American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-05-02
From the Atlanta Confederaev. 18Th I
The Most Extraordinary and Aston
ishing Adventure Of the War;


Stealing an Engiae-Tesring up the Track
Pursued On Foot, og Hand Cars, aud Ea-
gines-- oSertaken-A Seattering--The
Captnre-The Wonderful Energy Of
Aessrs. Fuller, Murphy, Cain. etc, etc
Since our last issue We have Obtained
full particulars of the mos: thrilling rail
road adventure that ever occurred on
the American continent. as we'll a the
mightiest and most important in It's re-
suits, If it had been successful. that has
been conceived by the Lincoln Govern
ment since the commencement of this
war. Nothing on 50 grand scale has
beeo attempted. anil nothing within the
range of possibility could be conceived
that would fall with such tremendous
crushing force upon Us. as the accom-
plishment of the plans which were con-
cocted and dependent on the execution
of the one whose history We now proceed
to narrate.
We will begin at the breakfast table
of the Big Shanty Hotel. at Camp Doug
las, on the w and A. A. r., where
several regiments of soldiers are now en-
caIpped. The morning mail and Dassen-
ger train had left here at A. N. on last
Saturday morning. as usual. and had
stopped there for breakfast. The con
ductor. VIM. A. Fuller, The engineer. J.
Cain, both of this city. and the paSsen-
gers. were at the table. when some
eight men. having uncoupied the engine
and three empty box ears next 10 It from
the passenger and box ears. mounted The
engine. pulled open the valve. put on all
steam, and left conductor, engineer. pas
sengers, spectators. end the soldiers in the
camp hard by. ali lost in Arrangement
and umbfounded at the strange, startling
and daring act.
This unheard Of act was doubtless un-
dertaken at that place and time. upon
the presumption that pursuit could not
be made by an engine short Of Kingston.
some thirty miles above or from this
place; and that. by cutting down the
telegraph wires as they proceeded. the
adventures could calculate on AZ least
three or four hours the start of any pur-
suit it was reasonable TO expect. This Was
a legitimate conclusion and but for the
will, energy, and quick good judgment
of Mr.. Fuller and MIR. Cain. and Mr. An
thony Murphy. who accidentally went
on the train from this place that morning.
their calculations would have worked out
as originally contemplated.
Now for the chasel
These three determined men. without
a moments delay. put out after the living
train-0R TO0t-amIdst shouts Of Taught
er by the crowd. who, though lost IN
amazement at the unexpected and daring
act, could not repre>s their visibility A.
seeing three men start after a train on
foot. which they had Just witnesss 4 de-
part at lightning speed. They put n
all their speed and ran along the track
for three miles, when they came across
some track raisers who had a small truck
car. which is showed along bv men -
employed on railroads on which % ear
~ their tools. This truck and men were
at once Impressed" They took It BY
turns of two at a time. to run behind this
truck and push it along ali uo-gradrs
and level portions of the road. and let It
drive at will on all the down grades.
A little way further up the fugitive al
venturers had stopped. cut the telegraph
wires. and torn up the track Here the
pursuers were thrown OF pell nell. truck
and men, upon the side of the road
Fortunately. nobody was hurt on our
side" The truck was soon placed upon
the road again ; enough hands were left
to repair the track. and with all the
power of determined will and muscle
they pushed on to Etowah Station, some
twenty miles ahove
Here, most fortunately. Major CoOper's
old coal engine, the "Yonah''-one Of
the first engines on the State road-was
standing out, fired up. This venerable
locomotive was Immediately turned up
on her old track. and Ike an old racer az
the tap of the drum, pricked up her ears
and made tracks fer Kingston.
The fugitives. not expecting such
early pursuit, quietly took in wood and
water at Cass Station. and borrowed a
schedule from the tank tender. upon the
plausible plea that they were running a
pressed train. loaded with powder for
Beauregard. The attentive and patri-
otic tank tender, Mr.. VIM. Russell, said
Ill n