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Show ENGINE BRENNAK FACES DEATH, BUT, BRINGS TRAIN TO A STANDSTILL SAFELY BBBB1 SSSJBSMSBBBBI H SBBSS.asSBBBBBBBBB.SBMB.SBSSSSBSJ.BasSSBBSSBBB . With the Side Rod Crashing Through Cab, Brave Short Line Employee Nobly Performs Per-forms His Duty. Train No. 4 on the Oregon Short Line, due here at 5:15 this morning, was saved from probable wreck this morning morn-ing through the heroism of Engineer Andrew J. Brennan. While the train was running at a high rate of speed the side rod on the right side of the big engine broke as the train was pounding through Wood's Crossing on its way from Ogden to points north. Bod Smashed Cab. The big rod at the first revolution demolished de-molished the whole side of the engineer's en-gineer's cab on which the driver sat with his hand on the throttle. He was stunned and thrown to the floor ot me cab. As the piston rod was whirled around through space at the frightful velocity It was traveling it tore through the engine en-gine cab time and again, tearing It to ribbons, as though made of cardboard. As It struck the roadbed it ripped up the ties as though they were' made of paper. The e-.glne still rushed madly on. drlverless, through the force of the left rod. which was intact. The train lurched as the rod struck the roadbed with each revolution. It seemed as if a wreck was Inevitable. Engineer Knew Duty. As the engineer recovered his senses he intuitively brought himself to his feet. Though half unconscious from the blow he had received, he still knew . his duty. No man was ever braver in the face of what seemed certain death. Amid the steam and crash and -crunch of the flying piston he groped his way to his controlling lever. As he did so the piston crashed again Into the cab. It Just grazed him. but it was enough to hurl him across the cab. He again gathered himself and crawled back through the smoke and steam. This time he reached the throttle. ' With a superhuman effort in his weakened weak-ened condition he shut off the steam. As he did so the flying rod again struck him. On his hands and knees he pulled himself to the air brakes. He managed to apply these and the train came to a sudden halt. As the train stopped with a Jerk Engineer Brennan fell into a faint through weakness of his hurts. . The passengers piled from the cars and ran to the engine. Stimulants were applied and Brennan was soon revived. He has a bad cut on his leg and at first It was thought it had been broken. Around where his side of the cab had been was blood from the cuts he-had received each time the piston struck him. Tracks Torn Up. All this occurred in a brief period. The track, however, was torn up for a considerable distance, arid more than fifty heavy ties cut off as though with a cleaver. . . The engine was unable to be moved. The train was stalled. Telegrams were sent north and south warning the other trains of the situation. A new engine was fired and rushed from the yards here. It was more than two hours and a half before the train could be pulled into the station and the badly wrecked " engine fixed so it could be taken to the shops. Engineer Brennan refused to be , taken to the hospital and his wounds were dressed as best they could. Upon arrival In Salt Lake he was removed to his home at No. 176 North Sixth West street. Passengers Praise Brennan. The passengers were loud in their praises of Brennan's valor. He took his compliments modestly and endeavored to hide away from the compliments given him. "I did only what anyone else would have done." he said. "What is an engineer en-gineer for? I am hired. to guard the passengers and train. I thought only of them. If I hadn't been struck I would have been able to have stopped the train before. I am sorry they were shook up so, and frightened. I did the best I knew under the circumstances. Ill be able to go out on my run in a few days. It's nothing much." , The officials of the Oregon Short Line also commended Brennan. He Is well known in railroad circles and is looked upon as one of the best drivers in the service. His action of today shows the rating is none too high. The break was caused by no mismanagement misman-agement of any sort or nature. It was one of those unavoidable and unlocked for accidents that might occur anywhere any-where and on any road. No amount of Inspection can foretell such an accident. acci-dent. But if such accidents must or- cur it Is mighty good to have a "man ahead" like Engineer Brennan. |
