The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-08

slowly, about ten miles an hour, and never
took my hand off the trottle or my eye
from the road. The Colonel at length
grew confident and almost confidential.
and did most Of the talking, as had no
time for conversation. When we bad
run about thirty miles, and everything
was going well, Colonel Williams conclu-
ded to walk back, on the top OF the box
cars, to passenger car which was at
tached 30 the rear Of the train and occu-
pied by the officers.
This somewhat hazardous move he
commenced just as we struck stretch OF
trestlework which carried the road over a
gorge Of some fifty feet deep As the
locomotive reached the end Of the trestle-
work the grade rose little, and could
see through or in deep cut, which the
road ran into, an obstruction. What IL
was, or how far ahead, / had almost no
conception; but quick as thought--and
thought is quick as lightning in such
circumstances--Iw whistled for the brakes,
shut of the steam, and waited the coll
lision. | would have reversed the en-
gine, but fear that a reversal of its
action would crowd up the cars on the
trestlework and throw them into the
gorge below, forbade; nor was there
wisdom In jumping off, as the steep en-
bankments on either side would prevent
escape from the wreck Of the cars when
the collision came. All this was de-
cided in an instant Of time, aud | calmly
awaited the shock which saw was una
voidable. Though the speed, which was
very moderate before, was considerably
diminished in the fifty yards between
the obstacle and the head of the train.
| saw that we would certainly run into
the rear Of another train, which was the
obstruction | had seen.
The first car struck was loaded with
hay and grain. My engine literally split
it in two, throwing the hay right and left
and scattering the grain like chaff. The
next car, loaded with horses, was in like
manner torn to pieces, and the horses
piled upon the sides of the road. The
third car, loaded with tents and camp
equipage, seemed to present greater re-
sistance, as the locomotive only reached
it and came TO stand still.
My emotions during these moments
were most peculiar. | watched the re-
morseless pressue of the engine with al
most admiration. Itappeared TO be de-
liberate, and resolute, and Unsuitable.
The shock was not great, the advance
seemed very slow; but it plowed on
through car after car with steady and
determined course, which suggested at
that critical moment vast and resistless
IL futY
knew my time of trial was near; for il
Colonel Williams had not been thrown
from the top of the cars into the gorge
below, he would soon be forward to ex-
ecute his threat--to shoot me if an acci-
dent occthrred. stepped out of the cab
on the railing running along to the
smOkcstack so as to be out of view OF
one coming forward toward the engine,
and yet to have him in the full light OF
the lantern which hung N the cab.
Exactly as had surmised-for | had
seen specimen Of his fierce temper and
recklessness-he came stamping and
cursing; and jumping from the car on "a
the tender, he drew = pistol and cried
out, "Where is that cursed engineer thai
did this pretty job, I'll shoot him tb,
minute lay my eyes on him."
threw up my six shooter so that thu
light Of the lantern shone npon IL, Will,
he could see but indistinctly, if at all
and said with deliberation, "Colone
Williams, il you raise your pistol you ar
a dead map don't stir, but listen to me
| have done just what any man mus
have done under the circumstances stop
ped the train as soon as possible, and III
convince you Of IL you are reasonabl
man but not another word Of shooting
or you go down"
Don't shoot, don't shoot" he cried
"Put up your pistol and so will t."
replied.
He did 80, and came forward, and
explained the impossibility Of seeing th
train sooner, as / had no head light; an
they had carelessly neglected to leave
light on the rear of the other train.
advised the choIeric Colonel TO go for
ward and expend his wrath and curse
on the conductor Of the forward trair
that had stopped in such place, sn'
sent out no signsi-inan in the rear, no
even left a red light He acknowledge,
| was right. had then informed hiE
that was an officer In the 0fdnanc
Department and was in charge Of
shipment Of ammunition for Bowlin
Green, and would have him courtmar-
tailed when we reached there, unless h
apOlogiEed for the threats he had made
This information had calming effect ol
the Colonel, who at heart was really
clever fellow.