The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-02-13


Of the flying raiders. Then there was
an open track and fair race. Through
village after village the two trains flew
like lightning. Having to stop occasion
ally to cut the telegraph wires, Andrews
saw that it was necessary te force his
pursuers to halt also. Consequently he
knocked the rear end of the last baggage
car out, and dropped crossties and rails
upon the track in front of the pursuing |
train. At last when he was pushed very |
close, he uncoupled one of the cars |
and left it drifting upon the track. The |
Oonfederates halted an instant, coupled |
it to their train, and hurried on again,
pushing it ahead of them. Another car
was finally dropped, and at length the
last Car was kindled into blaze and left
upon high bridge, in the hope that it
might burn the bridge and thus check
the pursuers. But it was impossible,
with the whirling at such enormous
speed, to get the blaze fully started, and
| il went out before it enkindled the bridge
The pursuing train coupled this car and
swept on.
Chattanooga was now only twenty
miles distant, but the foremost engine
was in sad plight. Its brass journals
were all melted down; it's wood and water
were exhausted, and progress was vir-
tually ended. A hurried council of war
was held, and bold and brilliant plan
was determined upon. It was decided
to let one of the raiders pull the engine
out of sight around a curve, while the
others disembarked, tore up the track,
and hid in the brush near the road.
Then, when the train of the pursuers ar
rived, and the forces on it were engaged
in repairing the track, the ambushed
men would spring upon them, disperse
them, and send their train sweeping
back down the road to wreck everything
behind it, and give the raiders time to
escape. But lust as this plan was deter
mined upon, the pursuing train rushed
in sight, and bore down rapidly on the
doomed engine. Seeing that they would
inevitably be run down in very few
moments. Andrews orderedshis men to
take to the woods and save themselves,
and shaking the hands of his comrades,
who were huddled upon the tender,
leaped from the sshying engine, and was
soon lost in the woods. He was followed
by his men, who jumped from one side
or the other and took to the nearest
shelter.
, We recur to Messrs. Murphy and
, Fuller, who set upon foot from Big
Shanty in pursuit of the stolen engine.
, AS absurd as that foot-race appeared, it
! was the means of battling the scheme of
, the determined raiders. Murphy and
: Fuller ran on foot for about three miles
; as fast as they could hurry, having no
Q definite plan except to go ahead. After
D they had gone three miles they came
. upon a hand-car, which was lying upon
/, the side of the track. 1t was used to
D., move the road workers about. Putting
1 this car Upon the track, and impressing
e a force of negroes they hurried on, push
i. ing it up grade with poles, and letting 1t
4 fly down grade of its own weight. They
f made pretty good time with this, and at
!, last reached a station where side road
# ran out to a coal mine. An engine ready
fired was standing here, They impress
. ed it, and put it through its best PAGES
e until they reached Kingston, where the
IS engine of the Rome railroad "a bran ii
e of the Western and Atlantic railroad)
= was awaiting the up train. They seized
Y this and continued their pursuit. With
r this engine they came in sight of the
d stolen train. They followed it until they
y came to the place where the track was
is SO badly torn they could not replace it
d They then started on foot again, ant
st soon met the down passenger 'trai1
m which they at once tnrned backward
{ and pressed the runaways so close tina
l.. they had to take to the woods. Thus j
d will be seen that three engines and
lie hand-car were used consecutively in thi
10 wild and headlong chase after TIN
Id raiders.
Ill AS an evidence of the tremendou
~ speed made in this run, it is said tina
he the down passenger train which was re
Id versed went fifty-two miles in sixty-on
lg minutes, pushing q train ahead of it fo
IL several miles, stopping frequently to re
lie move distractions.
at OF cour 20 the men who leaped froI
er the stolen engine had very little chanc
lg of escape. They were surrounded o
he every side by enemies. Within a fe'
Y, hundred yards of where they left the
he engine two regiments of cavalry wen
ch encamped. 1t was muster day at Rims
er gold, two miles away, and hundreds {
n farmers, armed and mounted, were co
ed lected there. The road was lined wit
IN soldiers. The alarm had been sent
it. Chattanooga by telegraph, and traiI
up loaded with troops and scouts were hu
nd rying to the. scene. The day was darl
so cloudy, and rainy. The raiders wei
cir unacquainted with the country, and wit
1t stars and sun hidden, did not know IL
in south from the north. They plunge
of into the woods, however, and struck OF
ly, for the Tennessee river. In an hOI
lr- the whole county was alive with scou
iy. and hunters. There was not by pat
wo or cross road that was not thorough
ur- explored. To add to the terrors of Il
ob- situation, well-trained hounds were pl
up upon the track of the fugitives, al
lay trailed them down with unerring ce
as tainty. The hunt, though an excitin
ere was not long one. In twenty fol
4 II "a