St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-05-08
A Maryland Hero.

In the southern part of our state, dur
ing the past summer, a long, well fllec
passenger train had pulled out from thu
station, and was rapidly moving away
on its homeward bound track. Severa
miles had slipped under the fast turning
wheels, when the conductor stepped il
the car and called out the next stopping
place. Those of the passengers who were
familiar with the road were little sur.
prised when the train flew on by it with.
out stopping.
Then the speed of the great locomo.
tive seemed suddenly to increase with
each moment. On, on the long train flew,
until the wheels seemed hardly touching
the track. Still no one was alarmed ;
possibly little lost time being made up,
nothing worse, they thought. Then
there came long screaming whistle,
shrieking out with almost human tones
OF anguish, and then the train gradually
SioWeu up ana stopped.
BY that time the passengers were suffi-
GENTLY frightened for number of them
to Jump off the cars and hurry up to the
engine, where already a little group
men were gathered That which they
saw there has been burned into their
memory with such horror that they will
never be able to forget it. Two men
were supporting one on each side ofhim,
the engineer, great, broad-shouldered
fellow. His face was piteously crushed.
One eye was gone, and the blood was
pouring from his wounds, so that his
head and face, and even his shoulders,
were horrible to see.
The horrible story was quickly passed
from one to another. Somehow an iron
rod belonging to the engine had become
loose, and revolving with frightful rapid
ity had caught and thrown him with ter
rible force against the side of the cab.
Blind, and suffering so that he was barely
conscious, but with the great thought of
duty yet undone urging him on, he had
CROPPED along, dragging himself on his
hands and knees, until he could reach I'D
and with his poor, bruised hands grasp
the throttle and with one heroic effort
stop the train.
HIS comrades were tenderly lifting him
to shady bank to lay him down till
medical help could come. He was still
standing, supported on each side by the
others, but his head was hanging on his
breast, and with his eyes closed and face
SO CHASTITY, he looked more dead than
alive.
Suddenly he stopped and Strengthened
himself, threw up his head, then blindlv
out his hand with a quick
gesture, as if to push away the some
hing which was clouding his brain, he
whispered in tense, agonized tones:
"Wait-wait--I-must-go-back-m my
engine will-burst! ~
Something thrilled the little group with
strange awe. Instantly, almost I'M
consciously to themselves, every head
vas barred, and strong, rough men
ound strange tears were in their eyes.
What life of duty, done at any cost,
must have preceded this day, that the
oo1, pain-beclouded brain could so
learly hear and answer the clarion call
f duty now.
Other hands were ready to do the work
e had felt was his, and he was gently
lid on the ground. A doctor was
uckly brought, and gave some hope
hat his lite might yet be spared. ,,
A good-sized pocket-book was filled
nd left for him by the passengers, and
tter little longer delay the train moved
IF, but with all hearts softened, and
lore than one felt that it was no slight ,.
hing in this hard, selfish world to have
)me in touch with real, live hero.