St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-07-23
Safety In The Fire-Box.

The following strange story is told by
Fort Wayne brakeman who is employed
on the eastern division
81 was on light engine which was
being hauled over the Union Pacific road
from Denver to Omaha. My position was
that of a brakeman, and as it was a wet,
nasty night and did not care to expose
myself any more than was necessary,
sneaked into the cab OF the dead engine,
and tried to keep as warm as could with
the aid Of an old blanket | found in the
engineers chest, which wrapped about
me and laid down on the bunk. About the
time got comfortably fixed and doing
with my eyes half closed, was started
by loud, long, piercing cry for brakes.
l knew old Billy Dunkan, the engineer,
would never have let out such blast as
that unless in the presence of danger.
Hastily throwing off the blanket Jump
ed up and peered through the darkness.
We were running along about thirty-fve
miles an hour, and right ahead of us
was startled TO perceive another train
approaching al a higher rate OF speed.
There was not much chance to Jump, as
it was Internal dark, and l knew there
was high cliff close to the track at that
place. was about to drop on my knees
and pray forgiveness for my past sins,
when luckily thought that the fre-box
would be good safe place in which to
weather the collision, and in an instant
had jumped through the fire door.
81 landed on some clnkers, which had
been left on the CRATE bars, and had Just
got on my knees when there came an
awful crash such as never felt in my
life before, and felt the old mogul going
first up and then down, down, and the
sickening sensation of those few seconds
was paralyzing. was tumbed about
roughly, and had the skin knocked off
my legs and my head cut, but nothing
could crush me, for was in an iron safe
that was well built, although it was
never intended for te-preserver.
thought once, however, that it was all
up with me, for felt the old boiler COL
lapsing under the weight of loaded cars
that were piling on the top OF it. After
while everything was still, and, know
that the worst was over, unless the de-
bris took fire and roasted me alive, |
made an effort to crawl out, but could
not do so, as car trucks and frames were
piled high above the wreck. ! thought
it was month till the wrecking train
came, and then began to cry out like a
mailman and imploring help. They
must have thought that | was lying
under the engine with my legs crushed
for they gave all their attention to me-
and after while they got the trucks
cleared away, and who did see but big
Barney, the wreckmaster, crawling
between two car stills with a bottle Of
whiskey in his hand Before he got out
to where was reached out and grabbed
the bottle, and you should have seer
the look on his face when he perceived
me safe and sound and getting away
with good whiskey. 1t was some tim,
before they got me out, and beyond tn,
bruises already mentioned, l was sount
as before the wreck. Poor old Biley
the engineer, was killed, as was also tn,
fireman of the other engine, and two
tramps, who were on the car next to tn
light engine, were crushed to a Jelly
The hre.box saved my life, and neve
heard Of another man having saved hi
bacon in the same manner"