Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1874 — A Brave Deed. [ARTICLE]

A Brave Deed.

To the already long roll of American railroad heroes must be added the name of Thomas Furlong, baggage-master on the Old Colony Railroad’s New Bedford express train. Mr. Furlong happened to be riding on one of the switching engines in the Bostbn yard,which was backing over the draw. Just as the engine was entering the bridge structure Mr. Furlong noticed two men starting to walk over the narrow timbers on which the rails are laid, anfit seeing their peril he told the engineer to shut off, and then prepared for the rescue of the men. One of them w - as struck by the engine and thrown to one side, where he lodged, comparatively uninjured. The other man had proceeded further on the timber, and if struck by the engine would have been thrown lengthwise on the rail, and consequently cut in halves. Mr. Furlong reached forward and taking the man by the chin raised him from the track, with the intention of carrying him across |o the other side; but his strength being unequal to this task he lifted the man clear of the rail and dropped him over j into the water. By this time the engine ! was slowed considerably, so that, leaping ! off, Mr. Furlong and tjie fireman secured a boat-hook and fished the man from the * water. The rescued men were employed j as divers at the Broadway bridge draw pier, and Were-filled with gratitude to | their daring rescuer. This is said to«be i by no means Mr, Furlong’s first successful attempt at life-saving. J . , I Mattie Smith, of Chesuncook, Mass.. ; stabbed herself with a penknife because her youn£ man would not wait for her lat the front gate. ff’‘■■