In one of the largest cities of the United States there is a trolley-car line that crosses the tracks of a steam railroad. The usual rail gates guard the crossing when trains are passing, but accidents have happened there in spite of such precautions. Not long ago what would have been a fearful catastrophe was narrowly averted by the presence of mind of a little newsboy who sold papers at the station near the crossing. A witness of the scene related the story to me. As in all cases of such nature the facts are suppressed by the railroad companies, and it is hard to obtain even the meagre details.
It was early in the morning, and a car with about twenty passengers on board rolled up to the crossing, and proceeded to pass over the tracks slowly, as they invariably do. The conducting-pole that extends from the roof of the car to the charged wire overhead slipped from the wire when the car was immediately over the tracks, causing it to come to a stop. The conductor, who has charge of the rope that moves the pole, and hangs down back of the car, vainly pulled it, trying to make the pole connect with the wire. But the rope had caught in the roof of the car and jammed itself in such a way that he was unable to see the cause of the trouble. The passengers were growing nervous, and when the alarm-bell at the crossing began ringing, announcing the approach of a train, they made a wild stampede for the doors. They all tried to get out at once, but only jammed themselves into a worse predicament.
A short distance down the track, and coming around the curve at full speed, was a fast express, and it seemed but a question of a few moments when the crash would come, and instantaneous death follow. The conductor stuck bravely to his post, and the motorman, pale but firm, stood with his hand on the key waiting for the electric current to start the car. When the express was but a few yards distant, and amid the wild hoarse screams of the frantic, struggling passengers, the car gave a sudden bound forward over the crossing, and cleared the train by a foot or so.
The newsboy saw the danger of the car, saw the caught rope, and saw the remedy. Close to the crossing was a pile of lumber, and climbing that he leaped onto the roof of the car and released the rope guiding the pole onto the wire. He took his life in his hands, for his brave act was all enacted in the face of a fast approaching express, and the sudden start nearly threw him from the roof. In the general excitement that followed the little fellow slipped away, and for some time the impression remained that the rope had loosened itself just in time. But the railroad company knew of the boy's brave act, and he did not lose by his courage.
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