DEATH AT THE THROTTLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10413, 10 April 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

DEATH AT THE THROTTLE.

THE TRAIN AT FULL SPEED.

HEROIC FIREMAN'S DARING ACT. Buffalo, February 20.—Just how Engineer William B. Heckman, of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, was killed at his post may never be known, but if is certain that the bravery of Fireman Curry that night saved the passengers on the express train from Manchester to this city from a fatal accident. Ueokinan'e train pulled 0116 of Manchester a'fow minutes late on the night of Feb. 12, and the engineer warned his fireman to keep the boiler white hot, " for," said he, " I'll reach Buffalo on time or break something!" The engine was of the Mother Hubbard type, having separate cabs for engineer and fireman, that of the former being ahead. At Rochester Junction a hot journal caused a few minutes' delay, 'lheu the run was continued faster than before. Fireman Curry was kept busy heaving coal into the big furnace. He noticed the train's terrific speed, but remembered what Heckman had said about getting to Buffalo on time. Just before the train reached Wende Btation, Curry looked forward and saw Heckman with his Jiand on the throttlo and his head loaning to the front. That station left behind, the speed increased, crossroad after crossroad was passed, and faster and faster wont the train. Just east of Depew station there is a street crossing where every engineer is required to sound the locomotive whistle. The train bounded past this station with undiininishod speed and with no sound from the whistle. Curry's trained ear noticed that the warning was not sounded, and he looked towards the cab where Heckman was in charge of the many lives in the cars behind. By the dim light of tho steam gau«o lamp Curry could seo that Hecktnan'e hand was on the throttle and hi* head was out of the window. He appeared to be all right. But the train continued its flight with ever-incroasing speed. Finally tho spot where Heckman usually shut off the blower from the boiler so that Curry might bank the fire was reached. The ongino rolled and throbbed, its tires still fanned to white heat, and the mud race continued unchecked through the night. Curry looked forward again. Hecknmn has not movod. His hand was still on the throttle and his head out of the window. Tho position was an accustomed one, but Curry became alarmed- Ho determined to go forward and speak to Heckman. It was a perilous journey. A footboard only five inches wide ran from one cab f.o the other. There was nothing to grasp tor support but steam pipes, and they were red hot. Curry knew the peril, but determined to risk hie life to favo others, and ho started. Twice he was nearly thrown from tho narrow shelf and grasped tho hot pipes. His hands were burned terribly, but he knew that if ho lost his grip or missed a step he would be hurled to death. Inch by inch he made his way towards the cab of the engineer. When half-way there the courageous man romemborod that the train had nearlv reached a sharp curve, and thore ho knew the engine would surely jump the track unless the speed was checked. Willi blistered hands, Curry reached the engineer's cab and crawled through a small window, "Say, Bill, why don't you shut down!" ho shouted. Thero was 'no reply. Heckman was on his seat, his hand still on the rhrottle and his the window. Curry noticed that tho engineer's head was hanging lower than was natural, and ho jumped aero'.* the cub and shook him by the shoulder. Then the hand that held the throttle alippod, and tho arm dropped limp. There was no appearance of lifo in the body. A gaping wound in tho aide of the head told the fireman that Heckman had mat with a terrible injury. The train wa? speeding towards the curve and certain destruction. Curry sprang to tho throttle, jammed down the air-brako* and reversed the ongine. 3 art as he had the engine under control ho saw tho curvo ahead. A minute more and it would havo been too late. Curry stopped the train at Depew, and the engineer was carried to the baggage car. The train readied Buffalo "on timo," but Heckman was taken to a hospital, where he died four hours later without regaining consciousness. Ib is supposed that Hecltamn's head struck a water tank at Wende station. But there were no witnesses. The dead engineer was forty-nine years old.