Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1877 — A Brave Engineer. [ARTICLE]

A Brave Engineer.

The theater train was standing in the depot nearly full of passengers, and the engine, detached, standing some distance in front of it, when a freight train was, by some blunder, backed down at a rapid rate directly toward the passenger train. Fortunately Billy Whalen, the engineer in charge of the engine, saw the situation, and, understanding the danger, sprung at once into his engine, which was yet detached from the passenger train, and, turning on full steam, shot her ahead into the rear of the coming freight train. The shock was a terrible one. The trucks of the rear car of the freight train climbed up the front of the engine; the headlight of Whalen’s locomotive was smashed, and considerable other damage incurred. The bold Billy was badly shocked, but the force of the freight train was checked, and though it struck the passenger train, driving it back to the rear of the depot and shaking up the passengers at a pretty lively rate, hone of them were seriously injured, for all of which they may thank the quick-witted and brave Billy Whalen. — Cincinnati Enquirer.