Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-01-30
man on earth six thousand years ago
proves his presence here as many thou
sand centuries. .-Scientifc american.
A Horrible Story.

AS the day Of the murderer Cluck's
execution approaches, horrible and
ghastly topics are discussed in work
shops, around the evening stove, in the
corner grocery; ind In many places OF
public resort. Children shuuder and
cling closer to their mothers knee as
the garrulous old visitor narrates some
story of o hanging, or the details OF
some dark crime that occurred when she
was q girl. The solemn, the mysterious
and the superstitious, which always
surround q hanging, seem to be in the
aif; and, although the topic is dis
gusting one, it must be confessed-not
to the credit of humanity-that q NOR.
bid appetite in the public Graves and
demands the minutest detail OF the hor-
rible barbarity. One of the many re-
called stories which are borne upon the
very wind, the following was told to q
reporter Of the Indianapolis Sentinel q
night or two ago, and, to add to the
horrid surroundings of the story, he
was in a coffin shop, viewing the coffin
which is to contain the last remains OF
the condemned Cluck. The story may
be a true one; more likely it is false,
but it is given as it was detailed, and it
NAV be that some one still living may
remember the circumstance and write
the tale.
Some years ago there was we'll ksswn
engineer, whose name is not given for
good and sufficient reasons, ran pas
senger train on one of the most popular
and most travelled roads that runs out
of indianapolis. At certain place on
the road, every night for about week,
as the passenger train run by this engi-
neer came thuadering along, it was GER
tain to be thrown from the track by OBJ
structions placed there. Several OF
these mishaps to the train caused loss of
life, and the company was becoming
considerably alarmed, and the ability OF
the engineer was being seriously gees
toned. One night as the unfortunate
train was nearing the fatal spot, the en-
gineer, who had been sitting grum and
silent at the throttle. turned to the fire.
man and said, If this train Jumps the
track at this place to-sight, you follow
me; don't stop for anything, but Keep
close after me. Somebody has been
throwing this train off the track, and l m
going to catch him." When the train
arrived at the usual place it struck a
misplaced rail and was banked. The
engineer, closely followed by the fire
man, jumped from the engine and ran
into a corn field, and started up man
that lay concealed there. Upon bring
ing the culprit back to the wreck the
enraged passengers wanted to lynch him,
but the engineer, a stern, cold, deter
mined man, prevented them, saying he
would take charge of him, and through
the intercession of the conductor the
trembling wretch was lett in charge OF
the engineer. The train was righted
AID was soon speeding on its way. The
prisoner, who had confessed his tiend-
ishness, had been seated on the engine,
and the fireman placed beside him as a
guard. When the train was on smooth
piece of track, bowling along at speed
of twenty-five miles an hour, the engl-
neer beckoned the fireman to stand out
Of the way. The fireman stepped aside
and the engineer picked up rosnd
stick of wood and struck the criminal
such blow upon the head that it com.
pletely stunned him. He then caught
the quivering form of the poor wretch,
and, opening the furnace doors, threw
his body into the hot, seetling hell OF
flame. The doors were shut, the tram
ratified along, and never, until upon his
death-bed, the engineer confessed the
oct was il ascertaineS what had been
the fate of the tiend who had been in the
habit of throwing the train off the
track.