The Youth's Companion/July 19, 1860/Accident Prevented

Accident Prevented.

On Monday afternoon, during the terrible tornado which visited so large a section of country, a number of trees were blown across the rack of the Parkersburg branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. About the time the night train was due, an old farmer near the line of the road discovered a large tree directly across the track at a point where an accident must prove very destructive. He immediately collected wood and started bonfires in the road upon both sides of the fallen tree, and lighting torch, he proceeded in the direction of the approaching train. His two sturdy sons were first called, however, who set to work with their axes, and by the time the train arrived at the point of danger, the track had been nearly cleared, and with but few minutes delay, was enabled to proceed on its way. Such acts of disinterested good-will towards a railroad company and a load of human freight is worthy of record. We regret that we have not the names of the old farmer and his sons, to whose prompt labors so much is due from the company and the passengers.—Cincinnati Enquirer, May 26.

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