Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-02
CATAPULTED TO SAFETY
Armored Cans for Protection of To-
connective Grew at Time of
Collision.
NOVEL IDEA FRESH FROM TEXAS

fireman jumped"
! The account Of virtually every rail
road wreck contains either ono OF the
other OF these statements The mental
struggles, all the more acute for their
brevity which Ito behind those state
ments are overshadowed by the maEni-
tude of what follows. Yet to the engine
man and fireman they often are the be-
ginning or the end OF oil things.
What man dare say that wher con-
fronted with the necessity Of making q
decision OF life and death Up a secoad 8
notice he will face death for his re-
sponsibilities or that no win throw duty
to tho winds and think only OF SAILING
himself?
The chances arc thnt training and in
stinct, as well as sonse of duty will keep
the engine crew at its post. yet many a
driver of the iron horse has gone to
his death by following his instinct when
conditions were such that sticking to his
post could not have prevented the acei-
dent and when he had a chance to jump
and save his life.
Comparatively few engineers ever are
called upon to make such snap decisions,
but as sure as the sun rises and sets a
certain number OF them are forced to
every year. and no man can say that he
will not be next when he takes his en-"
CINE from the roundhouse. 1t is use
less sacrifice Of two additional lives FOR
the crew to stick to the cab when the
accident cannot be avoided. 1t is likewise
a dereliction of duty for the two men
TO jump when. by sticking to their posts
they may avoid, or lessen. the serious
ness Of the accident.
The problem is worth solving. And 1t
has been solved by William A. UttE,
F't. Worth inventor.
How the Can Works.
The principle involved Is that of an
automatic bit OF mechanism which re-
lieves the engineman and fireman OF the
responsibility of making tho decision. In
the event of impending disaster the simple
pulling OF lever does everything that the
men could do by sticking to their posts,
and at the same time automatically and
insistance ply without necessitating
any further action. even the moving of a
muscle, on their part. provides them with
a better and safer method OF escape than
that Of jumping.
Danger appears ahead. Each or either
man pulls his lever. ana the mechanism
closes the throttle. applies the brakes
and sand, extinguishes the fire. then re-
verscs the engine. simultaneously the
engineman's and firemans seats drop be-
| low the level OF the cab floor. into heavy
steel cylinders. heavy lids drop over them
and lock. and the two men. neatly
canned" in padded receptacles. are
| thrown widc Of the tracks TO either side
| of the speeding engine.
! II makes no difference whether the
drums in which the men are tightly In
| closed fall into the water. or whether
an engine or a car falls on top of them
In the first case the drums float. In
the second they withstand the weight OF
are pushed aside
The airbrake drum on a locomotive
/ experiences has shown, Is never crushed
in wreck, and the man drums arr
seven times stronger than the air tanks
Under the Lid.
The apparatus is not bulky. and by for
tunate chance can be attached 10 thu
engine in a manner which does not II
the least Inconvenience its operation
The drum Is about three feet in diam
eter and five feet In length. 1t is line'
first with layer of springs and the'
with a layer Of pads. 1t Is attaches
vertically beneath the floor OF the cab
In which a hole has been cut the diam
eter of the cylinder The engineers seat
which is part of the apparatus, rests o.
a platform which fills this space. an
which falls 20 the bottom of the tank
carrying the seat and its occupant wit
Il by a tug on the emergency lever. In
side is a small oxygen tank. containin
sufficient gas for one man for twenty
four hours. and the falling Of the sea
and the changing down of the lid abov
, opens the vent OF this tank just enoug
, to allow the proper flow OF oxygen
refresh the air as 1t is used up In &C
; dition the occupant will find an eleS
. trio flash lamp and a life preserver 10
, use In case his drum has been throw
into the water. And there IL sma
, emergency medical outfit as well.
As the tank In released from It's fast
enings above the weight IL thrown
! two steel arms which extend diasonal'
/ downward and inward to their hinge
connection with the frame of the loc'
motive. As the weight falls. therefor
the outswing Of these arms throws u
\ tank wide from the engine.
Mr.. Uttz Is a practical railroad MAJ
and the value of his invention Is al
= pnrent when Il is known that II Is not
D mere theory. an invention on paper OF
that Il has been tried out repeatedly WV
u human occupants under as severe col
ditions as could be arranged. and eac
time with perfect success-Philadeiph
Racord