Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-18
HANDSOMELY REWARDED.
A Poor Man Gets Short Free Ride ~ Saving
Passenger Train from Wreck
(From the Denver Times. /

tf rom the DenNe" ZINES
Undaunted courage and endurance in
the snow, with the mercury at zero, last
Thursday afternoon. on the part of Pat
Bennett. a miner and carpenter in
Strengthened circumstances, was no
doubt the means of saving scores of
lives and an entire passenger train on
the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Il
was train No. 4, the Atlantic coast ex-
press, which was so disastrously
wrecked at New Castle, a few weeks
before.
Pat was thrown out of work in Vic
tor a week ago. and went to Buena Wis
ia, hoping to get work with a railroad
construction crew. But he was disap-
pointed, and, being financially embar-
raised, set out afoot for the Leadville
mines When about II miles from
Buena Vista, he stepped aside to allow
a freight train to pass. The jar of the
passing cars was perhaps the cause of
a huge boulder being loosened on the
high bank, about so feet above the
tracks The lone traveller soon came
upon the boulder. 1t weighed fully 1900
pounds and was lodged between rails
Il" and &c" on the rail used for mar
row gauge trains only, and the outside
rail nearest to it. 1t was on a sharp
curve around a bluff, and on the outer
side of the track runs the Arkansas
-, Ill Dat t,-in
avail to move the rock. lie could not
bulge it.
The cold December blast Went
through his scant clothing, which al
though neat and clean, was not adapted
for such weather. But Pat resolved to
stay on the spot and flag the first train
After half an hour he succeeded in
starting fire on the outside of the
track among some boulders. no soon
er was he getting thoroughly thaWed
out than he heard the rumblinS of the
passenger and express in the west.
| The wind was in the east, and the
heavy cars We're almost upon him be-
fore Pat heard them. He ran at break
neck speed, following the track around
bluff. and waving his hat frantically
To be sure he was seen he continued
within a few feet of the engine before
he stepped aside.
Engineer ANDERSON. one of the Oldest
on the road, was quick to see the warning
and in an instant had put on the ar
brakes and reversed. The grade rendered
stopping difficult. 1t looked as # the tram
could not be stopped. The pilot OF the
engine came up to within few yards OF
the huge boulder and still the brakes had
not gotten in their work But Providence
seemed to be guarding the many iWtS
L., lot H.
in 10 feet of the obstruction the tram
came to halt
AT first it was suspected that the man
who had tagged the train was schem-
ing hobo who wanted a ride, but the light
snow indicated him of this. 1t would
have been almost impossible to scale me
tracks The track of the boulder was was
plainly visible, showing where. it had
rolled until it struck a firmly fastened
rock and then bounced clear of the ditch
and to the roaibed. becoming Wedged pc
tween the rails. 1t was rounded on the
edges, but the strength Of the three men
was required TO roll it off the track
The heart of Conductor Roberts Went
ont to the hero and all that could De
done for him was offered. He was
brought to Salda. where Superintendent
Ridgeway gladly gave him pass 10 MS
destination. 1t was all Pat asked io''
ami he WAS happy.
So sharp was the curve where the tram
stopped that but one or two of the pas
senEers could see far enough ahead 70
ascertain the cause of the sudden stop
and they were we'll up ahead. The news
was kept from the others. and the easy
going loungers in the smokers the merry
bridal couple from Lcadvile in the parlor
car ard all others We're carried to their
divers destinations ignorant of the iacs
Thai they came TO within a few feet of
being hurled down a 20-foot embankment
into an icy river, Pat Bennett was
warmly congratulated and thanked LOT
his nervy deed by the few who knew OF IT,
to these he told his story.
He had come to Colorado three months
before from southern Texas, and obtained
employment in a mine at Victor. where
he has "A married sister. Leaving there
on account of reduction in the corps OF
miners he started for Leadville, as has
been told.
The train consisted of a baggage car;
one combination mail and express ana
five crowded passenger cars.
S1A REWARD