The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-02

Of Scylla to be more effect ually de-
stroyed by Charybdis. To have been
killed by round shot from the fort
would have been at least q soldiers
death. To be run down and picked off
coolly like ducks on a puddle was, to
put 1t mildly. a decidedly undignifed
way of settling accounts with the
world. As for surrender, am certain
that neither of my comrades thought of
it as a means of escape any more than
I did. A sacred trust, involving the
fate of an army, perhaps of a Nation.
had been placed with us. To yield it
to any but the skeleton hand Of death
itself was notion which 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
mems experience that we listened to
the dull roar of the approaching en-
| CINE.
Meanwhile our own little machine
was not idle. had kept the furnace
at white heat. The steam. pent upin
the boiler. groaned and wheezed like
the breathing of an imprisoned giant.
The wheels spun around upon the tracks,
crashing from side to side. until there
were moments when even the engineer
peered with startled eye out of the
side window at the complicated mech
anism below. As we passed over long
trestle bridge across wide marsh, 1
saw, emerging from the shadows at the
other end, the black form of the pursu-
ing engine, followed by the car, through
whose lighted windows a crowd of
armed men were visible. Here we had
a momentary advantage, for, desperate
as our enemies might be, their engineer
dared not carry his weighty engine over
had gone, 1t was hut tritiing gain.
however, for once on the solid road-bed
again the monster came on ut redoubled
speed.
".More fire. Captain muttered the
engineer at this moment; 'on this grade
we must do our best or it will be all
over in five minutes
81 opened the furnace door and be-
gan shoveling in the coal. Upon the
instant there was flash and report
from the cab windows of the pursuing
engine, and rifle ball smashed the
clock in our cab, within an inch of the
engineers head.
"'The flames give them fine mark
observed the engineer calmly. That
ball was meant for ME, and but for the
swaying of the engine it would have hit,
too
Il completed my task as speedily as
possible and closed the furnace door.
We were now in darkness again, and if
ball reached us it must be by acct
dent. Our enemies made no further
attempt. however, confident, doubtless,
of running us down very shortly. And
well they might be. We Lad ten miles
yet to run before reaching a point where
they would themselves be in danger of
capture or destruction from our own di-
vision ut kanakia. During the last ten
miles they had decreased the distance
one-half. and running as we now were
it would be all up with us in five miles
more.
lis there nothing we can do?' I
asked. anxiously
"'Pitch something on the track said
You can catch their wheels. Try one of
the fre-barS'
".It's good idea. john replied the
engineer, perhaps you had better make
the experiment, Captain
Il seized one of the heavy bars,
piece of metal as thick as a crowbar
and ten feet long, and clambering over
the coal in the caboose. leaned down
and dropped the bar as nearly as
could across the track. Heaven forgive
me. but with what interest l waited for
some crash or cutlery which would sig
nal the destruction of our pursuers. In
a moment more there was sharp clang
along the rails behind us, and crack
ling among the bushes lining the road.
"'She has kicked it off, said the en-
gineer. Try my heavy overcoat. I've
known piece of cloth like that to get
among the wheels and jam them so that
you couldn't stir them an inch
Il did as directed. The garment fell |
across the track, and exactly where the
forward trucks could strike it. Present.
ly there was heavy jolting sound be-
hind us and shrill escape of steam.
Caught" cried the engineer. If it |
has only wedged into the piston bar,
they may work it out
Some accident had certainly hap
pened.to our enemies, for all sounds of |
pursuit rapidly died away and we began
to breath freer. We had now reached |
a point within five miles of Kanakia, in
two or three more we should be within
the line of our outposts. At this mo-
ment l saw the engineer lean forward
and listen again intently.
"'What is it?' l asked.
''After Us again he said, quietly.
The coat merely retarded them little.
There they are!'
Il could now plainly perceive the
black figure of the engine, emitting
white clouds of steam into the pale
night sky, whirling swiftly around
curve not sixty rods behind Apgered
with the delay, and knowing that if we
were to be captured at all it must be
within the next ten minutes, they were
coming more rapidly than ever. We
were at the foot of this very up grade
where we now are. 1t extends for near
ly three miles beyond Kanakia, and is
one of the heaviest in the country. 1t
was at this point that our fate was de-
cided. From the moment we ran up it
our light engine began to lose ground
Our pursuers were now so
near that we could plainly observe the
of those in the engine cab
by the light of their gauge lamp. The
platform of the car was crowded with
men, cooking their muskets and making
ready for an discriminating volley.
"'Oh. for five minutes morer' I
1T is horrible to be trapped
or killed in sight of friends and safety
''Yes, muttered the engineer: there