The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-08
A HORRIBLE STORY.
What an Engineer Did with q Man
who Dfsarranged Railroad Track.

What an Engineer Did with q Man
who Disarranged q Railroad Track.
IRON the Indianapolis Sentinell
As the day of Cluck's execution approaches,
horrible and ghastly topics are discussed IN
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 garrulous OLD VS.
itor narrates some story of hanging, or the
details of some dark crime that occurred
when she was girl. The solemn, the mys
terious, and the superstiuons, which always
surround hanging, seem to be in the air;
and, although the topic Is disgusting one,
IL must be confessed-not to the credit OF
bumauity-that q morbid appetite IN the
public Graves and demands the mlnutest de-
tail of the horrible barbarity. One OF the
MANY recalled stories which are borne upon
the very wind, the following was told to
Sentinel reporter night or two ago. and. to
add to the horrId surroundings of the story,
he was In cofhn shop, viewing the CONN
which is to contain the last remains of the
murderer Cuck. The story may be true
one: more likely 1t Is false, but 1t is given as
It was detailed, anG 1t may be that some one
still living may remember the circumstance
and wfitethe iale. Some years ago there was
q well-knoWn engineer, whose name ls not
given for good and sufficient reasons. ran
passenger train on one OF the most popular
dlanapols. At q certain place on the road,
every night for about week, as the passen-
ger train ran by this engineer came thuDder'
ling along, It was certain TO be thrown from the
track by obstructio1s placed there. Several OF
these riishaps 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 grum and
silent at the throttle, turned to his fireman
and said: 1T this train jumps the track -
this place tonight yon follow me; don't stop
for anything, bnt keep close after me. Some
BODY has been throwing this train of the
track, and I'm going to catch him." When
the train arrived at the usual place lt struck q
MISPLACED raff and was banked. The engi-
neer: closely followed by the fireman, jumped
from the engine and ran Into corn.held, and
started up q man That lay concealed there.
Upon bringing the culprlt back to the wreck
the enrsged passengers wanted 10 lynca
him; but the engineer, stern, cold,
determined man, prevented them, saying
that to1 he would take charge OF him,
and through the intercession OF the con-
ductor the trembling ;Wretcn was lett IN
charge O: the engineer. The train was right
ed, and was soon speeding on It's way. The
had been seated on the engine, and the nre-
man placed beside him as guard. When the
train was on smooth piece Of track, bowling
along at speed Of twenty-five miles an hour,
the engineer beckoned the fireman to stand
ont of The way. The fireman stepped aside,
and the engineer picked up a round stick OF
wood and struck the criminal such q blow
upor the head that 1t stunned him. BE then
caEght the quIvering form of the poor wretch,
and opening the furnace doors, threw his body
intolthe hot, ,seething hell OF flame. The doors
were ehut,; the train ratified along, and never,
un:n upon his death-bed the engineer con.
fesset the act, was 1t ascertained what had
been the fate of the aend who had been IN
The habit Of throwing the train OF the track.