1908 - County Boys Save 200 Lives

[NW Mailing List]

Wow, What a great Article.

Until later,
Shawn

NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote: Roanoke Times - February 29, 1908

COUNTY BOYS SAVE 200 LIVES

Charles and Ira Peters Flag Swift N. & W. Passenger Train on the Brink

PEOPLE RIDING TO DOOM LIVE TO TELL THE TALE

Roanoke County Lads Discover Gap in Rail West of City, Run for 
Lantern, and Stop Onrushing Engine That's Pulling Load of Human 
Freight Into Death-Trap -- Heroes Cheered

   Quick, impatient, angry shrieks from the whistle first startled 
the two hundred odd passengers aboard train No. 2, of the Norfolk and 
Western railroad, as the descent of a long, straight grade, seven and 
a half miles west of Roanoke, was being made in the gathering 
darkness last evening; the settings of brakes followed in twenty 
seconds; then grinding, crounching, the heavy train was brought to a 
standstill just a half a yard from a broken rail, and ten paces from 
little Charles and Ira Peters, the two country youngsters who 
signaled the engineer and probably saved the lives of passengers and crew.
   When the passengers, most of whom had scrambled out of the 
coaches, learned what had happened, the boys at once became the 
heroes of the hour; the word was passed that both passengers and road 
should make up a purse for the youngsters; and wildest cheers in 
their honor rent the air. Promises were made to send the boys money 
as soon as the passengers could reach their bank accounts, and it is 
rumored that the Norfolk and Western railroad may "chip in" to swell 
the purse worth-having size.

Going to Find Cows

   It was in the most incidental manner that the boys discovered the 
defective rail. They live on the farm of a Mrs. Morgan, seven and a 
half miles from this city, and were crossing the track in search of their cows.
   By accident they reached the exact sport where the rail, supposed 
to have been broken by the caboose of a passing freight train, lay 
shattered in half a dozen pieces, leaving a broad gap of fourteen 
inches as a snare for the drivers of the next passing engine and train.
   Thoughts of the approach of No. 2 passenger train flashed through 
their minds at the same time, and both, for the second were aghast as 
realization of what might happen flashed over them. They turned their 
pale faces toward each other, and, for an instant, stood paralyzed.

Ran for Lantern

   "Run, Charlie! Run, boy! to the house for a lantern," yelled Ira. 
"Fly! I'll stay and try to stop the train if it comes before you get back."
   Charles turned and flew away in the direction of the house, and he 
declares that he has never made such fast time in all his life. 
Fortunately, No. 2 was late.
   Meantime Ira, waiting at the track, divested himself of a garment, 
which he intended to signal with, in the event the train came before 
his brother returned. he had not much hope that it would attract 
attention in the gathering gloom, however, for he knew that No. 2, 
late or on time strikes a sixty-miles-an-hour clip down this grade, 
and that she couldn't be stopped in the length of her headlight's 
rays when running at such terrific speed.

Which Light Will Win?

   Turning, in the far distance, the gleam of a speck of light caught 
Ira's eye. The train was coming. Looking in the direction of his 
home, he saw another light, swinging wildly, as if it were being 
carried by one running at top speed.
   Breathlessly, with tense nerves, in almost a frenzy of anxiety, 
the youngster stood on the track, gazing fast at one light, then at 
the other. The big electric headlight seemed to be rushing ahead at a 
wonderful speed, but the swinging lantern, in the hands of his sturdy 
brother, was also fast approaching. Charlie, almost exhausted from 
his terrific run, as last reached the track, and with an effort 
thrust forward the lantern to this brother.

That "Giant Swing"

  It wasn't a time to think of the regulation railroad signals. The 
youngster stood in the middle of the track and made that light turn 
backwards somersaults, "giant swings" and dangerous "flips." The 
sharp, angry, insistent "tots" from the on rushing engine did not 
daunt him. He stood his ground and continued his wild signaling.
   Then came two sharp, clear blasts from the engine. Ira knew what 
this meant. It was engine talk for "We understand," and railroad talk 
for "Brakes.". And with sparks flying from beneath her drivers, the 
big iron monster with her long train of cars heavily laden with human 
beings came to halt, just on the brink of disaster.
   The engineer of No. 2 was the first to clamber to the ground from 
his side of the cab. He saw the two boys.

"The Rail Busted."

   "Well, what's the trouble?" he asked, gruffly.
   "Mister, the rails busted." spoke up one of the boys, feeling, 
probably, rather awe-stricken at having stopped the passenger train.
   "Well, I'll be hanged!"
   This was all the engineer of No. 2 said right then, but he clapped 
both boys over the shoulders in a grateful manner and turned towards 
a passenger who had just dropped from one of the cars. The passenger 
happened to be Capt. Foley, road foreman.
   In fifteen minutes, by the use of a wooden "dutchman," Capt. Foley 
had the train of cars in motion. During this fifteen minutes the two 
small boys were the center of attraction. They were showered with 
blessings, their names and addresses taken by many passengers, and, 
it is declared by those who were aboard the train, they are perfectly 
certain to be materially thanked for the service which they had 
rendered the road and that particular load of two hundred passengers, 
within the next few days.

-----------------------------------

- Ron Davis, Roger Link




________________________________________
NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
To change your subscription go to
http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/


       
---------------------------------
Never miss a thing.   Make Yahoo your homepage.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20080229/9a1652f0/attachment-0001.html>