The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-05-08
An Exciting Exploit on a Westera
Railroad.

l do not think l ever felt prouder in my
life than did one morning when our loco
motive ''boss' accosted me as | was making
ready the Milwaukee, y to take the through
train westward.
swell, George" said he, "heard the
news? Guess not, eh You amt got to
run this route again -
turned pale, fearing had got into some
scrape; but L only said, "Why, sir?"
'Why?" he repeated, because you're
put up in Abel's place. You feel kinder
spry, reckon
l did, indeed, 'feel kinder spry," for
Abel, a irst-rate hand, had just been pro-
motel, with handsome douceur for gallant
q nduct upon certain occasion, and as the
adventure was the cause of my being made
an engine driver, l will, with your permis-
sion, proceed to relate it.
Soon after my arrival in the States, | sue
ceeded in obtaining situation as fireman
on one of the trunk lines. After while |
became associated with Abel Storer. who
had the reputation of II first-class engine
driver, though he was, to my taste, n little
too reckless, and when Sin liquor" nothing
daunted him. From Abel | heard many
tales respecting the encounters he had had
with the white injuns, as he denominated
certain filibustering gentlemen who had a
playful habit of Disgusting themselves as
| native Indians, and carrying off any specie
or ammunition contained in the wagons.
At times, [ believe, they did not hesitate to
commit the most dreadful outrages, under
the guise of war paint.
One morning about two months after my
having been appointed fireman, we got
| orders to take train down to Landerville
Abel was accordingly in great hopes of
shooting some ''injuns," " and provided him
self with quantity of ammunition for his
six shooter. |, more skeptical, neglected
| this precaution. We started, however,
having quantity Of specie in our boxes,
some valuable stores, and a mixed cargo of
notions in our charge. We had received in
structions to shunt at Blnkum City, for
| faster train with passengers, and then, (if it
! had not previously run into us), to assist it
| up the steep incline at that place, our train
being subsequently helped up by the other
| locomotive.
We arrived at Bunkum siding in safety,
about o'clock, and hearing nothing of the
| following train. replenisLed the engine, and
| then proceeded to look for some food for
ourselves. We pitched upon a small store
where we managed to procure food, and
some of the most fiery stuff (miscalled whis-
| kew that | ever tasted. Abel drank it
| greedily, however, while | devoted myself
to the food. We were on the eve of depar-
ture as two rough-looking fellows entered
and demanded liquor, taking stock" of us
as they staggered about. Seeing that Abel
was becoming more intoxicated, and recol-
Iecting that the passenger train must be due,
| attempted to move him, but one of the
strangers stepping forward, requested us to
''liquor up" before we started. Abel grunt-
| ed drunken assent, and |, not daring to re-
fuse, sat down while the drink was being
prepared. During the concoctiOn of the
s'reviver," Abel kept wandering aimlessly
about, swaying recklessly against the tables,
and when the glass was at length presented
for nv acceptance, he lurched heavily against
the stranger Crash went the tumbler on
the floor, while amid yolley of curses
dragged the offender from the house and
managed to regain the engine unmolested.
Anticipating that we should be followed,
kept Abel's revolver in readiness but after
time noticed two figures proceeding in
the direction of some log huts which lay some
little distance down the line, upon the left
As the strangers disappeared over the brow
of the hill, turned my attention to Abel.
To my astonishment, he responded to my
first adjurations by saying, as he gained a
rising posture, " Darn them cusscs, they
have gone right away J"
For moment L stared in speechless sur
prise. "Why, thought you were drunk, ,
cried at length.
.. .'DrunkI'' he echoed, '' those fellow.
} would have had you on your back in {
, coon's jump but for me. know them, the
= Iniun thieves, they're after our specie
nv bow. as sure as shOotin', but I'll tail 'em
the varmints. Which is the specie wag
onf"
f: "No. 81 responded, wonderingly.
: "Of with it and tackle it on to the pas
;, senger train," c. led Abel, excitediy, " wei
/ fix their fiints yet, by gosh
So we set to work with will, but Will