Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-08-09

| speed was Tor moment SlaCKened, nut
he was hurled upon the line a bleeding
mass. His terrible fate deferred his com.
panions, who increased their distance,
and disappeared over the brow of the hill.
We followed, going at a terrific rate,
humping and oscillating to such degree
upon the uneven track, that Ifancied we
should run off the line. We kept our
course, however, gaining slightly for a
time, Abel taking every opportunity of
sending a bullet through the weather
board of the retreating engine.
| As the excitement cooled q little, for
the first time discovered that had been
hit" A tricklng of blood from wound
| in my arm, and numb sensation, were
anything but agreeable. A rough bandage
stopped the bleeding, and we were then at
| liberty to observe the chase once more.
Darkness came on, yet there was no
token of any abatement of the speed, nor
any apparent change in our relative posi-
tions Occasionally defiant whistle was
borne back to us, but still on we swept
through the night. Suddenly the red glow
upon the track in front seemed to STOP
! We neared 1t rapidly.
"Dive roared Abel, just in time. AS
he spoke two shots came whizzing through
| the glass in front, and fell harmless from
the iron plate behind us.
"a shave that I" laughed my COM
panion. g. But III be quits" AS he spoke
he got out upon the frame and told me to
! lie cached.
"What on earth are you about ?" l
asked. His reply made me shudder.
"I'm going to kill them on that engin',
| Good by, TREND" He was gone-creep-
ing over the wheel castings to the buffer
| BEAM
| NJ 1a.a.,,;,.ol 80 -, a,,,..,..al
every means to do so. We were surely
gaining Another log upon the already
roaring furnace. The valves discharged
a cloud of kissing steam, but went on
hurrying to destruction.
In q few moments more the engines
were almost touching another shot, but
no harm done. We bumped a grinding
noise was heard, then another bump.
"Hurrah," cried, or rather tried to cry,
for my throat was so parched that / could
scarcely utter sound, and regardless of
risk was about to Join Abel, when shrill
noise arose beneath us, and the other en-
gine shot into the darkness ahead. With
an oath, | shut off the steam further
progress knew was impossible with the
heated machinery and shouted to Abel
AS soon as | could pull up l jumped
off and ran to the front. Abel had
! disappeared Gracious Heaven had he
fallen when the engines touched l be-
gan to fear the worst, and to call wildly
in the vain hope he might hear, but the
whisper of the wind was the only reply.
1t was impossible that he could have
gained the foOt-plate of the other loco.
motive and escaped instant death had
he fallen, the engine would have killed
him. Thus l argued, and after time
mechanically filled pipe, and, taking
the lamp, began to oil the cranks. Look
ing at my watch, found we had been
running for thirty minutes, and at such a
pace that l knew the up mail could not
be far distant, and that Landervile was
only few miles Off So l ran gently
ahead again, and had not proceeded far
when sudden "lift" of the engine nearly
threw me down, l stopped and descend.
ed. AT the side of the track lay body
horribly disfgured. The cow-catcher
had struck him, and dragged him along.
An indetinable sensation of fear took
possession of me. Was this ABEL after
all?
1t was too awful, managed, however
to turn the corpse upon its back. The
features were indistinguishable, but all
doubt was speedily set at rest, for by my
lanterns light | recognized Abels cap
tightly clasped in the dead mans hand.
l staggered against the engine, and now
the excitement was over, sobbed like a
child. The passengers in the train we
had left, the up mail, all were forgotten,
until reverently placed the body upon
the engine. The silence was terrible.
persevered until | covered the remains OF
my poor mate as well as possible; and as
sat down upon the engine rail fancied
heard distinct rattle of an approach
ing train. l rose and listened attentively.
After pause whistle, long though very
faint, broke the stiffness. / stood ready
to run if occasion demanded it, when
again the whistle rose, this time loud and
clear, and after dying away in a long,
wailing SOUND, suddenly ended in three
sharp, quick notes. My heart leaped tC
my throat-this was Abel Storers signal
With trembling fingers / replied. In d
few moments a dark object loomed in
front, and Abel's 'hallo" was ringing in
my ears. In two seconds more was be.
side him.
"Don't wiring mans arm off," he
cried, "Im rather done"
"Good heavens, how did you escape?
l said.
cpd toughish bout of it," Abel re
piled, "but, by gosh, I've Won"
81 fancied you were shot," said j
"Look here" and taking him to his owr
engine I showed him the body which still
lay there in all its ghastly reality.
"Shot," he laughed, in no way affected
by the sight, ''no, sir. That's the coon
pippd in the SKULL he grabbed my cap
too; may as well have it agin, | guess.
So saying he released the dusty head GOV
ering from his late antagonists grasp, anC
calmly brushing it,, continued: Eyes, yol
see when the engines closed | leaped OF
the step, and potted this fellow at once
didn't you hear the shot?"
said l had'heard noise, but fancieC
it was steam pipe which had given way
"No," said he, "that was my first fire
These Injuns had but one derrick be
tween them, and this fellow was going tC
use it in my favor, but l luckily stopped
that. The other tried a knife on my skin
but he was soon plugged. Then had t.
go to Landerville to give information, anC
was returning for you when l saw you
head lamp, and whistled accordingly
that's all"
''Is the other unfortunate man dead p
l asked.
"Not he" replied Abel 81 only sho
him in the shoulder-but he'll lose hi
arm, / reckon. We'd better be going
and see about the passengers now,
think"
We then coupled the engines, and leav
ing the dead undisturbed on one, mount
ed the other. On arriving at Bunkun
City we told our tale, to which the man
gled body of the filibuster bore greviou
testimony, and after detention of rathe
more than an hour the passengers wer
dispatched on their journey, Upon thei
return to headquarters we were special!
thanked, and otherwise more substantial
ly rewarded. Abel was promoted to
comfortable permanent berth in New
York City, while was made an engin
driver, with the highest scale of pay, il
his stead.
"A Pittsburgh young lady who ha
been taking piano lessons for severa
years, sent an order to a store for som
music, and fearing that her spelling Nigh