AN HEROIC GATEKEEPER AT A RAILWAY CROSSING.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 119, 5 February 1879, Page 3

AN HEROIC GATEKEEPER AT A RAILWAY CROSSING.

Amidst all the excitement and turmoil of the elections, the Parisians, and indeed, Frenchmen generally, are rinding time to talk of the devoted heroism of Jean Plan tier, a gatekeepea on the railway line running through the Rive-de-Gier. His post was at a level crossing' at one end of it, and on a recent night he was, as usual, on duty, expecting no evil, and very probably inclined to underrate the hazard of his position. At all events, it seems a tr.-:in unexpectedly approached him, and he had to use more than ordinary expedition to get his gates shut in time. That on one side of the line he had already closed, and was hastening to bar the highway on the other. But this, 'hrough some miscalculation of the moments at his disposal, he was unable to accomplish in time, and before he could swing back the heavy gate, the engine, going at an express rate, rushed by, knocking him down, and over his arm. Fortunately, he did not faint with the pain and shock, but managed to get up on his feet, though, horrible to relate, his left arm, cleanly amputated by the locomotive wheel, remained on the ground. His agony, naturally, was intense, and the horror of his situation was intensified by the fact that his was a lonely post, and that it was a considerable time before he could expect to be relieved, the chances being that he would have bled to death long before any succour could arrive in the ordinaiy course of events. His first impulse probably was to make his way as he best could to the nearest habitation, and have his stump tied up, but he quickly remembered that the post he occupied, left without a gatekeeper, would most probably be the scene of another, and more terrible accident. Instantly his mind was made up. He would remain on duty at any riak till he died or was relieved; and, covering up his wounded arm as he could, he prepared to go through his terrible ordeal of duty. Fortunately, the driver of the engine that had injured Jean Plantier had noticed the accident, and at the next station told of what he feared

was a fatal casualty some miles back on the line he had come along. The station master and some porters at once set out to see if assistance was yet of use, and after an anxious tramp along the six-foot wny, fearing each moment what ghastly sight would meet their eyes, had come on a pool of blood, and the mutilated limb the brave gate-keeper had left where he fell. A moment after Jean Plantier knew that succour had unexpectedly come. His tone was almost apologetic as he answered the station-master's questions was suffering terribly ; but he hastened to assure his superior officer that he' had not left his post a moment, and the train service had been in no danger." Such is the simple story of devotion to duty that, be it found in Frenchmen or Englishmen, or whom not, makes one's blood run quicker, and one's opinion of one's kind wax higher and better. The Paris papers are calling for a Cross of the Legion of Honor for Jean Plantier ; and we can only say that it would be well if every member of that somewhat voluminous order had done as much to deserve his decoration.