A Thoughtful Engineer.

What might have been a serious railroad smash-up, was averted Monday by the thoughtfulness and presence of mind of Engineer Frank Gish, of a freight train bound for Bismarck. It seems that when a few miles east of Sterling, the engineer of the freight suddenly noticed the caboose of a work train on a curve, only about five car lengths ahead of them. He supposed the work train was backing up, but it seems it was standing still at that particular time, although previously the conductor hearing the freight, supposed it was stuck in the snow, and was backing up to meet it. A flagman was out, but the curve was so short that Engineer Gish did not see him in time to avert the danger. The instant he saw the caboose, he reversed his engine, pulled open the throttle valve and shouted to the fireman, Cornelius Buckley, and the head brakeman, who were in the cab with him, to "jump for God's sake." This they did, the train running at the time at the rate of about twenty miles an hour. The engineer and brakeman received no serious injuries, but the fireman selecting a bad place to ump, fell on a pile of railroad iron and had both shoulders dislocated, and received several ugly gashes on the head and face. Luckily the engine stopped within about five feet of the caboose, and cegan {sp} the backward move. Conductor Dr. Huntington, of the freight, took in the situation and ran over the cars to the engine and stopped her backward course. The injured fireman, was picked up and brought to Bismarck arriving here in the evening. He was taken to the Custer house, where he was placed under the medical charge of Dr. Porter, who set the injured man's shoulders and dressed his wounds. At last accounts he was doing well.

Bismarck Tribune, 2/2/1883