OUT OF THE JAWS OF DEATH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1633, 11 August 1887, Page 3

OUT OF THE JAWS OF DEATH.

The New Orleans express leaving here (Savannah) recently was running along at the rate of forty miles an hour between Cairo and "Whigbam, when the engineer (Jenkins, locomotive sixty-throe) on ap proaching Big Tide Creek discovered a man making bis way over the trestle work. Finding that be would not have time to get ncrosß ahead of the swiftly approaching train, the moo, a large, stout individual, endeavored to drop between the ties, co as to hold on by his hands while the train should pass over him. To the horror of the engineer, however, the man caught by the waist and hung there between the rails, with his head and shoulders sticking up, an object of certain destruction if the train should strike him. Engineer Jenkins sprang off bis seat, jammed the air-brakes down as tightly as they could be put on, and reversed his huge engine, one of the largest on tho road, and " pulled her open." The man's cries were described as fearful as he hung there awaiting almost certain death, and his feelings can, perhaps, never be described. He must have died mentally a dozen titneß, but almost miraculously the No. 63 came to a stop hissing and trembling when the ponderous cow-catcher was within three feet of the unfortunate man. He was reecued from his perilous position, and went his way rejoicing at his almost miraculous escape But for engineer Jenkins' prompt and efficient offprte aud his care and watchfulness, the man, whose name is unknown, would have died a most horrible death. An it if, he will hardiy oare to venture upon such an experiment as crossing a trestle ahead of an ezpreSß train again soon.