Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-27
SAVES DRUNK At
COST BOTH LEGS
P. E. Conductor May Die from
Protecting intoxicated
Passengers Life
WIFE AND CHILDREN IN WANT
0stroW Tries to Prevent Man
Jumping from Moving Car;
Pushed Under Wheels
WIFE AND CHILDREN IN WANT

While struggling desperately with a
drunken man whose life he was trying
to save by preventing him from leap
ing from a moving Pacific electric car
at Avenue 81 and Pasadena avenue
early yesterday morning, Joseph Os-
troW, 50 years old, a conductor living
at 800 Avenue So, was pushed from the
car and fell beneath the wheels Both
legs were severed just below the knees
He incurred probable internal injuries
and may die as the result. He has a
wife and six children dependent on him
They practically are penniless The
drunken man was unhurt and hurried
away after the accident.
Ostfow was in charge of car No. 452
He alighted at the railroad crossing at
Avenue 81 and Pasadena avenue and
ran ahead to flag across the inteFsect-
ing tracks. He found the line clear
and gave the motorman the signal to
go ahead. AS the car started forward
and gained speed Ostrow, who intended
to swing on the rear platform, saw a
man on the front platform stagger for
ward to the steps and attempting to
alight Realizing that it was risky
thing for even a sober man to attempt,
and believing that 1t meant certain
death for the drunken man if the lat
ter leaped from the moving car, Ost-
row, without considering his own dam
ger, swung aboard the front platform
and pushed the man back,
The inebriate, his brain too muddled
with drink to realize his own danger
and appreciate the action of the con-
ductor, again attempted to get off the
car, and grappled with Ostrow, who
had been unable to get in off the steps.
The conductor struggled desperately in
an effort to push the man into the car
and get in himself, but the strength OF
the passenger was too great for the
street car man to combat successfully.
He finally was forced to loosen his grip
on the handrails. and fell with the
heavier man on top Of him.
THE DRUNKARD's LUCK
Ostrow was thrown under the car,
but the other man rolled away from
TIE track to safety and was unin-
jured.
Motorman Penden, busily engaged in
operating the car, was unaware of the
fierce struggle that was being waged
near him, and ii was not until the
men rolled from the steps that he re-
allied his fellow worker was in danger.
Penden brought the car to a STOP re-
versed the power and went back to
where Ostrow had fallen. He found
that the conductor was in critical
condition, both legs having been sew
cred The motorman hurriedly placed
improvised tourniquets above the man
gled legs, placed the injured man on
board and made a quick trip to the
county hospital.
Ostrow was placed under an anaes-
thetic and both legs were amputated at
the knees
The pathetic side of the case was not
learned until the wife of the brave con-
ductor and their six children appeared
at the county hospital and begged the
physicians to save his life. IT was
learned that the family are practically
penniless, the salary of the street car
man being barely enough for their sup
port
The wife and children have no means
of support other than the wages earned
by the husband and father, and now
that he is unable to work and probably
will die as the result of his brave deed
in saving the life of man who prob
ably has no one to support and would
not if it became necessary.
Late last night the attendants at the
county hospital reported Ostrdw to be
resting easily. but say he may die as
the result of his injuries, as he proba
bly, is injured internally.
Friends of the unfortunate conductor
probably will take immediate action
and provide for the immediate wants of
his family until other arrangements
can be made.