Lake Charles Commercial

A Daring Young Mexican Saves a Hundred Lives.

D. Rafael R. Quintero, a Mexican, who for several years was employed at Pittsburg, Pa., as a mechanical engineer, and is now an inspector on a Mexican railroad, has recently distinguished himself as a hero. He was engaged at work at the intersection of two Mexican railroads, and, by a daring feat, succeeded in saving the lives of nearly one hundred persons. The work, which was under the direction of the contractor, T. Mariano Brito, two inspectors and the district judge, consisted of raising one of the tracks in the vicinity of an embankment and placing a cross-piece in position. A large gang of men were employed, and they had just succeeded in suspending the cross-piece over the ditch or embankment when the shrill whistle of an approaching train from Merida was heard. All present became filled with terror, as the passengers were doomed to a terrible death, as were also the workmen and horses, who were unable to leave the track at that moment on account of the enormous weight of the cross-piece which they suspended. In that moment of anxiety the terror-stricken workmen were informed that the station master of Progresso had ordered a white flag placed on the bridge beyond as a signal that the road was clear, which increased the terror of the horrified workmen. The train came thundering along when Quintero, procuring a red flag, ran up the track and gave the danger signal. The engine was blowing off steam, and thick clouds of black smoke issued from the stack, so that Quintero was invisible to the engineer, and the train came along with full speed. The brave inspector did not move from the position, and when the engine was a few feet from him he hurled the flag to one side, flung himself upon the seat of the engineer, and pressed violently on the lever, and succeeded in stopping the train not thirty meters from the yawning ditch over which stood the gang of pale, terror stricken workmen. The train was crowded with passengers. Twenty minutes after it was stopped almost the entire population of the city of Progreso were at the scene, and broke out into exclamations of delight over the heroism of the young inspector. The district judge subsequently arrested the station master and engineer and conductor of the train, and instituted an investigation.-Boston Herald.