Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-20
W. E. Gearheart, Formerly
Agent of c. G. W. at Mel
bourne, Receives $4,000
SAVED WOMAN AND DAUGHTER
From Death in Front Of Train at Mel
bourne - C. c. Thompson, Chicago
Banker, Who Recently Died, Be-
queaths Gearhart This Amount -
Now Milwaukee Agent at Madrid.

Never forgetting an act of heroism
bourne. in this county, G. c. Thomp-
son, Chicago banker and real es-
tate man, who died little over two
months ago. has bequeathed by his
will the sum of $4,000 to w. E. Gear
hart, formerly night operator of the
Great Western at Melbourne, now
agent of the Milwaukee at Madrid.
Boone county, because Gearhart saved
the lives OF Thompsons wife and
daughter.
Mr.. Gearhart has just received news
Of his good fortune in a letter from a
Chicago attorney who is in charge OF
MIR. Thompson's business affairs. MI
Gearhart had forgotten the incident OF
pulling Mrs. Thompson and daughter
from in front of q train, and was
greatly surprised to find that 1t mad
been remembered these many years by
the husband and father.
Story Of the Rescue.
In 1889 Mr.. Gearhart was night OPP
orator at Melbourne. Mrs. Thomp-
son and her daughter were on their
way to Kansas City on a Great West
ern night train, and before the train
reached Melbourne Gearhart took "a
message to Mrs. Thompson, asking her
to return home at once, as her broth
or was very low, and to take the Mill
waukee east to Melbourne, where she
would leave the Great Western. The
telegram was delivered by Gearhart to
Mrs. Thompson when the c. G. W..
train pulled into Melbourne. The wo-
man was dazed by the unexpected
message, and, as she stood reading 1t.
failed to notice that a freight train
was backing in on passing track
Woman and Daughter Both on Track.
Mrs. Thompson and her daughter
were both on the passing track. Gear
hart noticed their danger and ran to
them. There was no one on the ca
boose to give a warning. Gearhart
sprang to Mrs. Thompson's side and
pulled her out of the way of danger.
At the same time he made grab for
the daughter, but her clothes being
light his hold was loosened. The way
canvas almost upon herga Gearhart
made another effort to get hold Of the
girl. He succeeded just in the nick Of
time. So close was the girl to the
train that small grip that she car
ried was cut in two by the wheels al
most in her hands. Gearhart himself
narrowly escaped death, or at least Sc
rious injury, and was struck by. the
caboose steps as the car passed, sus-
tanning an ugly cut on the forehead.
Thompson Estate Valuable.
The Thompson estate, which will be
settled in August, is a large one, and
is valued at 100000. Mrs. Thompson
died about five years ago, and there
are but three heirs. Thompsonss son
and daughter and Mr.. Gearhart. The
daughter, whose life Gearhart saved
as a girl, is now married and has a
family. The son is also married Mr..
Thompson was for years in the. lum-
Der business near Duluth, and owned
considerable we mining stock. In
later years hi emoved to Chicago and
engaged in banking and real estate
Mr.. Gearhart, at the time the Mel
bourne incident occurred, was young
in the railroad business. He is now a
man close to SO, and has been success
full. owns a nice farm in Jasper
cot near Ira, where he was reared
He ha. two brothers living at Ira. He
was at one time agent at Ira, and for
several years was night operator at
Baxter.