Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-11-30


it outwards We were within mile of
them when we discovered them, and as
each noticed them, the shout came SIM
ultaneously from both of us-"Ifle
wrong side of the curve?" The igno
rant fools were pulling out the inside rail
instead of the outside. IN the latter case
nothing could have saved us from run
ming off the track, and probably into the
gorge. Our single brakeman, seeing
the danger-I suppose from habit--was
commencing to tighten the brake, but at
a look from Joe II signaled ''oT brakes
Joe meanwhile openel the throttle TO its
widest extent as we dashed down the
gra de at positively frightful velocity.
AS we neared them, a party of them
huddled together near the track. / sciz-
ed large stick of wood, intending, if
lpossible, to hurt somebody" We
were going altogether too swift to fear
their taking aim at us; and for that mat
ter, l suppose they considered our des-
traction such certainty that firing at us
would be needless. / was posing the
big stick of wood, and guessing at the
rate of speed-I've have had some prac-
tice in throwing parcels from trains in
motion-when Joe suddenly pulled the
whistle. The hoarse Shrek seemed to
startle them for an instant; they hudded
closer toge Their, and / tossed the stick
outwards and downwards ! had barely
time to see it crash through the group
with the force of thundcrbolt. when
with a Earring plunge, the wheels on one
side struck the naked ties. That part Of
the trouble we had feared but little as the
impetus Of the engine was almost sure to
make it mount the track again. On the
track again, but few rods ahead of us
was the formidable barricade, and be-
yond that the yawning chasm. Joe was
standing mp up now, with eyes blazing,
still holding the throttle wide open, as
he hraced himself for the shock had
grasped the brake rod of the tender the
instant threw the piece ofwood. Crash!
my hold didn't avail me, and was pitch
:. ed head over heels against the fire box,
and laid fat on my back on the foot
board or floor of the engine.
Joe was as suddenly ierked half
u around, his back striking little door in
ID front of where he had Stood breaking
il. the door and slivering the glass to at
III oms. But we were through; how, we
couldn't tell, except that we were still
n on the track. and laundering over the
r gorge. Joe's spirits rose with the occa-
Dr. sion. EXtricating himself almost as
III suddenly rs he had deposited in the little
p glass door, he jerked tin flask from his
c pocket, sprung on top of the tender, and
from thence to the top of the cab
TO Steadying himself for a moment, with
Ih his face toward the rebels, he shouted
a ''good by" and then made them a low
lie bow, and took drink, perfectly regard
re less of the white puffs Of smoke, as one
at after another discharged their pieces nj
I'd him, as he afterwards explained, 1.-The en-
S CINE made too much noise for him ia
4 hear the bullets, and they didn't seem to
as be hitting any body"
as After having. in spite of sore bones
performed a JIG which he had extcmpor-
m lied for that occasion for the express
a. edification of the rebs. Joe descended
al, from his perch, and deliberately shutting
ee off steam, stopped.
e We were still in sight Of them. thougl
at a tolerably safe distance, and now saw
IL a group of them standing near several
Il men, who had been wounded, perhaps
IS some killed, by that ''irrepressiblc' stick
40 of wood.
e. Our damages were few bruises each
h but no serious hurts. Our engine suf
L. fered the loss of the pilot or cow catcher
" and headlight, the front of the smoke
" box was stove in, besides sundy dents
~ aud bruises on the brass casing of tn,
"a cylinders; but for running purposes alb
NJ solutcly uninjurcd, the rebels having
IL piled logs squarely across the top of the
rs track, the point of the cow killer had
gone under them, and though broken by
n the shock, had raised them sufficiently tc
ne keep them from under the wheels, Will,
rs the engine dashed them right and left in
nj to the gorge
The rebels seeing II. stop, started il
II pursuit, but rs we found nothing serious
NO to impede our further progress, and, n.
ne in their case, distance lent enchantmcn
IL to the view" we were off again in higl
III spirits, and without further adventur,
re worth recounting arrived safely at GU
lu- destination.
'p Poor Joe, after being shot at so Otter
as to have acquired sovereign contempt
re- for rebel bullets, was shot dead, about
ng year ago, while running a government
lth engine near Chattanooga.