stopped.
The passengers on both trains, star.
tied by the Whistles of the engines,
crowded to tie car windows and watched
the daring act with thrill of excite
ment. They praised the pluck of the
big fireman. The nerves of the res-
cued woman we're completely unstrung
by fright. Wilkins carried her across
the tracks and out of danger. Both
Engineer Doremus and Fireman
Schmall of the mail train said that
Wilkins had undoubtedly saved the
woman's life, as it would have been
impossible to stop the train in time to
avoid running her down. Fireman
Wilkins jumped aboard the cab OF his
engine without waiting to get the name
of the woman.
''The thing was to save her," he
said, nonchalantly, sit didn't matter
what her name was. Besides, she was
too frightened to talk"
Rescued by Human Chain.
Scows are moored at the pier at the
foot of East Ninety-ffth street to carry
away the earth and stone hauled there
by carts belonging to Contractor Pat
rick Martin. TO reach the pier the
carts descend an inclined roadway
that runs along the edge Of the stone
bulkhead between Ninety-fourth and
Ninety fifth streets, The bulkhead
wall is about ten feet above the water
level, and there was railing along it
to prevent the carts sliding into the
river until Friday, when twas carried
away by balky horse, which backed
overheard and was drowned. The
driver, Patrick Kearney, came to the
surface bleeding from a cut four
inches long in his head. John Jor-
dan threw him rope, but Kearney
was too weak to hold on to it. Other
workmen rushed off in search of
boat. Kearney was barely able to
keep a6oat. Jordan threw himself on
his face on the pier and tried to reach
him, but the water was fully twelve
feet below him.
"Here, you fellows" he shouted,
"come and hang on TO my feet"
Three or four men grabbed him
without realizing what he intended
to do.
''Lower me until / can reach him,
Jordan commanded. and they lowered
him down the bu1khead, but still he
could not reach the drowning man.
Then John O'Brien, another sturdy
'longshoreman, came to the rescue.
81 can hold Jordan" said he; "you
hang on to me-" and the men on the
pier lowered O'Brien, who chung to
Jordan's legs, with the latter's feet
tucked under his arm. a third man
was found necessary to complete the
chain, and Joseph Smith, the biggest
man in the crowd, grabbed O'Brien's
legs and was lowered in turn. Jor-
dan was now within Kearney's reach.
and he grabbed him by the shoulders
and held his head above water until
the men who had gone in search of o
boat rowed up and rescued the drown
ing man. Kearney's rescuers were
dragged back on the bulkhead, pretty
we'll tired ont by their exertions.
Yesterday morning another horse
backed off the now unprotected gang
~vov Tho 1v;uo~ Tobv, No- ;c,o~~oa