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

A Startling War ReminisCence,
The night mail upon tho Cumberland
Valley railroad had reached the heavy
few miles beyond Kanakia
station, when it became evident to the
passengers that something had gone
decidedly wrong. The speed of the
train sonsibly slackened; there came 4
series of tremendous jolts, accompanied
by curious and unpleasant whirring
sound. followed in turn by complete
stoppagc. A dozen beads were thrust
inquiSitiyely out OF tho car windows,
and rs many voices insisted upon know.
ing all about it Immediately. In these
days of magnificent collisions and holO-
causts the travelling public exhibits an
astonishing degree of interest in rail
way concerns, to the great scOrn and
Indignation of officials connected.
"You have nothing to foar," said tho
conductor, who passed through the car
superb in gold buttons and dignity.
1--WE have struck anupgrade hill where
an oil train stopped an hour ago. The
tracks are oiled and the drivers don't
take hold. We shall get the sand run
ming in half minute"
1t was doubtless clear enough 10
those who understood such matters, but
to me his explanation was mere jargon.
As somebody once said of Coleridge 5
commentary upon his poem "Crista-
bel, | wished he would "cXplain his
explanation"
The gentleman who occupied the seat
Immediately in front ofmo, fine, mid
dle-agcd person, with an erect, military
air, seemed to have no difficulty in
making out the state of affairs. lie
smiled and nodded with an exceedingly
knowing look, and was preparing IL
settle himself comfortably in his scat
again when tapped him on the shonl'
der and said:
Excuse me, sir, hut what has oc.
Cured? The conductors explanation
is Chinese to mo. What does he mean
by the track being OilcdP'
Tho gentleman turned about and
faced me.
at is n simple matter" he said
cOurtcously, "tO those vino have al
idea of railroad affairs. The power OF
an engine depends on the friction of the
drivers on tho tracks-taking hold, as
it is called. If there is oil upon the
rails, especially upon an upgrade
there is no friction, consequently the
wheels spin around upon tho tracks
without moving the train"
"Ah, comprehend, said |.
Il could illustrate the case by nj
ovent which occurred to me on this
very spot some years ago. | have al
ways thought it very remarkable in
cident, and perhaps you may find it so
Tho circumstances | referto took place
during tho war. | was at that timC
adiutant in General Thomas staff dur
ing the exciting and momcntous cam
paign in the mountains Of tennessee
If you remember, there were many
times that it was feared that our hou
had come. Our communications wcr,
frequently cut off and our whole com
mand in danger of instant destruction
1t was at ono of these crises that tn,
event am going to relate occurred.
"We were at this time entrencheC
upon spur of the hills around Chat
tanooga, whittier we had been driver
by the desperate courage of tho confed
crates. Our own men had Tough
bravely and well, but they were ex
hausted with long marches and con
tinued action. Our own stores had rul
low, and but one line of communica
ton was left open TO us-that of tn
railroad into the eastern portion of tn
state. BY q brilliant flank movemen
the confoderates succeeded in puttinI
a line across this ono highway; an,
there We were, hemmedin like a wood
chuck in burrOw. Starvation or sur
render stared us in the face. One o
tho other OF these alternatives we mus
accept in few days at most, unles
some unexpected change took plac
very suddenly.
at is perhaps difficult for us to con
prchond the feelings of commander
hitherto successful, and with the fate
perhaps, of a nation depending upo
his action, placed in such position a
our general then was. saw his fac
grow hourly more pale and dospairing
his step slower and moro feeble, an
his entire demoanor that of q ma
whose heart and spirit was breakin
under the strain. But Thomas wa
not tho man to yield until every n
source had been sounded to the bo
tom. And there was one resource "
left-a desperate and almost hopele'
one, it is true.
"Forty miles to the eastward of I
lay Stockton's command of nearly 80
0G0 men, serenely unconscious of on
danger and their own. Several day
before Stockton had been directed [
occupy pass in the mountains on I'll
left, and to hold it until further order
Of course, unaware of the predicamel
of the main army, ho would mako n
movement for our relief Commun
, cations were now cut of, and it SCENE
u matter of utter impossibility to r,
open them through the heavy line ,
confederates which lay across the raj
, road. Thomas, however, determine
, to try it, and I was selected for Il
!. dangerous, but honorable duty of Il
=, attempt
l ave had reason to suppose that Il
A enemy had not destroyed the railroa,
5 and that II we were not captured
5 the outset we might get an engil
a through TO Kanakia station, whel
Stockton lay,
"At 1880 my orders were given m