New-York tribune., 1907-08-18
SAVE HUMAN LIFE.

T. -ba v--acl ha a passenger train. then the
greatest possible care must he taken. though just
as much haste as possible is necessary Nothing IS
more terrible than one Of these wrecks: and they
are things that even the veteran wrecker cannot
entirely accuston himself TO- "fcu can get used
- working iav and night said one OF these 10
A. ForlsT- ,-,.. can get used 20 living half of
bad Geld meal. and you can get used 10 freezing
ana getting soaked the skin. but what you never
get used is seeing things all stove in ana nat
tened when you pull them out from under the
heaps I've handled EN- SO you wouldn't hardy
knuz what IL was you were looking at and I've
handled -enl 50 mashed and smashed that YOU
rn,,l6r-r know where 10 catch hold first Those
sre the things that come to you nights, and I've
seer whole crew turn away from grub aIter q
mussy sob ike that
seor gre faxed 10 the uttermost. the brunt Of the
work falls on the humble wreclIer- Above an
save hs1man lifet'' is his unwritten order. and
''drippur with blood. cool-headed and steady amid
excitement and shambles that would unnerve the
.ssronCest the wrecker performs the most grew
seTne rar5 of the work. often risking ms HE 10
save others
Here in a time when not moment is 10 be lost,
erery man IN the crew knows exactly what he IS
&c DO and how he is 10 do It Women and children
always cared for first. and swiftly and skill
fully victim after another IS raised and borne
on stretchers the hospital car with the care OF
q Red Cross nurse battlefield.
Here while the Stretcher men are at Work,
savs the writer the rescue detail chops and
saws and heprs and prizes IFS way, smashing
through the wreckage. crawling beneath tottering
axe might bring tons Of oak and steel crashing
down upon hem. Sometimes for hours this Work
soes the naen dragging forth wounded with
hanched- set faces. fighting down their natural
aversion 70 the dreadful scene. Now and then
rrecker Is overcome and has 70 quit his job. but
Soon ne IS back again. swinging axe or sledge and
attacking madly wherever he hears a groan or
cry from beneath the mass"
The real work Of the wTecker begins, though
when The last body has been removed Hawsers
are piled about heaps nf wreckage house high
hooks and chains made fast, and then with
warning Toot. the engine starts forward, and
amid crunching and splinterng, a great pile OF
NE wrecksge is thrown into the ditch beside the
track or cast into an adjoining field. What the
:oeomoive cannot move the great crane lifts and,
4 " Is easier TO move out Of the way than save.
costly furniture glassware. art pieces. freight
cars, Pullman diners sleepers, are piled along
hoe the track, a barrel Of kerosene rolled out of
lne working car and in a few hours every trace
q ne wreck is removed from the eyes OF those
vac pass the spot later in the day That is
',e way these do their work. thoroughly and
tifnost desperately. for the schedule of the road
shd appearances before the public are things
. q be considered next 20 saving human life and
iAe- Then. when their work is at last accom-
iisned, they return. tired and worn out some OF
men men cut and badly injured. TO their own car
Tsfe after paTtakng Of the first food tasted
aHoe t'ley started work the wreck. they turn
- lo take their well earned slumber, awakening
'me hours later again TO become a part of the
seuar sfe around the railroad yard until the next
"iecg signal IS sounded