The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
HANDsoMELr REWARDED.
A Poor Man Gets = short Free Ride for Saving
n Passenger Train from Wreck.

From the Denver Times
Undaunted courage and endurance in the
snow, with the mercury at zero, last Thursday
afternoon, on tho part of Pat Bennett, a miner
and carpenter in straitened circumstances,
was no doubt the: means Of saving scores of
lives and an entire passenger train on the
Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. 1t was
train No. 4. the Atlantic coast express. which
was 80 disastrously wrecked at New Castle a
few weeks before.
week ago and went to Buena Vista, hoping to
get work with a railroad construction crow.
embarrassed, set out afoot for the Leadvillc
mines, When about, twelve miles from Bucna
to pass. The jar Of the passing cars was per.
haps the cause OF a huge boulder being looscned
on the h ntgh bank about s.IIol fifty feet above the
and was lodged. between rails b and &c" on
tho rail used for narrow gauge trains only.
a sharp curve around a bluff, and on the outer
twenty feet below. Pat tried without avaii
to move The rock, He could not bulge it.
scant clothing, which. although neat and clean,
was, not adapted for such weather. But Pat
resolved t. stay on the spot and flag the first
among some boulders., No sooner was he get
west. The wind was in The cast and the heavy
cars NtTC IIlos uDDH HlIl DtlOTf ~ ItHTu
them. He ran at brcakncck speed. following
the track around n bluff .and waving his hat
tinued within a few feet OF the engine before
he stepped aside.
Engineer Anderson, one of the oldest or the
road, was quick to see the warning and In an
instant had put on tho air brakes and reversed:
The grade rendered stopping difficult. L looked
q the engine came up to within a few yards OF
the huge boulder. and still the brakes had not
to, be guarding the many, lives endangered, and
when the pilot was within. fifteen. feet of the
At srsi it Was suspected crps that the man who
Who T YAM STide, but The light snow nov yinai;;
impossible to scale the steep bank. and. again,
there were no tracks, Tho track Of tho boulder
until it struck a iirmly, fastened rock and then
bounced clear, of the ditch and to he %roadbcd,
rounicl on the edges, but thei strength of the
three men was REQUIRED to roll II OF th9 truck.
the hero, and ali that could be done for Nm was
offered. He was brought TO Salidn; where SUI
FRo IT. Gasfina MiidEwaY G, Mas al I'Y Pat hi nske q P for,
So sharp was the curve where the train
could see far enough ahead to ascertain the
cause of The sudden stop and hey were well np
and the easy.golng l]oungcrs in the smokers.
the merry bridal couple from l~'eadvillc in the
divers destination ignorant OF the fact Tint
thoy came 10 within a few feet OF being hurled
down a. twenty foot cmbankment into an Icy
river. Fat Bennett was warmly congratulated
and thanked for lis nervy deed by the few who
knew of II. To these he old his story.
He had CONE Ia Colorado three months before
from southern Texas. mud obtained employment
in n mine Mt Victor, where he has n married
sister. Leaving there ON account of reduction
in the corps OF miners, he started for Lcadvillo,
as has been told.
The train consisted OF n baggage car, one
combination mail and express and five crowded
passenger cara.