Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-06
DARING DEED
OF Valley Engineer.
Risked His Life to Save
a Companion,
Who Had Been Abandoned
by Others.
Thrilling Ride Through a Blind.
ing Blizzard.
One Hundred Miles Covered In an
Hour and q Half.

The story of thrilling ride, in
which a Valley engineer plays the part
of hero, Is graphically described by
the Canal Dover correspondent of tho
Chicago Times Herald. 1t follows:
Lying unprotected and suffering
with smallpox on the cab floor of his
own engine, james Kelley, a freigh.
fireman on the Cleveland, Terminal
and Valley railroad, was rushed nt a
speed of almost GO miles an houi
trough a binding storm from the
town Of Sandyville, north of here, 100
miles to Cleveland, where he waa
placed In the pesthousc.
Kelley is unmarried, and for several
years has been freight fireman on
the line. On the northbound trip
through here he became i'll, and when
the train reached Sandyville was too
weak TO go farther. He was helped
from the engine by the crew and taken
to the Office Of local physician, who
upon examination announced that he
was suffering from virulent form of
smallpox. His fellows shrank from
him in terror, aud the people of tho
town refused to give him aid or shell.
ter. Kclley's home is in another part
of the state, too far to have removed
him there. The loaded train for the
north was waiting.
Alexander Newhousc the engineer,
whose fireman Kelley had been for
years was the only man who stayed
by bis comrade, and he cursed the
others for their cowardlce. New.
house carried Kelley bodily from the
doctors office TO the engine, placed
him gently on the door of the cab, cut
the big machine lose from the rest of
the train, and, Jumping aboard, pulled
the lever and started northward from
the gaping members of his crew and
the townspeople who had assembled
at some distance.
1t was hig hazard, but New.
houses blood was up, aud after he
had been opposed In his efforts to help
the fireman, who was then past help.
ing himself, the big-hcnrted engineer
took n course that invited death and
discharge. Ncwhousc believed he
could reach Cleveland, 100 miles away,
before the first southbound train
should leave there. Hu had Il little
over an hour and half by his watch
as the big engine pulled out OF Sandy.
vile. A gale was blowing, and tho
cup formed by the wind behind tho
engine as il rocked back and forth on
the rails sucked the snow into the cab
and spread white mantle over tho
PROSTATE and almost unconscious form
of Kelley who lay at the engineers
feet.
Ahead Newhousc saw nothing but q
white, driving mist, At the mad pace
he was going he could not have stop
ped his engine IL any trains had been
met, He had no assurance that there
was not special or an extra on the
line. He took the chances and trusted,
TO Providence. He said aftcrward
that he set the lever a. the top notch
and then fired the engine himself as
she rocked on her crazy course.
Through all the small towns alonN
the line the train sped like mad
thing. Before tho people could crane
their necks out of windows ii had
gone past with rush. Others who
were furtunnte enough to see it ap.
preaching from distance saw 1t com.
ing toward them covered from pilot TO
tender with snow like great white
bird.
As II shot by they saw a man In the
cab, bareheaded with his hair flying,
and his eyes bent ahead, They did
not see the form Of the man lying On
tho floor, and they thought Newhouse
must be maniac.
A little more than an hour and a
half after Newhouse had left Sandy
Vile he pulled into the Union stat'or
at Cleveland without meeting the
southbound traiu, and Kelley. his fire.
man, was removed TO the pesthouse,
where be lies in critical condition.
Without saying anything to anybody
of his wild ride, Newhouss again
boarded his engine, leaving Cleveland
ahead OF the southbound train, return.