James Jack, Jr., 29, mine motorman, died attempting to save Michael Gallant, 34, and Martin Gula, 46, miners, from a runaway train, St. Benedict, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1913. Jack was operating a motor locomotive that was pushing eight cars in a mine entry. The trolley pole broke, and the train began to coast back down a 10 percent grade, toward points where Jack had left cars and where he knew men were likely to be working. Jack’s brakeman jumped and called to Jack to do the same, but Jack, having applied the brake, remained on the locomotive ringing the bell and whistling until the locomotive, after having coasted 600 feet, struck a car the men were switching. Jack was caught in the wreckage and sustained injuries from which he died several hours later. Gallant was badly injured and was disabled two or three months, but Gula escaped injury. 10483-826
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