The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-12
TORE OFF HIS TROUSERS
GATEMAN POLAND EMBARRASSED
BEFORE UNION STATION CROWD.
Man That He Kept from in Front OF
Train Clutched His Garments with
Rending Result.

The crowd at the Union Station yesterday
and last night was not beyond precedent,
but was sufRbient 10 keep all of the gate
men and station policemen hustling to pre-
vent the eager and excited passengers from
being ground beneath train wheels and
safely ushering them into the space behind
the tall fence. There were just twenty ex-
cursions, going in and out, and the only re-
lief for the trainmen during the day was
in the middle of the afternoon. No sooner
had the outgoing excursions fairly cleared
the sheds in the morning until the special
trains. loaded to the platforms, began
coming in. The excursion from Champaign,
Ill, was the last TO arrive. 1t was delayed
on account of a breakdown and got in
about noon.
Using the term of some of the passengers
the excursion was certainly a "hoo-doo''
from the time it left Champaign until it
started on it's return trip. The passengers
on the train were much put out when they
did not reach the city until late in the day.
and then when it was time to go home the
train was several minute late. This caused
a wild scurry when it did reach the station
shed. the passengers thinking that 1t would
not wait for them. The Champaign special
iVO~oOO atl ~ a. 0iihldA just ClOIC IL
left the station, when it was the indirect
result of Gateman Charles Poland losing
the rear department and the best leg of his
trousers. This sacrifice was made to save a
determined man with a pink complexion
from meeting his death under a train.
The Champaign special stood beyond q
Vandalia train that was being made up for
Terre Haute The crowd was in unusual
hat, 20 ~Anal III 4.
was behind time and was expected TO pull
out at any moment without warning. AS
the Illinois delegation surged into the sned
the two sections of the Vandalia train were
beng made ready to be coupled. AS is the
custom of the gatemen and station police
man, Poland was walking along in front
or the moving section of the train TO push
persons back who might not see the dam
ger in crossing in front of the cars.
The engine had backed the cars scarcely
twenty feet across the passage platform
when a man eXcitedly made his way
through the front ranks of the crowd that
was waiting for the train to couple up and
pull out. He started across the track
almost against the moving car and was
Jerked back by Poland, who also cautioned
him to remain where he was. The stranger
thought he knew his own mind and made
another effort. This time Poland was
forced 10 use more strength in pushing
him back TO keep him from being run over.
Unfortunately, the gateman was too strong
on this occasion and the Illinois man was
sent on q last tour toward a seat on the
platform. Like a drowning man grasping
at a straw, he put out his hand and
clutched. His clutch was good. His fin
gers caught in the rear of Poland's trous-
ers. His descen. was checked, but the
strain on PolandS trousers was something
awful. The crowd held it's breath. Would
Poland release his hold on the train, would
the man find his equilibrium, or-but while
the crowd was n,editating there suddenly
came a rasping sound from between the
rescuer and the rescued. The men craned
their necks a little farther and the women
still held their breath. Just for a moment
did the rasping sound last, then there was
a sudden swish; the man who had been
JeIked from in front of the train was sent
on the platform and Poland was
whisked onward by the moving train, with
a trousers leg dangling about his right
foot. The man hastily made his way to
the Champaign train, while Poland's fell
low-trainmen hustled him over behind a
Vandalia coach for repairs.
a liberal contribution of pins was made
literal pin-cushion. On the street-car he
did not even entertain thoughts of sitting
down. When Poiand's wife saw him enter
the house she was half frightened, as he
had been at work but a short time and
was not in the habit of coming home at
odd hours. She anxiously exclaimed:
why. what's the natter" Poland did
not say a word until he got into the house.
Then he closed the door and in disgust
calculated: one Of those crazy Illinois
suckers on that Champaign excursion
pulled the leg of my pants off," Another
pair was brought out and he was soon at
work again. Poland will now be known
about the station as the hero who saved
a man at the sacrifice of his pants"