The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-09-06
ADVENTURES OF AN ENGINE.
DRIVER.

do not think ever felt prouder in
my life than | did one morning when
Job P. Slogger, our locomotive +" boss"
accosted me as l was making ready the
Milwaukee" to take the " through I"
train westward.
"Well, George" said he, "heard the
news? Guess not, Ell? You amt got
TO run this route agin I"
turned pale, fearing had got into
some scrape; but | only said: "Why,
sir7n
"why ~ he repeated, smiling at my
scared looks, "because you are put up
in Abel's place. You feel kinder spry,
] reckon ~
I did not feel "kinder spry," for
Abel, frstrate hand, had just been
promoted with handsome doucs,r, for
gallant conduct upon q certain occa-
sion. / was his companion on that
occasion and as the adventure was the
cause of my being made an engine.
driver, will. with your permission,
proceed to relate it without further
preface.
Soon after my arrival in the States
succeedei in obtaining a situation as
fireman on one of the trunk lines.
After time | became associated with
Abel Storer, who had the reputation of
. 6rst-class engine. driver, though he
was to my taste a little too reckless;
and when sin liquor" nothing daunted
him. From Abel l heard many tales
respecting. the encounters he bad had
with "white Injuns," as he denomi.
mated certain filibustering gentlemen
who had a playful habit Of Disgusting
themselves as native Indians, and car
Tying of any specie or ammunition
contained in the wagons. At times, in
ICED, | believe, they did not hesitate to
com NIT the most dreadful outrages
under the guise of the war.paint.
One morning, about two months after
my having been appointed "fireman,"
we got orders to take train down to
LAnderville. Abel was accordingly in
great hopes of shooting some Injuns,"
and provided himself with a quantity
of ammunition for his six.shooter. /,
more skeptical, neglected this precau.
ton. We started, however, having
quantity of specie in boxes, some val
uable stores, and mixed cargo of
"notions" in our charge. We had re-
ceived instructions to shunt at Bunkum
City for a faster train of passengers,
and then (if it had not previously run
into us) to assist it up the steep incline
ut that place, our train being subse.
quently helped up by the other locomo.
tive.
We arrived at Bunkum Siding in
safety about o'clock, and hearing
nothing of the following train, replen.
ished the engine, and then proceeded
TO look for some food for ourselves.
We pitched upon a small store, where
we managed to procure food and some
of the most fiery stuff (miscalled whis.
ky) that ever tasted. Abel drank it
greedily, however, while devoted my
self to the food. We were on the eve
OF departure as two rough. looking fell
lows entered and demanded liquor.
stalking stock" of US as they swap.
gered about. Seeing that Abel was be.
coming more intoxicated, and recol. |
lecting that the passenger train must |
be due, attempted to remove him, but |
one of the strangers, stepping forward,
requested us to "liquor up" before we |
started. Abel granted drunken as.
sent, and l, not daring to refuse, sat
down while the "drink" was being pre-.
pared. During the connection of the
"reviver," Abel kept wandering aim.
lessly about, swaying recklessly against
the tables, and when the glass was at
length prepared for my acceptance, he
lurched heavily against the stranger.
Crash went the tumbler upon the floor,
while amid volley Of curses dragged
the offender from the house, and man.
aged to regain the engine unmolested.
Ante; k;v,c 81 II L.