The Glenwood post., 1907-10-05
HERo|sM OF A
RAILWAY man
Rio Grande Train is Saved
by a Courageous
Young Man
PASSENGERS GRATEFUL

Switchman Chanucey Green of Grand
Junction is the hero of the day in that
city. Friday night, alone and unaided,
he stopped four runaway freight cars
and saved Rio Grande train No. 6,
which was well filed with passengers,
from destruction. He rode the run
away cars a distance of three miles to
Bovina. He is fortunately possessed of
considerable strength, but he was com
pletely exhausted by his efforts. The
story of the thrilling adventure is given
as follows by the Grand Junction
News:
Leaving his sweetheart, whom he was
escorting to the ball at the auditorium
and leaping upon string of four run
away freight ears that had broken out
of the yards and were rushing along
the main line in the face of D. & R. G..
passenger train No. 6, loaded with pas
sengers, Chauncey Green, switchman,
rode the swiftly moving cars three
miles to Bovina, fought an almost SUI
perhuman struggle with n single hand
brake, stopped the ears and tagged the
heavily laden passenger train and pre-
vented a wreck Friday night.
1t was only the quickness and cour-
age of Green that saved the east bound
train and its human cargo from an al
most certain disastrous wreck. Green
was accompanied by a young woman
and was walking from the Crawford
addition into the city to attend a dance.
While crossing Main street he noticed
" string of freight ears that had appar-
emily broken away from the remainder
Of the train, rushing along the track
and gaining momentum at each turn of
the wheels. His first imuplse was to
ontinue on his way and allow the train
run its course, until the fact of num-
Der six being nearly due at the point
flashed across his mind. In moment
he had dashed from the side of the
young woman, leaped on the last ear
aud started on his Wild flight for the
safety of the oncoming train.
The first three brakes that his hands
encountered refused to work and as he
strained and tuggcd Mt them, fears for
The safety of the passenger train added
strength to his work. For three long
miles, clothed in evening attire, Green
fought terrible battle with the run
away train. The iron brake-wheel tore
al IN frn sl,r 10 l,,E ,1nl
md his head throbbed as he fought to
malt the ears in their mad flight. Slow
y the ears ceased their mad run at
Rovina and he finally brought them to
stop.
Almost exhausted from the terrible
struggl lie he had made, Green sprang
from the first car, tore a signal lamp
from its fastenings and ran up the
track to flag No. 6. There was but
moment to spare Already the distant
rumblngs of the flying train reached
MS ears as he stumbled along the track
waving his signal light. Before he had
covered a hundred yards the passenger
rain, her engineer crowding on every
pound of air, halted while frightened
passengers peered from the coaches and
the crew leaped to the ground to ascer-
'ain the cause of the flag.
In few painting words Green told
he reason for his actions Trainmen
.hanked him for his brave work and
hose passengers who had left the train
to look into the trouble crowded around
him, overwhelming him with congratu-
'ations. The first car on the runaway
string was loaded to capacity with gas
pipe and would have plowed through
'he passenger train like so much paste
board. The engine of the passenger
train showed the cars back to the yards.
Green modestly disclaimed any reward
for his brave night S work. He was at
one time n switchman in Texas and is
on the list of those "blackballed. - The
trouble has prevented him from enter
ing the employ of the railroads again
and he has followed other occupations
since living in Grand Junction.
Jake Moss was conductor of the pas
senger train.
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