The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-01-31

thrilled for a moment, trembled uneas'
ily, then Aattened to the track, and went
hying away towards the west Not until
the engine was fairly out Of sight did
the crowd understand what had been
done. When the truth was realized the
most frantic uproar arose, the mass o.
soldiers, citizens and train hands hud
died upon the track in pitiable contu
sion yells Of rage swelled into the air
and the sharp crackle of comment broke
the monotone. Suddenly two men, hat
less and coatless, sped from out this be-
wildered crowd, and with pale, determ-
ined faces, started in pursuit Of the en-
CINE. These were the conductor and
engineer, Messrs. Fuller and Murphy
who, on foot, amid the sudden and un'
controlled laughter of the crowd, started
out to catch the men, who were flying al
the rate Of sixty miles an hour with theil
train.
A THRILLING RACE.
The twenty-five men upon the engine
had an almost impossible task be-
fore them. They had to burn the
bridges upon their route-they had to
cut the telegraph wires as they proceeded
to prevent the alarm preceding them
they had to meet and pass two regular
trains Of the road-they were followed
by maddened enemies-and even if they
should reach Chattanooga, the terminus
of the road, in safety, they would find
themselves in a strongly fortified post OF
the enemy-a hundred miles from their
own lines--and in momentary expecta-
ton of the sight of their pursuers.
And yet they went ahead, bravely and
carefully. When about one mile from
the station (where there was no telegraph
operator) they stopped and cut down the
wire and pulled up rail or two. Re-
mounting their engine, they hurried on.
When they reached the first station
above Big Shanty they told the tank
tender they were pulling through an ex,
ira powder train for Beauregard, and
asked for a schedule, He gave them
one, and they found they would meet the
down passenger train few stations
above. Having more than enough time
to make the schedule, they pulled along
leisutely, stopping occasionally to tear
up the track. They had no tools with
which to take up the rails, and had to
batter them down with hammers, While
engaged at this work they were astound.
ed at hearing a short distance behind
them the whistle of an engine in pursuit,
With one convulsive effort they tore up
the rails they were hammering at and
remounted their engine. AS they did so
they saw the engine manned by their
pursuers rush around the curve. 1t was
stopped by the torn track, and in the
meantime the raiders flew out of sight.
They had to stop so frequently, however,
to cut the wire that their pursuers kept
in sight nearly all the way. The chase
was a headlong one. Two men stood on
the COW. catcher Of the pursuing engine,
to leap off and remove the distractions
from the track and to tear up rails from
behind the engine and lay them down in
front. AT length, just as they were near
ing the station where they were to meet
the down train the raiders succeeded in
tearing up the track very badly and load
ing the baggage car with some fifty rails.
They then drew in on the siding and
waited for the down train to clear the
track. They told the powder train story
to the conductor of this train.
As they pulled out they saw their pur~
;uers reach the broken track and halt
heir engine. Two men 1.-THE conductor
and engineer OF the stolen train) jumped
off and ran toward the down train. They
boarded it and hastily turned it back and
pursued wrong end foremost, in pursuit
IF the flying Yankees. Then there was
IN open track and fair race. Through
village after village the two trains flew
ike lightning. Having to stop occasion
lilly to. cut the telegraph wires. Ans
lrews saw that it was necessary to force
lis pursuers to halt also. Consequently |
le knocked the rear end Of the last bag |
rage car out, and dropped crossties and |
'ails upon the track in front of the pur-
suing train. At last when he was pur.
iued very close, he uncoupled one Of the |
,ars and left it drifting upon the track
The Confederates halted an instant,
coupled it to their train, and hurried on
gain, pushing it ahead of them. An
,ther car was finally dropped, and at
ength the last car was kindled into
,laze and left upon high bridge, in the |
rope that it might burn the bridge and |
hus check the pursuers. But it was i'm.
possible, with the whirling at such enor-
nous speed, to get the blaze fully started,
Ind it went out before it enkindled the |
,ridge. The pursuing train coupled this |
,ar and swept on.
FLYING TO THE WOODS.
Chattanooga was now only twenty |
niles distant, but the foremost engine
vas in sad plight. Its brass journals |
we're all melted down; its wood and water
we're exhausted, and progress was virtu-
lily ended. A hurried council of war
vas held, and bold and brilliant plan
vas determined upon. 1t was decided to
ct one of the raiders pull the Yankee en-
zine out of sight around a curve, while
he others disembarked, tore up the track,
Ind hid in the brush near the road. Then
when the train of the pursuers arrived,
Ind the forces on it were engaged in res
pairing the track, the ambushed men |
would spring upon them, and send their |
rain sweeping back down the road to
wreck everything behind it, and give the |
'aiders time to escape. But just as this
olan was determined upon the pursuing |
rain rushed in sight and bore down rap.
dly on the doomed engine. Seeing that
hey would inevitably be run down in a
,ery few moments. Andrews ordered |
lis men to take to the woods and save |
and shaking the hands Of his
comrades, who were huddled upon the |
ender. .leaped from the flying engine, and |
vas soon lost in the woods. He was fol-
owed by his men, who jumped from one
tide or the other and took to the nearest |
shelter.
We recur to Messrs. Murphy and Full.
er,who set out upon foot from Big Shan