The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-05-29

turned on full pressure, and swore
he'd shoot them before he slept.
Now commenced the most extraor-
dinary chase ever heard of.
The engine in front had start of
about half a mile, but we had great
er power, and understood the man
agement of the machine. Both 10
comotives we're well supplied with
wood and water. One of our oppo-
nents attempted to jump off, as the
speed for q moment was slackened
but he was hurled upon the line a
bleeding mass. His terrible fate
deferred his companions, who in
creased their distance and disap-
peared over the brow of the hill
We followed, going at a terrific rate,
humping and oscillating to such q
degree upon the uneven track, that
| I fancied that we should have run
off the track. We kept our course,
however, gaining slightly for time,
Abel taking every opportunity OF
sending a bullet through the wealth
erboard of the retreating engine.
AS the excitement cooled off a
little, I for the first time time dis
lowered that 1 had been hit A
trickling of blood from a wound in
nv arm and a numb sensation, were
anything but agreeable. A rough
bandage stopped the bleeding, and
we were then at liberty to watch the
chase once more. Darkness came
on, vet there was no sign of any
abatement of the speed, or any ap-
parent change in our relative posi-
tions. Occasionally defiant Whls-
tie was borne back to US, but still
we swept on through the night.
Suddenly the red glow upon the
track in front seemed to STOP we
neared it rapidly.
"Dive!" roared Abel, just in time.
AS he spoke, two shots came whiz-
zing through the glass in front, and
fell harmless from the iron plate be-
hind us.
"a shave that" laughedmy COM
panion. 'I'Il be quits" As he spoke
| he got out upon the frame, and told
me to lie cached.
"What on earth are you about?
l asked. His reply made me shud-
der.
"Pm going to kill them on that
engin', goodbye, friend" He was
housekeeping over the wheel cast
| lings to the buffet beam.
Now determined to win, employ
ed every means to do so. We were
surely gaining. Another log upon
the already roaring furnace. The
valves discharged cloud of kissing
steam, but on 1 went to destruction
In few moments more the en-
gines were almost touching; another
shot but no harm done. We bump
ed a grinding noise was heard, ther
another bump. "Hurrah!" " l cried
or rather tried to cry, for my throat
was SO parched that could scarcely
utter a sound, and regardless of risk
was about to join Abel when shriL
noise arose beneath US, and the 9th
er engine shot into the darkness
ahead. With an oath 1 shut off the
steam further progress l knew was
impossible with the heated machin
ery) and shouted to Abel. As soor
as / could pull up, 1 jumped of and
ran to the front. Abel had disap
peared! Gracious heavens, had he
fallen where the engines touched
1 began to fear the worst, and called
wildly, in the vain hope that h'
might hear, but the whisper of th'
wind was the only reply. 1t was i'm
possible that he could have gained
the foot-plate of the other engin'
and escaped instant death; had h'
fallen the engine would have killeC
him. Thus I argued, and after
time mechanically filed pipe, ant
taking a lamp began to oil tn
cranks. Looking at my watch,
found we had been running thirt,
minutes, and at such pace that
knew the up mail could not be ia
distant, and that Landerville was on
lly a few miles of. So 1 ran gentl
ahead again, and had not run ia
when a sudden lift of the engin
nearly threw me down. / stoppe
and descended. At the side of tn
track lay body horribly disfguret
/ The COW catcher had struck him an
dragged him along. An indefnabl
sensation of fear took possession c
! lme. Was this Abel, after all?
1t was too awful. 1 managed
however to turn the corpse upon il
r lback. The features were indistiI
| guishable; but all doubt was speed
e lly set at rest, for by my lantern
s light l recognized Abel's cap frml
: Iclasped in the dead mans hand.
y ] staggered against the engin
r and now that the excitement was o.
o er sobbed like q child. The passel
: lgers in the train we had left, the Il
v mail-all were forgotten, until l ha
reverently placed the body on IL
Il engine. The silence was terribl
: 1 persevered until 1 had covered th
il remains of my poor mate as well
e possible, and as 1 sat down upon ii
q engine rail fancied 1 heard the di
e !tant rattle of an approaching trai
. soon a whistle, long, though We
@ faint, broke the stiffness. l stOC
.e ready to run if occasion demand,
K it, when again the whistle rose, th
o time loud and clear, and after dyil
k away into long wailing sound, su
denly ended in three sharp, qui
D. notes. My heart leaped to my thro
.r that aCas Abel Storer's sign!
ID With trembling fingers 1 replie
lie In a few moments a dark objt
lie lloomed in front and Abers "hallo
al was ringing in my ears. In t.
It. seconds more l was beside hi
~ ''Don't wiring a mans arm off,"
as cried.
IN "Good heavens! How did you
e. eape?" 1 asked.
If. I'D toughish bout of it." Al
IS replied, ''but by gosh, I've won"
OF 81 fancied you were shot," said
ell "look here" and taking him to
ds own engine showed him the bo
Sc which still lay there in all its CHA
'r- ly reality.
be "Shot," he laughed, in no way
.e- fected bv the sight; no, sir, tha