Page:George Collins - A Strange Railroad Wreck.pdf/51

Rh But some one must have broken the red glass in my signal and—poor Joe! I wonder where he is buried?"

The physicians and railroad men looked at each other in horror as they began to realize what had happened.

"Conductor, you will have to get your train to that wreck without the help of this poor insane girl," Dr. Gibney said in a low tone. "I fear she will never deliver another train order."

"I'll send a man ahead with a flag—it's only two miles north of here," replied the conductor, hurriedly.

Mercedes was taken to a hotel and cared for until later in the day, when she was removed to her home.

The wreck was one of the most disastrous ever known on the M————— Division. Two other locomotives were required to pull the wrecked ones apart, so solidly were they wedged together. Cars of merchandise, coke, coal and lumber were scattered in every direction. Fire had broken out from a small heating stove in No. 40's caboose, and threatened to burn the entire train; but the wrecking crew soon extinguished the flames.

Joe Fleming, the young brakeman, had just been removed from between two freight cars when the local physician arrived. He was still living, but unconscious. Bending over the still form, the doctor could see no wounds, and began cutting away the clothing