The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-05-17
rAs Passenger sssry.

When il became evident 70 the psssesgers
that something had gone decidedly wrong
The speed Of the train scnsibly slackened
there came series Of tremendous iol's.
accompanied by curious and unpleasant
vhirring sound; followed in turn BY >
complete s,oppAse. A dozen heads we're
,hrus, ioquisisively out Of The car windows
aud ss many voices demanded to know all
about II immediately. In these days OF
magnificent collisions and holocausts, the
travelling public exhibit an extraordinary
amount Of interest in railway concerns, 10
the great scorn and indignation Of all Of
fcials connected.
You have nothing 10 fear, said the con.
ductor, who passed through the cars. su.
perb in gold buttons and Official dignity.
We have struck an up grade where an oil
train stopped IN hour ago. The tracks
are oiled and the drivers don't take hold.
We shall get the sand running in half =
minute.
II was doubtless clear enough TO those
who understood such matters, but 70 me
his explanation was mere iargon, As
somebody said Of Coleridges commentary
upon his poem. "ChristabeI," !" II wish he
would explain his explanation.
The gentleman who occupied the seat
Immediately in front OF me, fine. middle
aged person. with an erect. military air,
seemed to have no difficulty in making ont
the state OF affairs. He smiled and was
preparing to settle himself comfortably
in his seat again, when tapped him upon
the shoulder and said:
Excuse me, sir, but what has occurrede
The conductors explanation is Chinese to
me. What does he mean by the tracks
being oiled?
The gentleman turned about and faced
me.
1t is q simple matter. said he courteous
| ly, to those who have aD idea of railroad
affairs. The power of an engine depends
upon tho friction Of the drivers .on the
tracks-taking hold, as 1t Is called. II
there is oil upon the rails, especially upon
an upgrade, there is no friction; conse-
quently the wheels simply spin around up
on the tracks without moving the train
Ah. said /, comprehend.
could illustrate the case by an event
which occurred to me on this very spot
some years ago. l have always thought it
remarkable incident, and perhaps you
may find it so. The circumstance | refer
TO. he continued, took place during the
war. was at that time an sdjutant upon
Gen. Thomas staff during the exciting and
momentous campaign in the mountains OF
Tennessee. you remember, there we're
many times when il was feared our hour
had come. Our communications were cut
of and our whole command in danger Of
instant destruction. II WAS at one Of these
crises that the event I am going to relate
occurred.
We were at this time intrenched upon a
spur Of the hills around Chattanooga,
whittier we had been driven by the despe
rate courage OF the Confederates Our
men had fought bravely aud well. but they
were exhausted with long marches and
constant action. Our stores had run low,
and but one line Of communication was
left open to us--that Of the railroad into
the eastern part OF the state. BY bril-
liant flank movement the Confederates
succeeded in throwing . line across this
one highway; and there We were, hemmed
in like woodchuck 10 his burrow. Star.
walton or surrender stared US in the face
One or the other Of these alternatives we
must accept in few days at most, unless
some unexpected change took place very
speedily.
1t is, perhaps, difficult for us to compre-
bend the feelings Of commander, hither-
to successful. and with the fate, perhaps,
OF nation depending upon his action,
placed in such position as our general
then was. saw his face grow hourly
more pale and despairing. His step slow
or and more feeble, and his whole air
that Of man whose heart and spirit we're ,
breaking under the strain. But Thomas
was not the man to yield until every re-
source had been sounded And there was
one resource yet left-a desperate and al
most hopeless one, it is true. h
Forty miles 10 the east Of us lay Stock.
tons command Of nearly thirty thousand
men, ssrenely unconscious OF our danger ,
and their own. Several days before Stock.
ton had been directed to occupy apass in ,
the mountains on the left, and to hold
il until further orders. OF course, una
ware OF the predicament of the main army '
be would make no movement TO our relief '
Communications were now cut of, and 1t
seemed matter Of utter impossibility to /
reopen them through the heavy line of
Confederates which lay across the railroad 3
Thomas, however, determined TO try it, '
and was selected for the dangerous, yet !
honorable. duty Of the attempt. 8
We had reason 10 suppose thst the ene- '
my had not destroyed the .railroad. and i
that II we were not captured at the outset q
We might get an engine through TO Kama D
kia station, where Stockton lay.
Al 1890 my orders were given me, and D
I mounted the engine, Which was either '
to carry me TO my death or to save the ar. b
my. II was not powerful machine. but I
il was the best at our disposal, and. for i
tunately, in good order. One Of our men. 8
who bad been an engineer, undertook to /
manage the engine. and another 10 fire it. :
Both were cool. tried men, but ~ We q
stepped into the cab together saw them .
shake hands with their comrades aud bid .
f-~-..-u Exil1a4ix. xaaiiLnE ~ lheEn | 4