The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-06
A Horrible StOry-What an Engineer
ssfd with a sfan who Disarranged a
Railroad Track.
Indianapolis Sentinel.

lihoiaIapons Senhnei-I
AS the ddy of Cluck's execution approaches,
horrible and ghastly topics are discussed III
workshops, around the evening stove, In the
corner grocery, and in many places Of public
resort. Children shudder, and cling closer to
their mothers knee, as the gurru!ous old Wis
itor narrates some story of hanging, or the
details OF some dark crime that occurred
when she was girl. The solemn. the mys-
ttriotiS, and the stiperstitious, which always
surround a hanging, seem to be In the air ;
and, although the topic is disgusting one,
it must be contessed--not to the credit OF
humanity -that morbid appetite in the
public Graves and demands the n1nutest de-
tail of the horrible barbarity. One of the
many recalled stories which are borne upon
the very wind, the following was told to a
Sentinel reporter night or two ago, and,
TO add TO the horrid surroundings of
the story, lie WIS In n coffin-shop,
viewing the coffin which is to contain the
last remains Of the murderer Chuck. The
story may be true one; more likely 1t Is
false, but it is given as it was detailed, and it
may be that some one still living may re-
member the circumstance and write the tale.
Some years ago there was well-known en-
sineer, whose mamie Is not given for good
and sufficient reasons, fat1 Il passenger train
on one of the most popular and most trti.
yelled roads that runs out Of indianapolis.
At certain place on the road, every night
for about Il week, as the passenger train ran
by this engineer came laundering along, it
was certain to be thrown from the track by
distractions 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 questioned. One night as
the unfortunate train was nearing the fatal
spot. the engineer. who had been sitting
grllm and silent at the throttle, turned to his
fireman and said: ''If this train Jumps the
track OF that place tonight, you follow me
don't stop for afytliingy but keep close after
me. Somebody has been throwing this train
off the track, and Pm going to catch him"
When the train arrived at the usual place
it struck misplaced rail and was banked.
The engineer closely followed by the fire
man, jumped from tie engine and ran into a
corn-tield, and started upa mali chat lug con.
cealed there. Upon bringing the culprlt
back to the wreck the enraged passengers
wanted to lynch him, but the engineer, q
stern, cold, determined man, prevented them,
saying that he would take charge Of him
and through the intercession of the CON
ductor the trembling wretch sag left in
charge of the engineer. The train was
righted, and was soon speeding on its way
The prisoner, who had confessed his tiend-
i>hneSs, had been seated on the engine
and the tiremen placed beside him as q
guard. When tho train was OH Il smoot
piece of track. bowling along at speed Of
twenty-five miles an hour, the engineer beck
oned the fireman to stand out of the way
The fireman stepped aside, and the engineer
picked up round stick Of wood and struck
the criminal such blow upon the head thai
it stunned him. He then caught the CULVER.
ing form of the poor wretthy and opening the
furnace doors. threw his body Into the hot
seething hell of flame. The doors were shut
the train ratified along, and never, until upor
his dnath-bed the engineer confessed the act
was it ascertained What Ind been the fate OF
the fend who bad been in the habit of thiow
ing the train of the track.