Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-02-27

| tie valve, and amid an impressive Sc
lence in the crowd surrounding the
starting point we moved slowly away.
| About Two miles distant lay the first
battery which the enemy had thrown
up to command the road; beyond that
were several more, TO say nothing of
the picket lines scattered along the
tracks. So you will perceive we were
TO run II pretty warm gauntlet.
1--WE had proceeded but very short
distance when there was flash and n re-
port from the shrubbery skirdng the
road, and a bullet crashed through the
window of the cab. An outpost had al
ready discovered us, and had given us q
foretaste of what we had TO expect fur
Their on.
"'Let her QUIT! | said to the cngi-
neer. There is no use in trying to
hide ourselves. Speed is our only
| chance now.'
| every good, SIR replied the engi-
neer, opening the valve as he spoke.
The engine bounded like a spurred
horse. On we went, swaying from side
to side, until it seemed as if we must
| Jump the track. Meanwhile our friends
| along the road were not idle. Bullet
after bullet whistled by us, but fortu-
nately, what with the darkness and the
rapidity of our motion, none OF them
reached us.
ave had now arrived in sight of the
first battery. BY the lights moving
hurrledly along the parapet, it was OBJ
vious that our approach was expected.
| AS we passed abreast the battery, IL
gave us its first plimentin the shape
of round shot, followed 10y storm of
grape. Here, again, the darkness and
our speed saved us. Several of the
grape-shot glanced off the frame of the
engine without doing any damage, how
ever.
"Give her some more fire, John,
said the engineer grimly. If they
happen to knock hole in us with one
of them bits of iron, you won't do no
more firing, my boy, l can tell you
that
"'Not in this world, anyway re-
spondcd the fireman, with saturnine hui
NOR Can't tell what may do in the
next, William
"The reckless bravery of the two men
in the face of such danger shamed away
my own arising tremor, and | folded my
arms and looked toward the battery,
which was evidently preparing to give
u3 another salute. IL came in the
shape of conical shot, with 50 true an
aim that il whizzcd within n foot of the
boiler. and carried of the bell, which
| fell with u clang among the bushc'.
"Thank you,' said the engineer, with
grin, we don't need the bell, any
how You can use it yourself TO ring TO
dinner with.
| "By this time we had passed out of
range of the first battery aud were under
! the guns of two more. These works had
been constructed 10 command the june
ton of our road with another running
south. There was also n station at this
point, and us we whirled by | saw an
engine standing upon II siding with
steam up. | caught sight of number
of men running toward it, rs well rs
others busy with car which stood near
it. What they were at | could not make
oat, for we passed them like flash of
lightning. At this moment, too, the
batteries, which had probably received
Geographic notice of our approach,
opened fire upon us, and for II moment
the air seemed To be alive with Shrek
ing iron.
more fire, John, cried the engineer;
ram her full to the door, or it's all up
with u.s.
1.-THE fireman stopped TO obey, but ut
that moment u shell struck upon the
caboose and burst within three feet of
us. IL was ten-inch monster, and how
any of us escaped alive ! fail TO see. AS
il was, when the smoke and dust cleared
away found the top of the cab gone, n
portion of the caboose torn of, and the
fireman lying on heap on the floor,
with his arm broken.
"Tm knocked out, William. he
groancd, 'and who's to fire her for the
rest of the trip
81 will, said |; Il think can man
age it,
"After placing the poor fellow in as
comfortable position rs possible, |
seized the shovel and began my new
duties.
"By this time we had passed out of
range of the batteries, which now and
then, however, sent sullen shot in our
direction, as a parting evidence Of their
good will.
"We are safe, said, with a sigh of
relief; that was their last line of works.
The road is clear before us
80 l hope so, sir responded the en-
gineer. 'How's your arm, JohnP
livery bad, William groaned the
fireman; but that amt the worst of it.
We amt through with the trouble yet
"'What do you mcan,' asked. The
scouts say that there are no troops be-
You'd us, except our own at Kanakia
station
80 But they're following us, replied
the fireman. They are after us hot and
heavy
Il looked at the engineer under the
impression that the poor fireman was in
delirium with his injury.
"He's right, Captain said the en-
gineer, listening intently. Sure as fate
they have pulled out that engine we saw
at the junction and are chasing us
"'B But there's no possibility. OF their
oyertaking u.s. replied.
"'I don't know about that he said
gravely. That engine is u heavy one,
and have seen her make II good fifty
miles with train behind her. This
one is o light machine, and 1 can't
promise more than forty at the most
Besides they have the advantage of us
III tnc lucI tuut tHcJ HuNc ~ Cul ultdClltu
and we are running alone
81 should suppose that our lightness
would be rather in our favor than other
WISE responded.
"Got something to balance her.
grunted the fireman, sententiously.
"John is right, explained the en-
gineer. You see, sir, If an engine has
no weight behind her she is apt TO jump
and pound the rails, and, if you put
her at her full speed, TO get off the track
altogether. So, while that engine behind
us can do her level best, we can't even
let out to forty miles without danger of
smash up
now comprehcnded the extent ofour
peril. We had only run the gauntlet
of Scylla TO be more cflcctually de-
stroyed by Charybdis. To have been
killed by a round shot from the fort
would have been at least soldiers