The silver star., 1897-05-13
LOUIS RlErHMANN.s ESCAPE.
Periloss Ride of wheciman on the Ptloa
Of . Fast Running Locomotive.

Periloas Ride Of wheeiman on the Pilot
OF . Fast Running Locomotive.
(FrOm the Denver News)
That Louis Riethmann was around
yesterday greeting his friends as usual
instead Of being on a cooling board at
the mOrgue Is due more to his in0rdi-
Wednesday evening MIR. Riethmann
had an experience that would have re-
| suited in his death in about every case
hut one out of million.
1t seems that Mr.. Riethmann, who
lives ut 1I35 Welton street. and is one
Of the well known young men of the
city. has cousin, Louis Philbeck. Wis
ilng him from indianapolis. Mr.. Phil
beck is in Denver for his health and his
cousin has tried to fill the invalid's
lungs full of Colorado ozone by taking
| him for daily spins ON the wheel. Their
run on Wednesday evening was out
beyond Sand creek. After spin of
eight miles the two young men rested
Il time at wayside inn and started
for the return to the city about B
o'clock. They were nearing the cross
ing of the Union Pacific, Denver & Gulf
| tracks at Sand creek, when the ap-
proach of an incoming passenger train
was noticed. Mr.. Philbeck was in the
lead some little distance and thought
he would have plenty Of time to make
the crossing ahead of the oncOming
train. AS he crossed the track he OBJ
served that the train was coming at a
much higher rate of speed than he had
calculated. and he dismounted instant
~ and shouted to Riethmann to hold
on and not try TO make the crossing.
Mr.. Riethmann admits that he heard
the cry of warning. but did not heed 1t.
He is something of rider himself.
and he did not propose just at that time
10 be outstripped by visitor whose
health was alleged to be somewhat i'm
paired. Instead of waiting for the
train to pass he took an extra hump,
threw all his leg power into the pedals
and figured on crossing the track with
a Hachenberger squirt that would take
any conceit out of his cousin. Then
came the clash. The passenger was
making for Denver at the rate of thirty
miles an hour. and just as Mr.. Rieth-
mann reached the crossing the train
struck him. Nobody knows just what
happened then. The engineer of the
train had his head out of the window
as usual and saw the smash. The en-
glne was instantly reversed and the
train stopped as quickly as possible,
but not until after II had gone about
hundred feet. When the engineer and
fireman leaped from the cab their first
look was under the engine wheels.
which they expected to find covered
with blood and mangled remains of the
reckless rider. As they did not find
their man under the engine they start
ed back looking under the other ears
af tho train Inn fniIasJ m fin
hands or feet hanging out any place
on detached duty. As yet neither of
the men had thought to look on the
pilot of the engine. Mr.. Philbcck had
been Mortified witness of the accl-
dent. however. and had expected 10 see
his cousin killed. Not seeing him fall,
lie kept watch of the engine and was
the first 10 observe the rear wheel OF
the bicycle sticking over the pilot and
making million revolutions. more or
less. second. He communicated his
Information TO the engineer and fire
man. and the three men made n rush
for the engine. There was Riethmann
lying on the bumper above the pilot.
grasping the flagstaff with one hand
and holding the priced wheel from fall
ing under the engine
Even the discovery Of the man on
the pilot did not relieve the fears of
the engineer. who supposed that Rieth-
mann had been killed and that the
wheel was held hy hand cold in
death. He was too badly excited to
speak. but his fears We're soon relieved.
Riethmann took in the situation Mt n
glance and turning TO the engineer
said. good nafuredly and as naturally
as possible: "Hello! Can I ride into
town with youT'
You bet you can ride into town" re-
nlied the engineer. as he and Mr.. Phil
heck Joined In rescuing Riethmann
from his uncomfortable. not to say dan
gerous position. Then explanations
We're In order. Mr. Riethmann assured
his friends that he was not hurt In the
least and insisted upon giving his first
attention to an examination OF his
wheel. which was also found to have
escaped injury. He said that he really
had no very clear idea OF what had
happened. He had made n spurt TO
cross the track ahead of the engine
and realized when too late that colli-
sion could not he avoided. He had felt
no crash, but had been apparently lift
ell mp and thrown on the hummer
above the pilot. lie had caught his
wheel by the saddle and had grasped
the Flagstaff OF the engine without
knowing how. II was all over In sec.
ond and he felt the engine slowing M
rapldly and knew that he was all
right, although he thought he could
have maintained his position until Den.
yer was reached without any serious
Inconvenience.
The two wheelmen were taken aboard
fhe train and brought to tho city. and
rode home from the depot. Yesterday
Mr. Riethmann was around ms well AZ
ever. barring slightly bruised hin and
the loss OF generous patch OF cuticle
from his right knee.
The Princess Of Wales.
New York. May "a copvr,yb,ed