From the January 12, 1896 issue of The New York Times:

AN ENGINEER STRICKEN IN HIS CAB -- George Nicholson, who has a good record, is taken from his train.

HILLSDALE, N.J., Jan. ll. -- George Nicholson, an engineer on the New-Jersey and New-York Railroad, fell ill in a fit in the cab of his engine this afternoon.

When the train left Etna Station, W.A. Abrams, the fireman, was in the tank preparing coal for the furnace. When he returned to the cab he found the engineer lying on his face on the fioor, groaning, moaning, and frothing at the mouth. Abrams grasped the throttle valve, shut off the steam, and blew the danger signal to call the attention of the conductor and the train's crew. They went to the assistance of the fireman and remained with him until the train reached Hillsdale.

An attempt was made to remove the stricken engineer from his post, but he had partially revived and was delirious, and refused to leave his post, grasping the throttle with a grip so powerful as to seem superhuman. He could not be induced to leave the cab, and was allowed to remain until the train reached Spring Valley, where he lived. He then had recovered sufficiently to know he was not fit for work, and was taken home and put to bed.

Nicholson has been employed on the road for more than twenty years, and has been running an engine nearly half that time, but has seemingly been followed by a run of bad luck; having been in several bad wrecks during that time. About five years ago, Nicholson risked his own life to save those of his passengers, when he stood at his post and ran head on into an open switch at "KW" tower on the Erie Road. He collided with another engine, badly wrecking his own and giving the passengers a bad scare and shaking up, but luckily none of them was seriously injured. For his own coolness and pluck in sticking to his engine, Nicholson was given a handsome gold watch and chain by the company as an appreciation of his bravery.

Nicholson saw that the points of the switch were wrong, and instead of jumping, stuck to his post, reversed his lever, applied the brakes, and saved the train from destruction.