Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-09-16
Adventures Of an Engine
Driver.

JOD L. OIOgSeT, OuT loCoiHo1iFo Uooo'
accosted me as I was making ready the
milwaukee" to take the Through"
train westward.
Well, George" said he, ..heard the
news? Guess not, eh ? You ain t got
to run this route agin p
turned pale, fearing I had got into
some scrape; but I only said, "Why,
sir %
"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
a frst-rate hand, had just been promot-
ed with handsome douceur, for gallant
conduct upon certain occasion. was
his companion on that occasion; and as
the adventure was the couse of my be-
ing made an engine-driver, I will, with
your permission, proceed to relate it J
without further preface
Soon after my arrival in the States l
succeeded in obtaining situation as
fireman on one of the trunk lines Af-
ter time l became associated with
Abel Storer, who had the reputation of
being frst-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 had had
with 'white Injuns' as he .denominated
certain flibustering gentlemen who had
a playful habit of Disgusting themselves
as native Indians. and carrying off any
ammunition contained in the wagons. At
times, indeed, I believe, they did not
hesitate to commit 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 Land
erville. Abel was accordingly in great
hopes of shooting some ''Injuns," and
provided himself with a quantity of am
munition for his six-shooter I, who
was more skeptical, neglected this pre-
caution. We started, however, having
a quantity of specie in boxes, some val
liable stores, and mixed cargo of ''no-
tlons" in our charge. We had received
instructions to shunt at Bunkum City
for faster train of passengers, and then
Gf it had not previously run into usl to
assist it up the steep incline at that
place, our train being subsequently help
ed up by the other locomotive.
We arrived at Bunkum Sliding in
safety about 5 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 small store, where we
managed to procure food and some of
the most fiery stuff miscalled whisky
that | ever tasted. Abel drank it gree
dily, however, while devoted myself to
the food. We were on the eve of de-
parture as two rough looking fellows en-
! tered and demanded liquor, "taking
stock of us as they staggered about.
, Seeing that Abel was becoming more
intoxicated, and recollccting that the
passenger train must be due, I attempt
ed to remove him, but one of the stran-
, gers stepping forward, requested US to
, ''iquor up before we started. Abel
grunted drunken assent, and /, not
daring to refuse, sat down while the
drink was being prepared. During the
concoction of the ''reviver," Abel kept
wandering aimlessly about, swayine
: recklessly against the tables, and wher
: the glass was at length prepared for my
g acceptance, he lurched heavily agains
3: the stranger, and crash went the tum
t bier upon the floor, while amid volle,
of curses l dragged the offender from thu
. house, and managed to regain the en-
c gine unmolested
IS Anticipating we should be followed
l kept Abel's revolver in readiness, bu
; after time | noticed two figures pro
" ceeding in the direction of some log hut
: which lay some little distance down tn
line upon the left. AS the stranger
e disappeared over the brow of the hill,
is turned my attention to Abel.
n 10 my astonishment he responded t
~ my first abjurations by saying as h
gained sitting posture, Darn ther
It have they gone right away :?
Y. For moment | stared in speeches
k surprise.
7. 7. why, I thought you were drunk,
y l cried, at length.
"a "Drunk p he echoed, ''those fellow
K would have you on your back in a coon
ht jump but for me. | knew them, th
~ ~ 'Injun thieves, they're after our speci
". my boy, as sure as shootin, but I'll ia
y EN-, the varmints. Which is the spec
u wagon q
e, Number eight, . I replied, wondering
ed ". ~ess
lie "0f with it, and tackle it on the pa
aS senger train,' cried Abel excitedly
. well fix their fints yet, by gosh
;, So We set to work with a will; b,
lis while we were uncoupling the wage
as the other train arrived. Abel comm