The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-01
SAVED A W0MAN'S LIFE.
Fireman wilkins Leaps From His Cab
and Makes a Daring Rescue.

Fireman wilkins Leaps From His Cab
and Makes a Daring Rescue.
"Big Charley wilkins of Nyack, n. Y,
stalwart fireman of the northern express
of the Northern Railroad of New Jersey,
Bergen tunnel on the Erie road the other
morning. Coal Is strewn all along tho
tracks near tho mouth of the big tunnel,
and poor residents In the vicinity are in
the habit of gathering there in the morn
ing to pick the coal for use in their homes.
Just as the express from Nyack reached
Bergen curve, near the mouth Of the tun-
nel at S:15 o'clock, Fireman wilkins, lean
ing out OF the cab, saw woman, apparent
ly 80 years old, standing on tho east track
right ahead of the train. She was bare
headed and had been busy picking up coal
on the track and had been startled by the
sudden approach of the train, which was
spinning along at the rate of 90 miles an
hour wilkins slapped Engineer Hclmke,
who was at tho brake on the back and
pointed 20 the woman.
"By Jove," he cried, "we're liable to
hit herl'
AT that instant the Hackensack mail
an hour, shot out of the tunnel, and tho
woman Strengthened up from her STOPPING
position and stepped over to the west track,
along which tho mail train was speeding.
The woman didn't see the train until she
was on the track. She looked first at one
train and then at the other and stood stock
still in her pcrilous position.
Engineer Helmke and Fireman wilkins
Al. ~.
pletely bewildered and so frightened that
she was utterly unable to get out of dan
ger
"Slow up little" cried wilkins, "and
I'll jump for her. It's the only thing to
do now.
The engineer reversed tho wheels of the
express, and 1t glided by, just grazing tho
woman, who stood trembling 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 Do
rcmus of the Hackensack train saw the
big, broad shouldercd fireman Jump at the
very instant he rounded the curve. He
yanked open the whistle valve, and the
engine let loose a shrill scream of warn
ing, while he put on tho air brake and re-
versed the engine as quick as lightning.
Wilkins ran TO tho woman, and, lifting her
bodily, held hor up in his arms as he stood
I'm the narrow and rough path between the
tracks. The mail train shot past with the
driving wheels grinding tho reverse way
on the tracks. It's impetus was so great
that, though all brakes wero on, IL ira
verscd distance twice the length of tho
train before it slowed up and stopped.
The passengers on both trains, startled
by the whistles of the engines, crowded to
the car windows and watched the daring
net with thrill of oxcitement They
praised the pluck Of the big fireman. Tho
nerves OF the rescued woman were COM
pletely unstrung by fright wilkins car.
riod her across the tracks and out Of dan.
ger. Both Engineer Doromus and Fire.
man Schmall of the mail train said that
wilkins had undoubtedly saved the wont
ans life, rs it would have been impossible
to stop the train i'm time To avoid running
her down. Fireman wilkins jumped
aboard the cab of his engine without wait
ing 90 get the name Of the woman.
"Tho thing was to save her, he said
nonchalently. "It didn't matter what her
name was. Besides, she was too fright
ened TO talk. New York Sun.