Show A LEAP AND A how a tramp saved n and extra wallace west bound reached emerson at 10 p m june ac 1878 in switching out a car the forward brakeman was badly injured that wo left him for surgical treatment I 1 was braking behind from emerson to 13 miles ie up grade and as conductor callaco had gone over to the angino I 1 was left albao on tho rear the moon shone brightly and I 1 noticed a number of tramps riding out on top we had almost reached the summit and tho night express was only 16 minutes behind us when suddenly tho speed slackened tho caboose two cars of telegraph poles and three of broken off I 1 waa standing on tho load of poles and started for a brako when ono of the poles became loosened from its position and rolled on my foot I 1 struggled desperately to free myself lor tho cara bad started backward I 1 thought of the express with her cargo of precious lives and struggled again I 1 seemed to hear the crash the shrieks and groans of tho dying the curses and prayers minutes were yeara and I 1 grew old in the awful suspense then I 1 hoard a whistle and saw our front end following down tho hill on the leading car the conductor was swinging a back up signal while the whistle blew a wild warning for no 7 faster and faster spun the wheels and slowly but surely was the runaway overtaken I 1 hold my breath only 20 A form shot out over the chasm swung in clear relief for an instant against the sky and then dropped safely on board the car of cinders at the same moment the conductor gave a stop signal and the gap widened well timed it was for given a second sooner and the leap would have been impossible later and a collision unavoidable in a short time every brake was set and as we slowed down I 1 shrieked frantically ti flag no 71 take a red light and flag the express 1 understood and obeyed without a word fortunately or providentially they were late and ho got back far enough to stop them I 1 was unconscious when at last released my foot was badly crushed and it was many weeks before I 1 was again able to report for duty As for our hero he proved to be ono of the tramps I 1 had noticed and had volunteered for bis dangerous task when tho superintendent who was on no 7 learned tho circumstances he offered him a position as brakeman promising him advancement as he proved his ability that was the beginning today he is a prominent general manager and his name is a recognized power in tho railroad world chicago record |