Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-22
A HERO'S NERVE.
A Battle with Train Wreekers In
Cnnch County.

HoAERvrLLE, CLINcH COUNTY, Ga, February
SO.-EditOr MoTntnQ Netcs: On Saturday
night, the 18th inst. Mr.. Benjamin johnson,
section master on the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway, left his shanties, situated
four miles from here, to go to Dupont. some five
miles distant. Mr.. Johnson's family was away,
and having no one to leave at home, he took
all his hard earnings amounting to 1891,
which by mis- frugality he had managed to save
out of his wages-along with him. He started
to walk from his shanties to DUPONT to meet
his family, who we're to return on the train
that night, and the night being warm he had
just thrown his coat over his shoulders, button
ing it by the top button. 1t was half-past eight
when he left the shanties, and the night was
very dark. When he had Travelled just mile
and had reached Jones' creek, it being then
about nine o'clock, he came upon
negro on the track, and found that an
iron rail had been placed across the track. and
that another had been unfastened and showed
ont OF place sufficiently to have thrown train
on. johnson Immediately seized the negro,
and arter struggling With him awhile and Civ
ing him few well directed blows and kicks
suodued him. made him remove the rail from
the track, collared him with his left hand, and.
holding him in front. started back to the shan.
In his right hand When he had gons but a
short distance, and having his attention all
directed to the darkey in his clutches, two
other parties approached him from the rear,
and before he knew of their presence ore of
them whom he took to be white man. seized
him in the coat collar, jerked and struck him,
and struggle ensued. The other one of the
parties coming upon him from the rear he took
to be negro. johnson was forced to turn
loose the negro in his front and turn upon
tnose IN his rear In the struggle he managed
70 70 InroW tne white man to the ground, and he
himself was knocked and fell down across
the railroad iron, severely injuring his
right shoulder and ribs He struggled
to his feet, with his knife gone, his
calling to the two negroes to knock his brains
out Taking in the situation and his own DOW
erless condition to further continue the Strug-
gle,Johnson sprang from amongst the three des-
perate would-be train wreckers and murderers
ana after getting a few PAGES from them
drew small pistol he had with him. turned
on them. firing several shots, and drove them
oa-k from pursuing him. He hurried as best
he could, in his bruised and painful condition
on back TO the shanties, and getting his gun
and an old negro man named Brown, the only
male person there. returned Immediately to the
point where he had found and left the train
wreckers In the struggle they had jerked his
coat on, in which he was CARRYING his money
being simply butLoned around his shoulders as
deScrlbe1. which he had been forced to leave
behind. The wreckers were gone when John.
son got back. but he found where they had
eindled a small fire. and had rifled his pockets
taking his money, 1891, and leaving his coat
behind johnson was suffering severely from
his injuries, but with the help OF old Brown. he
got the misplaced rail back in position. and
securely fastened in time for the west bound
passenger train to pass over safely, thus saw
ing what would have been q terrible wreck In
Jones creek. and doubtless a great loss of life.
Johnson is getting on very well. but no trace
OF the wreckers has yet been discovered.
though every effort is being made to secure
their arrest. What their motive or purpose
was is only q matter of conjecture.
There is no truer or braver man lvinc, than
Ben Johnson, and his conduct on this Occasion
is certainly deserving of the highest nraise
and al deeply sYmpathise with him In his
painful injuries and sad loss