Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-31
FRIENDS INSIST ON
CARNEGIE HERO MEDAL,
Child Had Been Struck by
Engine Bar and Was
Facing Tragic Death
When Rescued
From Wednesdays Daily.
eugene Dennis, hero.


While anagonized mother wrung
her hands and shrieked as she saw
her 3-year-old daughter fall in
front of train being switched In
the Burlington yards at the Vine
street crossing late yesterday aft
ernoon. her mothers heart leaped
with joy as she saw man leap in
front of the approaching cars,
grasp the child by the clothing,
just q revolution before the wheels
struck the PROSTATE infants form
and then jump back to safety on
the other side of the track. The
= baby, Ruin, was placed In the
arms of the mother, Mrs. H. Il.
Bolich of Cherry street, and Dem
mis- proceeded about his duties as
yard clerk.
Ire railroad men are insistent
that the brave deed shall be placed
before the Carnegie hero medal
commission, that a medal may be
voted to Eugene Dennis.
If saving a child from certain death
at the risk of his own life, counts for
anything in hero records, Eugene Den.
mis-. 723 West Second street, car cneck.
er of the local Burlington yards. is en-.
titled to one of the Carnegie medals
for bravery. Yesterday afternoon his
cool head and prompt action saved
Little Ruth Bolich from horrible
death, when he plucked her from un-
der the very trucks of an oncoming
freight train on the Vine street Bur-
lington crossing.
Ran Across the Tracks.
The little girl is the daughter Of Mr..
and Mrs. H. E. Bolich of Cherry street.
Ars. Bolich and Mrs. Clark Richards,
2l7 South Ash street, accompanied by
Mrs. Bolich's daughter, Ruth, years
of age, and the two little children Of
Mrs. Richards, were crossing the
tracks on South Vine street when the
accident happened. Burlington freight
train No. 70 was being made up in the
yards. moving back and forth over the
crossing to cut out bad order box
car. The engine was near the Rock
Island freight house. The two women
and the children were standing near
the track waiting for a chance to get
across. The train backed up rapidly in
order to make flying switch, kick
Ing the rear cars onto a side track.
After the connection was broken, the
train carried by it's momentum ap.
preached en- the main track. though at
a slower rate of speed.
Child is Knocked Down.
The break in the train occur.
just in the middle Of the sidewalk. AS
soon as the gap widened, Mrs. Bolich
sprang across the track between the
cars and the three children followed
her. The two Richards children got
over safely. but the draw bar of the on
coming train struck the Bolich child
in the head lightly and pushed her
over in front Of the train. Probably
ten or twelve other people were stand
ing on the crossing waiting for a
chance to pass. Among these was
Eugene, who was engoged in checking
the cars before the train left.
Dennis Follows the Child.
Dennis was the onl. one in the
gathering that grasped the situation in
time to act. Quicker than thought and
before the crowd of onlookers realized
what had happened, he leaped in front
of the car, leaned clear in under the
oncoming truck and raised the girl
from the ground barely in time to
save her from being struck and crush
ed by the heavy break beams, then
jumped in time to save his own life.
With the child in one hand he reached
up and grabbed the lower steps OF the
car ladder, braced himself and jump.
ed to safety One slip on the Icy
crossing and all would have been
over for both.
Goes on With HIS Work.
The young man handed the child
to its paralyzed mother and went Gn
down the line Of cars, checking them
as nonchalantly as though nothing had
happened It was some little time
before the crowd Of excited onlookers
realized what had happened and by
that time Dennis was far up the line,
coolly taking down the numbers of
the cars. Few have heard of the deed,
and fewer still know the circum-
stances of the brave act, but for the
prompt action when prompt actions
were most needed Of Gene Dennis,
sorrow would reign IN one family at
least today, and one more name would
be added to the LIST of railroad deaths,
Z ~