New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-24

Mankind NAV be divided into two classes
those who have had narrow escapes from
death and those who have not had them.
In order to test this dictum Of latter-day
philosopher, a Tribune investigator was
sent out recently among men OF all profess
sions and occupations. All narrow or mar
rowest escapes were 70 be culled, with the
exception of automobile accidents, which
have become rather common. Besides the
interesting concrete examples obtained
there were realized large number OF
scientific data worthy Of consideration by
professors OF psychology and students OF
the phenomena Of chance. 1t appeared Tor
example, that narrow escape men" are
bound 10 have narrow escapes, regardless
OF their calling. though modified by their
addiction TO sports and outdoor activities
Men OF the other kind never have any
thing happen to them, despite all their
rooing OF peril. Fate will not even permit
them 70 drink out of the wrong medicine
bottle at night. while It heaps hazards on
the heads of their neighbors. Members OF
one group of judges, bankers, statesmen
and detectives are the pets OF danger; an
other set IN exactly similar circumstances
look back upon colorless, uneventful ca
reers. The men who have had perilous ad-
ventures are glad they have had them and
are generally quite willing to tell about
them. The others pretend they are thank
ful for their good fortune. but they secret
~ envy the narrow escape class.
without encroaching further on field
which will doubtless be cultivated by the
savans OF two continents, here are some
of the concrete instances gathered by The
TribUne's investigator:
81 don't know whether my railroad or
my hunting adventure was the narrower
escape" said Collector Loeb. sitting at his
desk in the Custom House. so will give
you both About three years ago 1 was
going West on the Northern Pacific Rail
read, bound for a hunting trip in Yellow
stone Park. It was early one foggy
morning, about o'clock. and was sit
ting alone in the rear Of the observation
car. reading a book. / had no business 10
be up so early, but there was. Further
more. had / known that the second sec
ton of our train, with Sousa's band
aboard, was Just a few moments behind
sn that fog, would not have been sitting
in the rear OF the observation car. OBJ
nvious Of danger, I read my book, and
perhaps devoted passing thought to
breakfast due to my abnormally early
rising I did not notice that the clicks
Of our wheels were frightening and that
our train was slowing down. In fact,
our engine had gone dead and from
thirty miles an hour or so We were COM
sng 10 a full stop. Suddenly e woman
shrieked. Look al that train" She had
been sitting ahead Of me, and she dust
ed up toward the front end OF the car. I
looked back There was a monster cow
catcher. headlight and smokestack loom
ing out OF the fog not more than rod
away. I did not have time to run or to
think Of my sins. Instinctively grabbed
D steel post alongside my seat. The engine
came on, ploughed into US and smashed
snd crumbled the steel platform OF the
observation car within q few inches Of
my position. The Jar and noise were ter
rife It was worse than Sousa's band
Eehearsing an earthquake symphony II
our car had not been all steel that en-
CINE would have gone straight through
g. Naturally I felt little bit stirred UP
after this, even when I found myself
physically uninjured It Helped to re-
store my equilibrium when I heard the
woman who had run away. leaving her
husband, return and exclaim: George, I
forgot all about you
The other thing happened when we were
going horseback on a precipitous hunting
trail in the Yellowstone l had a horse
that was extra sure-footed and able to