The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-25
Were Those of Gus Zimmerman
Manned on a TrestIe
And Unable to Move While the
Fast Express
WAS RUSHING ONWARD
Pulled Out of His HOrribl
Situation
By Farmers just in the Nick
of Time.

An experience as terrifying as many
which have wrecked minds and turned
mems hair white, fell to the lot of Gus
Zimmerman, a section laborer in the
employ of the Santa Fe yesterday af-
ternoon.
For several minutes he was helpless
with a fractured leg astride one of the
trestleS on a bridge on the main line
of the Santa Fe with the sound of an
oncoming train, each moment becoming
more distinct in his ears. Frantically
he called for help and attempted to
drag himself from his fearful position,
only to fall back after each effort in
more exhausted condition. At last two
farmers, attracted by his cries. rescued
him from the bridge just in time to
save him from a horrible death under
the wheels of the train.
Zimmerman was yesterday afternoon
with a gang of section men repairing
the main line of the Santa Fe near
Spencer, a small station seven miles
from Topeka.
About. o'clock he was detailed by
the section foreman to visit the place
where the force had been at work ear
lier in the day to procure material
which had been left behind, and start
ed to walk along the track in the di-
rection of Topeka.
About a quarter of a mile from the
point where the men were at work, the
track crosses a small stream on a tres
tie bridge Zimmerman started to
cross the bridge, but when about half
way across, one of his feet slipped on
one of the trestles, and losing his bal
ance, both feet shot through the spaces
between the trest1es and suddenly
11T-n1l oh n Will force
astride one of the reavy tinbers. In
falling his right leg struck one of the
timbers with sufficient force to frac-
ture the bone below the knee
The pain of the fracture and the force
of the fall sicxened him, and for a few
seconds he lapSed into sami-con-
sciousness. When at length he regain
ed his senses the first sound that struck
upon his ear was the far away whistle
of train.
He attempted to draw himself up
from his position, but both limbs were
fairly lodged between the trestles and
every movement of his body caused
him intense suffering from the fracture
of his leg. Again and again he tried to
rise to a crawling position, but the at
tempts resulted only in exhaustion.
For the second time the whistle of
the train sounded in the distance, this
time nearer and more distinct. The in
jured section laborer became frantic.
With might and main he worked to re-
lease himself, all the while calling at
the top of his voice, but if he gained a
few inches one moment. he lost them
the next Again the train whistled, then
but short distance away, and to the
man held fast between the trestles, al
most mad with fright, it seemed to be
the voice of some horrible monster
about to pounce upon its prey. He sank
back on the timbers of the bridge in a
half conscious condition.
Just at that moment voices rang out
at one side of the track in answer to
his last frantic appeal for help before
he sank back exhausted, and two farm
erS came running toward the laborer.
In another moment he was picked up
in their strong arms and carried to a
patch of grass at the side of the track
In a moment the through passenger
train passed at full speed.
by the two farmers who rescued him,
and placed in the Santa Fe hospital.
Today he has apparently recovered
from his horrible experience of yes
terday afternoon.