140

THE ASHTABULA DISASTER.

him to help her. lie said, “I would be glad to,but my old mother is dependent on me for herentire support. If I am killed what will she do?”Mrs. Lew again entreated him to assist her. liethen came so near to her as to be able to takehold of her hand by extending his arms fulllength. As they joined hands the newsboypulled and Mrs. Lew threw herself forward, com-ing out of the car. She then walked on the iceto the bank, where she was helped up the em-bankment by men and taken to an eating-house,where her wounds were dressed.

A villager saw a woman caught, back of theplatform railing, and attempted to pull her out.It was only by superhuman effort he succeeded,then only to find them both up to the waist inthe water. “Can you save me?” she asked him,in tones that went to his heart. “Yes, if youhold on,” he said. She did hold on to him withall her strength, and he got her safely to theshore, although in the water several times.

The story of Mrs. Bingham has been alreadvtold. She owed her life to her own determinedspirit, though it is remarkable that any womanwith a broken limb could summon the courage tobreak a window and then jump into the water anddraw herself to the land.