The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-04-20
Passengers Unaware of Their Danger Until Peril Was
assed.NarroWly Escaped Terrible Death.
ENGINEER DEEGAN DISPLAYED GREAT NERVE. "a
Trestle at Fishers Hill, Near Weston Was Aflamal
When Train Ran~0yer It.

Passengers who travel over the M
r. and w. Va. and P. Divisions OF the
b. C O., have implicit confidence In
Eagle Eye" Tom Deegan, and at
least one hundred persons who were
riding behind him last night owe their.
lives to him to-day.
AS train No g. of which Deegan is
the engineer, was descending Fisher
Hill, above CIarksburg. Deegan no.
ticed a bright light. and on nearing 1t
discovered that the high trestle which
crosses deep ravine at the foot OF
the hill, was all ablaze. knowing
that it was almost impossible to stop
before reaching the trestle. and that
it meant certain death to come to a
standstill on any part OF the high
structure, Deegan decided that the
best course to pursue was to race for
it, and race he did.
- The monster. machine, with every
available ounce or steam In her CYL
inders, plunged down the hill atSter-
rife speed. Deegan. standing at the
cab window, his hat gone and every
nerve strained to its utmost tension,
prayed that he might win his race
with death. The passengers and crew
noticing the increased speed of the
train at an unusual point. and seeing
flashes of light as the train passed
over the treStle, became curious and
on opening the windows discovered
the cause A passenger stated that
when all were aware OF the danger
they had just passed, every face in
the car was pale, and many lips NOV
ed in prayer of thankfulness.
Engineer Deegan came back on his
run this morning. but may not work
for a. few days. His nerves are all
unstrung by the awful ordeal through
which he passed.
Preparing to Entertain Visitors.
MORGANTOwN, w. Va, April 20
Extensive preparations are already be-
ing made for the entertainment OF
the State Educational Association.
which is to meet in Morgantown
June 21-23. A committee of fifteen,
with City Superintendent Gallup as
chairman, has been appointed, and
this general committee has been di-
vided up into subcommittee. 1t is
the intention of the people OF Nor
eantown to give the West Virginia
teachers and their friends the most
cordial reception that they have ever
received at a State meeting. they
will be met at the station and escort
ed to their various hotels and board
ing places; they will be given a recep-
ton on the beautiful campus OF the
University; Prof. Nell a delightful en-
tertainer, will give monoloSue 1or
their pleasure: there will be an ex-
cursion either over Cheat, up Deck
er's Creek to the Cascades, or on the
Monongahea; Prof. Moulton, of the
University of Chicago, DR.. Margaret
K. Smith, of New York, Sarah E. Girls
void, Of Chicago. and other members
of the University Summer School,
will deliver lectures for them. Dur
ing that week the School Of Methods
for Sunday School Workers will be in
session at the University, and the ad-
dresses of such persons as E. Morris
Ferguson, of New Jersey, and Mamie
Lee F'rayser, of Kentucky, will be
open to the teachers. The town, the
public schools and the University will
unite in a strong effort to provide an
intellectual and social feast for all
who attend the Association.
Steamship Arrivals,
NEW YORK;, April 20.--.Arrived: s.
S. Zealand from Antwerp; Minneap-
oils, from London; Nordam, from Rot