Wilkes-Barre Times, July 30, 1896:

SAVED A TRAIN WITH HER AXE

Plucky Miss Bigley Cleared the Railroad Tracks Just in Time.

Pittsburg, July 29 - By the heroic work of Miss Zenie Bigley a crowded passenger train as Monday saved from destruction.
A short distance below Springdale the railroad track makes a dangerous 'S' curve. For years a tall poplar tree has stood on the bank above the lower bend of the curve. It had withstood many storms, but finally succumbed to the wind, and in falling most of the trunk of the tree fell across the railroad bed and both tracks were covered.
Miss Bigley lives at a point near the curve, and while in the second story of her home watching the storm, she saw the tree fall across the tracks. On looking at the clock she saw it was but a short time before the local accomodation, city bound, was due in Springdale, almost two miles away.
NO TIME TO REACH THE STATION.
It was useless to attempt to reach the station before the train left for Allegheny, and Miss Bigley, seizing an axe, started for the railroad tracks. Although the tree was only eleven inches thick, the trunk lay in such a position that an engine running at a high rate of speed against it would be derailed.
First she trimmed that secion of the log that covered the track of its branches and then commenced the work of cutting it in pieces that she might roll off the track. Three pieces were cut off the trunk, and in turn each was rolled into the water course at the side of the tracks.
During the whole time the young woman worked at the tree the rain was falling in torrents, lightning flashing and she was drenched to the skin. Despite the soaking, she worked on until the big obstruction was out of the way.
The track had scarcely been cleared when the engineer on the accomodation, which had left Springdale at 4:10 pm, whistled for the curve. The curve is considered dangerous, but as the tracks were supposed to be clear, no instructions had been given for the engineer to slow up his train.
Miss Bigley had hardly time to reach the top of the bank with the axe, when the train started into the curve. The engineer noticed that there had been an obstruction cleared away. He gave a look at the track, but as was all was clear, he opened wide his throttle. As the train swept past the obstruction he noticed the girl and raised his hat to her.
When the news of the narrow escape of the accomodation reached Springdale the brave act of Miss Bigley was warmly praised. No damage was reported at the office of the railroad company and except a few slight breaks in the telegraph lines, which were repaired everything was in good working order.

Pittsburgh Press, August 12, 1952:

HELMS
In Rochester Hospital, at 3:10 am, Aug. 11, 1952, Mrs. Zena E. Helms, age 76, wife of William S. Helms, Center Twp, Aliquippa, R. D. No 3; mother of Mrs. Ruth Auld Dowds, Beaver, Pa. Friends received at C. E. Douds Funeral Home, 698 Franklin Ave., Aliquippa, Pa, until 12:30 pm Wednesday, Aug 15. Friends will be received at Aliquippa Methodist Church from 1pm until 2:15pm. Services in the church at 2:30 o'clock. Interment Sylvania Hills Memorial Park.