Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-11-30
THE WRONG SIDE of the CURVE
AN Ex-ENGINEER's STORY.

Among the many Incidents that du-
ring the late rebellion were connected
with the great national artery, the Balti-
more d Ohio Railway, is one that | will
relate
In the fall of 1861, having been detain-
ed by business in the town of Cumber-
land, Nd, was at last about to start for
Wheeling, when l learned by dispatch
that the road was occupied below Harp
ers Ferry 10y force of rebels. and there
fore no train would pass
This proved to be true in reference to
ordinary trains, but a special with
which was the Hon. Mr.. Picrpont, and a
few other notables had passed before the
rebels cut the track, and was therefore
approaching. On inquiry, l found that
the engineer Of the coming train had
been one of my old chums ere l had dis
carded engine driving for more profita
bic business. Ny friend Joe M was
a cool, bold, :killful engineer, and as
generous as reckless of danger.
AS expected, | no sooner saw him
and stated my wish to GO up the road,
than he swore that, special or no special
/ should ride, if for nothing but to see
the ''fast time" his engine "Wildfire'
would make
AS we dashed rapidly along and were
passing through Black Oak Bottom, i
couple of i'll looking fellows in citizen 5
dress fired at the engineer, but doing nc
damage. merely provoked a laugh of de-
rision from him for their want of mark
manship. On arriving at Oakland, Md
we were disagreeably surprised at receiv
ing telegram informing Us that party
of rebels were making extraordinary
haste to reach the railway at point ma
ny miles ahead of us. Also, they seem
ed to know who the special train contain
ed, and would therefore use all endeavors
to capture or kill US.
There was but one car behind the en-
CINE, and in it was briefly discussed the
question of 90 or stay, while Joe was
having the tender re filled with wood an6
water
Mr.. Pierpont's business was too ur
gent to admit of any possible delay; two
or three others concluded to risk tn,
trip, and well, if it's not too egotisti
cal to say sol had run risks on rail
ways too often to back out because Their,
was danger ahead, while the rest conclu
ded to stay and trust to luck for the OPP
portunity of getting away.
Just as we were about to start the fire
man making a misstep on the running
board fell and struck the ground Will
such force rs to break his arm. Joe hur
riedly picked up the poor fellow, bu
time was precious just then, SO leavin:
him in care of the gentleman who Ia,
accompanied us, he stared directly to
ward me, asking me to come and ssrun'
for him, as having no fireman, he woult
have more than he could do. l tolc
him, however, to consider me his fireman
for the rest Of the trip as he was best &C
quainted with the road, so without an,
more ado DOTTED my coat, we jumpe,
on and away we went past hamlet, thro
wilderness of stunted bushes, up grad
and down hill, at speed rarely equal
ed. Our light train made firing an cas-,
task for me, and | had frequent leisur
to scan the beautiful ranges of the ALE
ghanies along which we skirted Jo
was sitting as was usual with him, wit
his left hand on the throttle lever, AM
his body half out Of the side window o
the ''cab," that he might the better sea-
the track ahead.
A few miles south of the famous Chea
River Bridge is deep mountain gorge
with precipitous rocky sides.
1t is shaped like an hour glass, wide a
each end, but tapering each way towar,
the middle. The track runs for quite
distance along one side of the gorge
makes very deep one, in a straight line
and then still curving inwardly, follow
the gorge in line nearly parallel wit
the track on the opposite side, for three
fourths Of mile. u
We were pitching along with the pc
culiar rocking, bounding motion, so dit
ferent from the jar of ordinary fast speed
AS we swept to the top Of a grade aroun'
the side of hill that commanded viey
of the gorge-Joe and 1 both on th
llookout-we saw, at q moments glance
enough to make us concentrate GU
thinking faculties, and act in a hurr,
whatever was best to be done.
There, on the straight track, just a
the near end of the gorge, lot of mel
in gray uniform, were hastily piling VI
some old ties, logs, ETC.; while at tn,
point where the curve was sharpest-
fore reaching the gorge-were severa