Evening star., 1942-09-25
Ohioon, n, En- Route to Join
Army, Hero of Train Wreck
Three Diekerson Residents Also Helped
Greatly in Rescue Work

Tales Of heroism were being re-
peated today in the wake OF the
train wreck at Dickerson, Nd, yes
terday.
Ernest Henning. n. Of Cleveland,
on his way to join the Army here,
was acclaimed by passengers for his
daring in forcing his way into q
burning car twice to rescue pas
sengers. But there were others
whose action was prAised-among
them three residents Of Dickerson.
Three Dickerson residents also
played heroic roles after the crash.
The alert action OF John s. Hedges,
~, and Adrain Wandus, rs, In all
probability prevented, the Capitol
Limited, crack express from Chicago,
from crashing into the flaming
wreckage of three trains that piled
death In Dickerson's backyard.
And Paul Stream, Is, Is credited
with assisting ut least mine injured
persons from the wreckage just be-
fore 1t burst into flames.
Young Hedges and Wandrus, Bal
timore IL Ohio Railroad bridge
policemen, were west Of the crash
scene changing shifts with two other
officers when the Ambassador sped
by toward Washington.
"A split second later We heard the
engineer Of the Cleveland Express.
which had passed minutes ahead
Of the Ambassador, blow In his
nag" Hedges said.
THAT meant that the Cleveland
train had been held up by . red
target just outside Of Dickerson and
was just getting clearance. It was
so foggy that when she passed We
just took 1t for granted that she had
a clear way.
I'VE knew that with the Am
bassador travelling at her regular
speed it was going to be a close call
or a crash. And q half minute later
a loud rumble rolled out Of the fog.
We knew that the trains had
rammed."
Stopped Capitol Limited.
Paul E. Hiskle, Dickerson, and
John I. Beech, Frederick, who were
to relieve Mr.. Hedges and Mr..
Wandrus, ran up the track to the
wreck.
1--WE knew that the Capitol would
be coming through in about half
hour so Adrian and I hurried up the
tracks to stop her" Mr.. Hedges said.
She was travelling at reduced speed
and the engineer saw our warning
and brought her to stop a quar-
ter mile from the wreck-piled
gorge" Mr.. Hedges stated.
Just outside of Dickerson, young
Stream, a B. g. o. brakeman. was
working at toolshed when the
trains crashed 200 yards up the
track.
There were about six of u.s. he
said. up the tracks we could see
wrecked cars crammed into the high
cut. We could hear the injured hol-
lering and as we ran up to the scene
some men were crawling from shat
tered windows.
Big steel pipes had piled onto
one OF the cars and we could see
people trapped underneath. We
were afraid there would be fire so
we hurried in and carried nine to
safety before the flames burst sud
denly and covered the rest OF the
passengers"
Rescuers Help Clear Tracks.
Young Stream said that he and
the others worked their way along
the cars helping men and women
from windows to safety. Pretty
soon some soldiers came down from
the other end OF the train and gave
us hand"
AS soon as the rescue work was
finished, young Stream with his
trackman crew jumped into the job
Of helping to clear the right of way.
And "a hours later he was still on
the job.
Vincent K. Smith of Gates Mills,
Ohio, was credited with saving the
life of James M. Straub, president
of the Fort Pitt Bridge Works in
Pittsburgh, fellow passenger on
the rear Pullman.
Mr.. Smith denied being a hero,
but Mr.. Straub credited him with
saving his life despite fractured
rib and chest injuries that Mr.
Smith suffered in the crash.
Both men, who were en- route
to Washington to discuss war con-
tracts. were removed to the Fred
erick Hospital. Attendants at the
hospital said they would recover.
The rescue was effected after Mr..
Smith had fallen from his upper
berth In the crash. As he was at
tempting to get out Of the wreckage
hA haa I'd Mr. Sfraiih - llilas foR hnlra