The Breckenridge News

Mr. Pauley, Former Cloverport Man Prevents Horrible Disaster at Paris, Ill.

ONE WOMAN STRUCK

Only by the prompt action of Engineer Pauley of this city and the quick and instant response of the emergency brakes was a horrible disaster, one which would have meant great loss of life, averted at Paris on Saturday night, when train No. 27, west bound, bore down upon a crowd of people who were at the station, just having arrived on another train from picnic grounds nearby. As it was only one person—a woman—was hurt, and she was struck by the pilot of No. 27 and hurled from the track. The victim was Mrs. Jerry Bennett who was removed to a hospital and later to her home. Her injuries are not serious.

How It Occurred

The people of Paris had been spending the day at a picnic grounds several miles east of Paris. An excursion train had been making periodical trips during the day, and its schedule was close on that of No. 27, which is a fast train. its cargo being comprised mostly of mail. The excursion train, having just made its trip from the grounds was depositing its passengers at the Paris station, having run in on a side track, when the fast train made its appearance. The main track was thronged with people and as the fast train was making pretty fair speed at the time it was all engineer Pauley could accomplish in bringing his train to a standstill just in time. Had it been otherwise a number of persons in all probability would have been killed, as men came to the rescue of others who had failed to notice their danger and literally pushed and shoved them from the track.

At the sight of No. 27 the people endangered, especially the women and children, became panic stricken and paralyzed with fear. Engineer Pauley and his fireman C. C. Jones, brought their train on to this city and made the remainder of its trip without further mishap.—Mattoon, Ill. Journal.