Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-04
YOUNG FIREMANIS
HERO OF A WRECK
Risks Own Life to Save That of
Engineer Flower Following
Crash.
ne is F6ARFULLY BURNED
Name 20 Be Proposed to Carnegie
Medal Commission by the
Passengers.

Because OF his courage and bravery
in a crisis. Linn Pease OF Savannah,
Ill, fireman on the Milwaukee engine
which crashed into Burlington train
No. Monday night, is hailed as the
hero OF the Pleasant Valley wreck At
the risk Of his own life. this quiet. IN
assuming youth who is scarcely out Of
his teens. dashed into the burning cab
and piled mail sacks around the IN
conscious form Of Engineer Flower.
who was pinned between the cab and
the reverse lever. making escape I'm
possible. Today his name IS familiar
word IN the railroad world. and pas
sengers as well as others interested,
have announced their intention Of at
tempting to secure for him Carne-
gle medal Negotiations will be in
augurated Immediately.
Engineer Caught
The story of Pease's heroism, as
related by trainmen and passengers.
IS one Of the most thrilling in his
tory.
On account Of the heavy fog neither
engineer saw the headlights OF the
oncoming engines. until the collision
was imminent. Engineer A. l. Flow
er. in the Milwaukee cab. shouted a
warEing 20 his fireman, Pease. and
then applied the brakes. The crash
5ammed Flower between the reverse
ever and a piece of the cab, making
escape impossible.
The red hot Goals IN the hrebox
we're dumped out and the wood work
0n the cab Immediately took fire
The entire structure was wrapped in
a swift rush OF steam. The engineer |
was caught like a rat in a trap. and /
- was but a matter OF seconds when I
death would come. either from steam 4
scalds or burns from the flaming wood 1
work.
Risks Life.
All around was inky blackness, and I
50 dense were the steam clouds, that .
It was impossible TO bring a torch /
within striking distance. the fame be
ing Immediately extinguished.
Passengers and trainmen stood I
around. seemingly powerless to save
the engineer from a terrible death.
II was at this juncture that Linn
Pease, the youthful fireman. arose TO
the occasion. while veterans who had II
passed through many similar exper-
fences. were ~ loss.
Rushing to the mail car, Pease Il
grabbed an armful OF mail sacks.
Returning to the cab, he plunged !,
into the maelstrom Of steam and Il
tame. and while undergoing the tor
lures OF the damned. piled the sacks 4
around the helpless form OF his cab L
mate. thus warding of the deadly
vapor which was rapidly cooking the
engineers limbs.
A second trip was made. and on
both occasions Pease was fearfully
scalded. But he had accomplished his
purpose. and the life Of the engineer
was saved. II
Passengers who witnessed the feat.
stated today that the fremau's act Of
herOism was magnificent. and they 1
were confident that Pease would be
awarded a Carnegie medal II
Conductor Grieves.
Although no official information has
been received. as to the disposition
10 be made IN the case OF Conductor :
Fred Shul OF the Burlington. the
trainmen believe that he will not lose
his position. ShUIi. IL will be re-
called. forgot 10 hand a set Of orders
TO his engineer. and this precipitated ,
the wreck
Shuil has been in the service "a
years and the mistake Of Monday