The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-12-28
ENGINEER SAVES
PASSENGERS WHEN
TRAINS COLLIDE
James Meigan Stops Train and
Selects Place for Switch
Engine to Strike.
Risks His Own Safety to Pro-
tect Those in His Care.
sMAsH-UP AT THE CROSSING
sMAsH-UP AT THE CROSSING

Many passengers were saved from
death or serious injury yesterday
morning by the GOODNESS of Engineer
lanes Meigan. when Illinois Central
switch engine. lS2, crashed into tho
nail car of the morning train Of the
Nashville, Chattanooga & st. Louis
railroad at the crossing of the ILL
nois Central railroad at the Union
station. Instead of trying to make
the crossing and taking the risk OF
the engine crashing into the passen-
ger coaches Engineer Meigan stopped
his engine and put his own life in
danger and never deserted his cab.
Two cars were knocked from the
track but no one was hurt and the
damage was not heavy. The train
was delayed two and a half hours
and did not leave for Memphis until
10:30 O'Clock.
After the passenger train left the
Union station. it stopped and gave
the blasts required by law before
crossing a railroad track, witnesses
say. Just as the train started across
the tracks switch engine 1872, in
charge of Engineer Lloyd, started up
the Illinois Central tracks with
special baggage car to attach to train
No. 1872. He says he did not see the
approaching passenger train AMI had
too great Roadway TO stop. Enginee,
Meigan was crossing the Illinois Cen
trail tracks and he saw the danger.
He could have gotten the mail and
baggage cars across the tracks in
safety, but the lives OF the passen-
gers would have been endangered,
and he applied the air brakes quickly
land brought his train to a stanistill.
Seeing that II was impossible TO
Iavoid the collision, as Engineer Lloyd
lcould not check his engine, Engineer
Meigan slowly pulled his engine out
of danger and allowed the switch
lengine to strike the coupling be-
tween the mail car and the tender
The coupling was broken loose and
the mail and baggage cars were
swung around up the Illinois Central
tracks. The mail clerks jumped. but
we're not injured. The cars were
Ishaken up and could not finish the
trip. The Nashville, Chattanooga q
st. Louis engine was not damaged
and pulled the train on to Memphis.
Many passengers were in the
coaches owing to many people going
away after Christmas, but no panic
ensued. Until several minutes after
the collision many of the passengers
did not know that there had been an
accident. The switch engine hit the
train while running at a speed OF
about eight miles an hour, but the
passengers say there was no jar.
Engineer Meigan is the oldest en-
gineer in the service of the Nash
vile, Chattanooga & st. Louis ran
road, and he was congratulated by
all of the railroad officials on his re-
markable GOODNESS in saving the lives
of the passengers and in protecting
the property OF the railroad. He
lives at 1000 South Fourth street.
The Illinois Central wrecker picked
up the coaches and replaced them ON
| the rails. The track was not torn
lup, but the accommodation of the
Illinois Contra railroad was delayed
until $3.50 O'Clock yesterday morning
before leaving for Louisville OWNS
to the wreck.