The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-04-12

found at house on the Boydtown road,
from which it was thought dangerous to
move him. Gen. A. P. Hill is reported
killed by prisoners.
Seizure of the Passenger Train
on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad,
The reader has already been advised Of
the capture of passenger train on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. We have
learned a few of the particulars, which
we are confident will not prove uninter-
esting 10 cur readers
On Thursday evening, about half-past
six o'clock, the westward bound train
was thrown off the track of the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad, about nine miles
east of Cumberland, and between Har
per's Ferry and Cumberland The train
was just turning sharp curve, with high
cliffs on the South side, and the Cheat
River, at the foot of a steep precipice,
on the north side. The guerrillas loos
ened two rails, and turning them toward
the mountain, the train dashed in and
lay along the base between that and the
track. The locomotive and tender were
dashed to pieces, and the trucks and plat
forms of all the cars were badly wrecked
and broken. The terrorism of the pas
sengers can possible be imagined but new
er described Men turned pale, while the
scream of ladies created the widest scene
of excitement. The heavens above were
black with rain clouds, with now and then
vivid flashes of lightning, followed by
loud discharges of thunder. the echo of
which reverberated against the high
mountain On their left. The rain was
falling briskly, and the river on the right
was rushing angrily along. Darkness
was setting in when the accident occur
red, and volley of musketry and pistol
firing announced the presence of guer-
rillas in the vicinity. The CONSERVATION
which followed all this combination of
unfavorable circumstances was terrible in
the extreme. The train consisted of a
locomotive, tender, baggage and mail ear.
/ There were about 200 passengers, ladies
and gentlemen.
! Immediately after the crash of the cars,
and scarcely before the passengers could
recover themselves from their positions
on the floor aud over the seats, the guer-
rillas rushed into the cars at all the doors,
and called out in loud but distinct Ian
guage 'sAll officers on board this train
must at once surrender" Two Captains
and two Lieutenants did surrender, and
were handed over to the guard and march
ed off. They then assured the ladies on
the train that no indignity or injury
would be offered them, but that they
wanted all the money and other valua-
bles ON board the train. The order was
given, and the passengers marched cut of
the doors, and were searched and robbed,
and then allowed to proceed to the out
side.
The guerrillas numbered about one
hundred men, and constituted Co. F of
She notorious Capt. McNeil's Confederate
command. As the passengers left the
cars the "rebs" exchanged hats and over
coats with as much nonchalance as though
the whole transaction was according to
agreement and perfectly understood. The
trade was altogether in favor of the g.er-
rillas. After the robbery of the passen-
gers had been completed, the gang made
an attack on the trunks and mail bags,
seizing everything of value they could
lay their hands on.
1t was announced by the leader that
the train was to be fred and burned up,
when one of the passengers appealed, on
behalf Of the ladies, who, with the men,
were drenched to the skin with rain
The passenger who addressed the leader
said: This is barbarous and inhuman
treatment to these ladies'" and he hoped
that they would be given one car for
shelter. The leader, stalwart Virgin
ian in appearance, gave the order to de-
tach the rear car, and the ladies were in
vited to take possession. The letters and
papers taken out of the mail bags were
piled on the floor of the .baggage-car and
set on fire.
At Harper's Ferry paymaster, witha
large amount of funds in his possession,
with guard of twenty seven men, got
off the train, Had he continued on to
Cumberland there would have been fair
prospect Of brisk fight.
THE Duty OF PosrMAsrERs.-When
newspapers are not taken out of the Office,
we believe the law requires the Postmas-
er to return them promptly. We some
times have papers returned without any
mark or name teindicate where they come
from.-Ohio Democrat.
The law clearly makes it the duty of
the Postmaster to write letter to the
publisher, notifying him of the name of
the person who does not lift the paper,
and the reason assigned, if any. If the
| Postmaster fails to do this he is liable to
the publisher for the full price of sub
scription. A return of the paper by the
J Pos tmaster ia not legal notice.