The National tribune., 1885-01-08
+" ENGINE THIEVES :
The Great Story Of +" Capturing q
Locomotive
By REV. WM. PfTTENGER.
fcoPyRISHTED, ISS1.l
CHAPTER VI.
A TERRIBLE RAILROAD CHASE.

A TERRIBLE RAILROAD CHASE.
We will now resume the direct narrative.
When Kingston was left behind, it was be-
lieved by our leader that, notwithstanding all
our vexatious delays, we still had a margin of
at least an hours time. Our movements were
arranged on that superstition The next con-
siderable station, Adairsville was about ten
miles distant, and the intervening country
comparatively level. There were no consider
able bridges in this space, and the most we
could do was to run swiftly, and occasionally
to obStruct the track. Our speed was increased
to about 40 miles an hour, and this swift run
ming, after our long halt at Kingston was ex-
quisitely delightful. Looking out from the
crevices of the boy-car, we saw the hills and
trees gliding swiftly by, and felt that each
moment we were getting farther away from
the foes who had so long surrounded us, and
nearer safety and triumph. While we were
actually under way our prospects did not yet
seem very unfavorabe. There were yet one
freight and one passenger train to meet, which
we would now unter an hour farther south,
because of our long hindrance; but we felt
confident of our power to deceive or overpower
them, and they did not embarrass our running,
because they were on the regular schedule
The freight was now almost due at Adairsville,
and we expected the passenger train to over
take and 60 ahead oft from that point. If they
were both on time we would also meet them
there, and then have an absolutely open road
to Chattanooga. 1t will show the tremendous
risks that encompassed our enterprise, when
we reflect that so trifiing circumstance as the
delay or the displacement Of train could in
troduce an if" into our most hopeful plans.
short distance south of Adairsville we
again stopped, and Andrews called us to come
forth and work with will. No exhortation
was needed. John Scott, as usual, climbed the
telegraph pole and the wire was soon severed.
Two or three rails were slowly and painfully
battered loose with our iron bar, which still
constituted our only instrument for track
lifting. These were loaded on the car to carry
away with us. There happened to be a large
number of cross-ties lying near, and these we
also loaded up for future use. When all was
done we moved on, feeling that we had pro-
vided for the delay or destruction of any train
that might pursue. 1t was also probable that
the first train which met us at Adairsville
would be wrecked. This was not our design
as we did not relish wanton mischief; but
there was no safe way of giving warning, and
wrecked train would have been consider
able obstruction of the track.
We reached Adairsville before the expected
freight, but had only just taken our place on
the side track when its whistle was heard.
When it came up, Andrews who still person.
ated a Confederate officer, and exacted and re-
ceiyed the obedience which in those days of
conscription and impressment was readily
yielded to military authority, ordered the
train to be run past the station and back again
on the side track behind his own, to wait for
the expected passenger train. The usual ex-
plantations about the powder train were
repeated to credulous ears. Then came five
minutes of suspense and waiting: The train
was behind time-a trifiing matter in itself,
but, in our situation, each minute might turn
the scale between death and life. We could not
afford to repeat the experience of Kingston.
Not one bridge had yet been burned, and all
We could show for our hazard beside our cap
tured train, were a few cross-ties and lifted
rails After whispered word of consultation
with his engineer, who was willing to assume
the most deadly risks rather than to lie still,
Andrews remarked to the bystanders that a
Government powder express must not be de-
tanned by any number of passenger trains, and
then gave the word, "Go ahead!"
We started quite moderately, but as soon as
the station was out of sight we noticed a won
derful acceleration of speed. The cars seemed
almost to leap from the track, and we whirled
from side to side at a bewildering rate. There
was scarcely any slackening for curves or
grades, and our whistle rang out with scarcely
a moments cessation. In the box-car we could
retain no position for more than an instant,
and were jostled over each other and against
the sides of the car much oftener than was
pleasant. No one of us had ever rode at such
rate before. Though we had no means of
measuring the speed, none of US estimated it
at less than mile a minute. What was the
meaning of such break-neck pace? Had An
drews discovered that we were pursued, and
was he making desperate effort to escape
from the enemy? Or was he simply hurrying
to the bridges we were to burn? Ihch ques-
tions were easier asked than answered. for two
cars and the tender intervened between US and
the locomotive, on which our leader was. At
any rate, the moments were rapidly carrying
US towards our own lines, and very few hours
of such running would see us delivered from
the series OF perls which had so long environed
US. We had learned that just beyond Calhoun,
station only 10 miles from Adairsville, there
was large bridge, which we knew was marked
for destruction. If that was passed without
stopping, we would be convinced that an enemy
was on our track, and that the race was simply
for life A few minutes would decide. But in
the meantime, as an enemy might be following
US, it occurred TO the writer that it would be
well to continue obstructing the track. This
was accomplished by breaking open the hind
end of the last box-car, and showing out one by
one the ties previously loaded. A part only of
the ties on board were thus employed, as we
thought it possible that the remainder might
be more useful in other directions. Many of
those sprinkled on the track showed a perverse
disposition to Jump of, but we felt sure that
enough remained to make a pursuer cautious.
| Nothing more impressed US with the fearful
speed of our train than the manner in which
these ties seemed instantly to vanish when
they touched the ground.
BY thus eXerting the full speed of the engine
Andrews hoped to reach Calhoun before the
beiated passenger train should arrive. The
engineer stood with his hand on the lever
ready to reverse his engine the moment an op-
posing train was sighted. The open character
Of the country in this part of the route per-
mitted a good outlook. The whistle was also
kept sounding that an opposite train might be
Andrews, in case of meeting the expected train,
| to reverse his own engine only long enough to
escape the danger of collision, and then to per-
suade or compel the other to back before him
to the first siding. The lightning-like run
was bold and full of peril but it was wise.
| Had the same risk been promptly assumed at
| Kingston, the whole future of the enterprise
| would have been different. But we reached
| Calhoun before any train was met. When we
| slackened speed, just before arriving at the
| station, We showed out one more cross-tie, and
! then carefully concealed the hole in the car by
| piling other ties across it. As we drew nearer,
| great was the satisfaction of Andrews and his
engineer when they saw the beated passenger
train-our last obstacle-lying quietly at the
| station. 1t had been just starting, but, on
| hearing our whistle it awaited our ar
rival We ran down almost against it,
| and, without getting off his locomotive,
| Andrews shouted his orders to have the road
| cleared for an impressed powder train. The
| news from the north and west-the panic caused
| by the rumored approach of Gen. Mitchell
made this sudden demand seem less upreason-
! able, and it was unhesitatingly obeyed. The