The Shasta courier., 1864-06-18

12Tamne would have been filled IT we had me
tpaly one train.
e We were ahead of time, and in order t.
meet the down train just on time, we were
abiiged to stop on the track awhile These
we're tedious moments while we waited, bu
zoon we moved on very slowly again. Al
ne next station Andrews borrowed a scbe
tuie from the tank tender, telling him thai
ne was running an express powder trair
tarnugh to Beauregard. He gave the sche-
dale saying that he would send his shirt te
ibaauregard if be wanted it, When asked af
terwards if be did not suspect anything, ht
+aidshe would as soon have thought of sns
pecting JEFF Davis, as one who talked with SC
much assurance as Andrews did
| On we went till we reached the station
| where we were to pass what we believed to be
| the last train. Here the switch was not prop
erly adjusted. and Andrews entered the sta
ton house, without asking leave of any body,
took down the keys, and adjusted the switch.
This raised some disturbance on the part of
those around the station. but it wac quieted
by telling them the same powder story. After
waiting short time, the down train arrived
and we passed it without difficulty But we
| observed on it what we did not lke-a red
flag, indicating that another train was be-
hind.
This was most discouraging, for we had
now hoped to have the road exclusively to
ourselves but still we did not despair. How
ever, we had yet to run on regular time,
which was, unfortunately, very sloto time
not more than twelve or fifteen miles an hour.
Thus unavodably consuming our precious
moments, we glided on till we reached the
station where we expected to meet what we
L. L !
We stopped on a side track to wait for it, and
there lad TO remain ticenty fire minutes. just
as we concluded to go on, and risk the chan
ces Of a collision, the expected train hove in
sight.
1t was safely passed, as the other had been
before; but judge Of our dismay when we
beheld a red fag on this train also Matters
now began to look dark Much of our pre-
cious time, which we had reserved as a mar
gin for burning bridges, was now gone, and
We were still tied down to the slow regular
rate of running. Yet we could not retreat.
and had no resource but to press firmly on.
This We did, and obstructed the track as well
a. we could, by laying on cross ties at differ
ent places. We also cut the telegraph wire
between every station. e,-
Finally, when we were nearly to the sta
u.
we stopped to take up a rail- We had no in
struments for doing this, except crowba
AMI instead of pulling out the spikes, as we
eo have done with the pinch burrs used
tp, rat purpose by railroad men, we had to
o. them out. This was slow work. We
rgened this rail at enc end, and eight
Q ook hold of il to try to pull the other
en- pose. just as we were going to reliquish
thS fiiurt in despair, the uhistle o an engine
az krsaf sounded IN our edrsi The effect
was magical. With one convulsve effort we
broke the rail in two, and tumbled pell nell
over the embankIaent. No one was hurt. and
we took up our precious half rail, which in
surei US time TO pass the train ahead, before
our pursuers could be upon Us.
We were not a moment too soon, for we
were scarcely out of sight of where we had
taken up the last rail, before the other train
met us. This was safely passed, and when
oar pursuers came to the place where we had
broken the rail, they abandoned heir own
train. and ran on foot till they met the one
we had Just passed, and turned it back after
us. running with great speed.
We were now aware of our danger, and
adopted every expedient we could think of to
delay pursuit; but as we were cutting the
wire near Calhoun, they came in sight of US.
Then ensued the most terrible and thrilling
chase ever known on the American continent
We instantly put our engine to full speed,
and in moment its wheels were striking fire
from the rails in their rapid revolutions. The
ear in which we We're, racked furiouslv, and
threw US from one side to the other ike peas
ratified in gourd. Still on after us relent-
lessly came the pursuers. The smoke of
their engine could be distinguished in every
long reach, and the scream of their whistle
sounded in our ears around every curve. 1t
Was still necessary for us to cut the wire,
and, in order to gain time for that. we drop
ped car on the track, and. soon after, an
other. This left us with only the locomotive
tender, and one baggage car. Each time
when We stopped to cut the wire, we would
try to take up another rail but before we
could loosen its fastenings with our imper
feet tools, the approrch of our enemies would
compel us to hasten on.
The thought of new expedient crossed
my mind, which saved us for some time lon
ger. 1t was to knock out the end of our car,
and drop the rails on the track as we ran.
Soon after in one of our necessary stoppages
to take care fine telegraph we loaded on
some cross ties. which we threw out in the
the same manner. One rail | reserved for a
particular purpose. When we stopped again
took it. placed one end under the track,
and let the other project upward. jonting to-
ward the advancing train. Itwas very near
" efectual. The engineer of the train in
pursuit, who afterward visited us in prison.
said that if it had been only one inch higher
nothing could have saved their train from
wreck, because. being so dark and small,
it was not noticed till too late to Stop. How
ever. it was little too low to hook in the
bars of the cow catcher, as intended
Our enemies pursued us with great deter
mination. One man rode on the COW catcher
and. springing off, would throw the obstruc-
tions from.the track, and jump on agan while
they had merely checked the engine. So
great was our velocity. that most of the ties
we threw out bounced off the track but the
few that remained enabled us several times
to get out of sight of them. When this was
the case, we would stop, and again try to
take up a rail, which would have given US
leisure for the greater operation OF burning
a bridge.
By this time we had few more instru
ments, which Andrews and Wilson had SIM
ultaneously procured from switch tender.
We worked faithfully, but each time, pelore
we had 10 sened a rail. the inexorabie pursu-
ers were again visible. ,.,
then proposed to Andrews plan tnat
afforded a hope of final success. u