Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-11-08

mlIuly, q uCCiutuly unulHnlleu way Ol
settling accounts with tho world. As
for surrender. am certain that neither
of my comrades thought of 1t as n
means of escape any iilOre than did.
A sacred trust, involving the fate of an
army, perhaps of n nation, had been
placed with US. To yield it to any but
the skeleton hand of death itself was
notion that never entered our heads.
1t was, then, life and more than life
that hung upon the issue, and it was
with such sensations as come to few
mer's experience that we listened TO
the dull roar of tho approaching en-
gino,
"Mcanwhile our own little machine
was not idle. | had kept the furnace
at white heat. The steam pent up in
the boiler groancd and whcezed like
the breathing of an imprisoned giant,
the wheels spun around on tho tracks,
crashing from side to side, until there
were moments when even the engineer
pccrcd with startled eye Odt of tho
sido window 1.-THE complicated mechan-
ism below. As We passed over long
trcStle bridge across u wide marsh !
saw merging from tho shadows at the
other end the black form Of the purSu-
ing engine, followed by tar, through
whose lighted window crowd of armed
mon were visible. Here we had a mo-
mcntary advantage, for, desperate as
our enemies might be; the engineer
dared not carry his wcighty engine
over the light frame work rs rapidly rs
we had gone. 1t was but a trlling
gain, however, for once on the solid
roadbcd again, the monster came on at
rcdoublcd speed.
"'Morc fro, captain, muttercd the
engineer, at this moment, 'on this grade
VT must do our best, or it will be all
over in five minutes.
81 opened the furnace door and be-
gan shovolng in tho coal. Upon the
instant there was Il flash and report
from the cab windows OF the pursuing
snginc, and rifle ball smashed the
clock in our cab, within IN inch OF the
engineers head.
"'Thc flame gives them fine mark,
observed the engineer, calmly. 'Thc
ball was meant for mo, and but for the
swaying Of the engine it would have hit
me, too.
al completed my task as soon as pos
Siblc and closed the furnace door. We
were now in darkness again, aud if any
ball reached us it must be by accident.
Our enemies made no further attempt,
however, confident, doubtless, of run
ming us down very shortly. And well
they might be. We had ten miles yet
to run before reaching n point whore
they would themselves be in danger Of
capture or destruction from our own
division at Kanakia. During the last
ten miles they had decreased the dis
tance az least One-half and, running as
we now wcro, it woHd bc all up with
us in five miles more.
"'ls there nothing We can do?'
asked anXiously.
"'Pitch something on the track,
said the fireman from his corner.
Maybe you can catch their whcc's.
Try ono of the iirc-bars'
"lrs good idea, John replied the
engineer; perhaps you had better
make tho experiment, captain.
al seized one of the heavy bars, a
piece OF metal as thick rs n crowbar
and ten feet long and, clamboring over
the coal in the cabOosc, leaned down
and dropped the bar as nearly as |
could onto the track crosswi'o Heaven
forgive me! but with what interest |
waited for some crash or Outcry which
should signal the destruction of our
} pursucrs. In moment more there
, was sharp clang along tho rails be-
, hind us, and II cracking among the
bushes lining the road.
"'Shc has it off, said the engineer.
| cry my heavy overceat. Pvo known
a piece of cloth like that to get among
: the wheels and jam thom 50 that you
could not stir an inch.
81 did as directed. Tho garment
fell across the track, and exactly where
the forward trucks could strike it.
: Presently there was heavy jOlting
sound behind us, and shrill escape
of steam.
: Caught cried tho cngineer. If ii
has only wedgcd into the piston-bar,
they may work all night before they
get it out
f Some accident had certainly hap,
| pencd to our enemies, for all sounds OF
, pursuit rapidly died away and We bo
| gan to breathe freer. We had now
t reached point within five miles o.
, Kanakia; in two or three more We
| should be within tho limo of our owr
outposts. At that moment | saw the
, engineer lean forward and listen in
} tcntly again.
"What is it?' asked
= after us again, he said quietly
'Thc coat merely retarded them lit
$ to- There they arcH
| 81 could now plainly SEQ tho BLACK
' figure of the engine, emitting
white clouds of steam into tho pal,
t night sky, whirling swiftly around ;
V curve not sixty yards behind. Angeret
t by tho delay, and knowing that il w
e were to be captured at all it must bC
within the next ten minutes, they wer,
b coming on more rapidly than over
{ We vera at tho foot Of the very up
grade where we now are. 1t extends
=. for nearly three miles beyond Kanakia
and is one of the heaviest in the coun,
@ try. 1t was at this point that our fat,
. was to be decided. From the moment
o wc ran upon it our light engine bogal
to lose ground hopolessly. Our pur
!. sucrs were now so near that wo coult
S plainly observe the movements of thos,
. in tho cugine-cab by the light of thei
gauge-lamp. The platform of the ca
d was crowded with them, cooking thei
It muskets and making ready for an ex
terminating volley.
/, "Oa, for five minutes more!
d gtoancd. 1T is horrible TO be trapped
l., or killed in sight of friends and safety.
"Yes,' muttered the engineer
II there is no hope now. When the,
fire there won't be much left of us
|, And they will, too, in half n minute.
}, "'Tvo an idea,' said the fireman
y rising stifiiy from tho corner, 4 can
is fight and | can't fire the engine, bu
t I've one arm left, and that'll do TO hol
}. her steady while you and William pu
is \ spoke in their Wheel
T. But howP' cried the engineer
Speak quick, John; moments are gold.
l. Where are the tallow cans we pu
n abroad?' asked tho fireman.
Brave, John, just the thingr eS
; claimed the. engineer, as if perceivin
II - l.. A.