The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-08-09
SAVES 4 TRAIN
Filled With Passengers from Awful
Doom and When Offered
High Educaeion Her Fearful Love
Marries Ser to Prevent Rer
''Growin2 Up Lady

"GrowinR Up = Lady
Little Mamie Gibson, 15-year-old
mountain girl, saved a whole train
lead OF people from being dashed dowl
the mcuntain-side In front Of hel
| home in the mountains OF North Car.
olina not far from Asheville.
Ia recognition OF this heroic act,
the Southern railroad promised her a
i, college education. Her mountaineer
lover, finding it out, married her by
stealth, in hopes to prevent her going.
Her future is now depending IN suit
for divorce which her father is bring
ing for her.
Mamie lives in the mountains, 20
miles east of this city. The dream Of
her life has been to receive an educa
tion and grow up lady. Its realiza-
tion had always seemed to be as far
away as the skies. Now it seems to
be at hand, and she has been simply
d.zed by the fsiry-like prospect.
It all came about one day when
Mamie discovered that landslide
had blocked the track at a sharp
curve OF the Southern railway near
her home. Even as she looked there
sounded the whistle OF a passenger
train laundering down the mountain.
Mamie met the emergency by send.
ing Patty Gibson, her 13-year old
sister, down the track to guard against
the remote possibility Of a wreck from
that direction. She chose the post OF
danger, running with all her might to
meet the coming train. When it
drew into sight she fEantically sig.
nailed the engineer to stop.
He hesitated. But her earnestneSs
was so great that he realized disas-
ter was imminent. The airbrakes
were applied and the train brought to
q standstill with sharp JOLT only a
few rods from the blockade.
When he saw the danger big Con-
ductor Weaver snatched her up in his
srms and sWore saa Was the bravest
girl in North Carolina. Grateful pas
senge,2, learning OF their barrow es-
cape showered her with money. Asa
preliminary tribute the company In
day or two sent her s25.
The railway officials, however,
rightly surmised that to a girl reared
in the freedom OF the mountain Wilds
money meant little. So cne OF their
number was delegated to visit the
cabin In the hills to ask Mamie the
mcmentous question:
What cid she most desire In the
world. Nannie's little face, tanned
by southern sun and wind, turned
pale. Taen her story came out in a
little gush Of fearful words. She didn'5
want money; she didn't want clothes,
for her father, with growing pride in
his pretty daughter, had made sundry
trips to ASheville and returned with
wonderful creations" Of white and
unwonted shoes ard stockings; but
she did want an education and to
grow up a lady.
The papers are now going the
ROUNDS OF the railway cf1oials, with
one favorable recon- nendation after
another, and it seems as though Ma
GIre's great wish is to be gratifed.
Taere is one serious obstacle In the
way, though 1t will probsbly be re-
movsd. Mamie has been married.
She had lover, Abe Smith, az
open faced, laughing, careless noun
taineer, eight years older than she.
Ia almost startling contradiction to
bis burly swagger and incessant ciga'
rette smoking is his gentle, caressing
voice and his courteous and kindly
manner. To this sturdy mountaineer
the realization that Mamie was going
to leave for years, probably and that
be might lose her. was unbearable.
He must marry her and prevent her
going. He sent friend to town to
get a marriage license. Then with
the friend for a witness and magis
srate for the ceremony be went to
Nannie's home one morning when he
knew her father was away and mar
rled her. Little could Mamie have
to say, for in the absence OF her father
she knew no Law except that OF her
impetuous lover.
The enraged father was quick to
action. He caused the arrest OF
Smith and tho man who had procured
the license OF tie ground that Mamie
was not Of legal age. He also began
suit to have the marriage set aside.
Upon the success Of this suit will de.
pend largely whether Mamie is to get
an education, the one great dream OF
her life.
-Four at a birth.
The Florence Daily Times says that
81. ? Brown, manager OF large ner-
Camille company at Gourdin, says that
hi. li++1a tor1 has haon hrOnpht into