Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-03-24

The passengers who escaped from
the burning sleeper on the Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad tell thrilling stories of
their narrow escapes from being burned
alive. One Of the most remarkable
was that of Gen. Dudley, Commissioner
OF Patents. He had only time to seize
his artificial ley, tuck it under his arm
and drag himself along the aisle toward
the door, keeping his face close to the
floor to avoid the binding, suffocating
flames. As he reached for his leg he
remembered that Representative Ben
Wilson, of West Virginia, who occu-
pied berth some distance down the
Car, was deaf, and the thought flashed
across his mind that perhaps the alarm
might not have aroused the sleeping
man. As be crawled along on his
hands, knee and stump he felt liz every
berth, making all possible speed, but
not missing a bunk in his blind search
for Wilson. Sure enough, there lay
the Congressman in one of the berths
sound asleep, in the very embrace of a
fiery death, totally oblivious of bic dan
ger. The Commissioner shook him
vigorously, but could not arouse the
sleeper. Reaching over the PROSTATE
form he raised the window, and then,
jumping into the berth, he seized Mr..
Wilson by both shoulders and shook
him with desperate earnestness, which
at last accomplished the object, aud the
member of Congress crawled through
the window as the train came TO halt.
The General remained cool in spite of
the heat and binding smoke, and be
again placed his face within two or
three inches of the floor and dragged
himself through the doorway and fell
from the platform more dead than
alive. The car within two minutes was
all ablaze, and but for General Dudley's
presence of mind Wilson would have
gone where all good West Virginians
60. Very few of the passengers got
away with anything except their night
clothes. Luckily General Dudley's pan
falcons were fastened to his artificial
leg, and when he carried that off in tri-
umph the attachment came with it.
General Dudley's bravery and pres
ence of mind on the occasion of the
burning of the sleeper recalls another
brave deed in his career. "He was in
command of an Indiana regiment at the
battle of Gettysburg" said the civilian
narrator, "and was on the extreme left
of the line. In the thick Of the first
days fight Confederate column was
discovered moving on his flank. Dudley
was ordered to fall back with his left
flank. The only way the command
could be given 80 it could be under
stood was to move the colors back. The
first color. bearer was shot dead the mo-
ment he touched the flagstaff. Another
brave boy rushed forward only to meet
the same fate. A third was shot down.
There was a wavering, and Dudley
seized the colors to move them back.
Down he went with his right leg shot
full OF lead. Struggling to a halt.
standing posture, he shifted the flagstaff
to his left hand, and extending his right
hand ordered his men to drag him
along. They pulled him on his back
over the rough ground for a consider
able distance, his mangled leg leaving
a trail of blood; but the colors came
down no more, although the aim of
scores of Confederate marksmen was
concentrated upon that point That
was the way Dudley lost his leg"