The National tribune., 1885-01-01
"ENGINE THIEVES .
The Great Story of Capturing a
Locomotive"
BY REV. wM. PTTTENGER.
[coFYRIeHTED, ISL.
CHAPTER V.
UNFORESEEN HINDRANCEs.

standing. and clasped our hands in an ecstasy
of congratulation. He declared that ali ouI
really hard work was done and that our diff
culties were nearly passed; that we had the
enemy at such a disadvantage that he could
not harm us, and exhibited every sign of joy
Said he "Only one train TO meet, and then we
will put our engine to full speed burn the
bridges that have marked out, dash through
Chattanooga and on to Mitchell at Huntsville
We've got the upper hand of the rebels now,
and they can't help themselves! J" How glad
we all were! When, three years later, the
capture of Richmond set all the bells of the
North ringing out peals of triumph, the SEN
sation of Joy was more diffused but less intense
than we then experienced. Almost everything
mankind values seemed within our grasp. Oh
If we had met but one unscheduled train!
This referepce of Andrews to one train which
he expected ~ meet before we began to burn
bridges has been quoted in many public
sketches, and has led to some misapprehension
He did expect to meet three trains before
reaching Chattanooga; but two of these were
regular trains, and being also farther up the
road, were not supposed to present any serious
difficulty. Their position at any given time
could be definitely ascertained, and we could
avoid collision with them, no matter how faI
we ran ahead of time. But so long as there
were any irregular trains on the road before
us, our only safety was in keeping the regular
time of the captured train. This was, unfor-
tunateiy very slow; but if we exceeded it we
lost the right of way, and were liable TO collis-
ion at any moment. This risk was greatly in
creased by our inability to send ahead tele-
graphic notifications of our position. The
order of southwark bound trains, according to
the information We then had, was as follows
First, way-freight, which was very uncertain
as to time, hut which we expected to meet
early in the morning, and felt sure that it
would be at Kingston or south of that point.
This was the only real hindrance according TO
our program, and it was to this train that An
drews referred. Behind this were the regular
freight train, and still farther north the regu-
lar passenger train. As a matter of fact. we
did meet these trains at Adairsyille and Cal
houn, the latter being somewhat behind time
but we might have met them farther north
had it not been for unforeseen hindrances.
There is considerable discrepancy in the
many published accounts of the following
chase, which the writer has not in every case
been able to perfectly reconcile. In the intense
excitement and novel situations involved men
were not likely 10 observe or remember every
event accurately. But no pains have been
spared TO combine fullneSs and completeness in
the following account. Using the best of my
own recollections, consulting my comrades,
reading carefully all published accounts, aud
especially going over the whole route years
after, with Fuller and Murphy, two of the pur-
cNiAS pdtheT NiO hAbOis SaNO 3iiC All thC III
formation in their power, it is hoped that sub
stantial accuracy has been obtained. Some Of
the incidents of the chase, such as the number
of times the track was torn up, and whether
we were fired upon by pursuing soldiers, allow
some room for conflict of memory. But the
variations are not material.
Side by side with the road ran the telegraph
wires, which were able, by the flashing of a
single lightning message ahead, to arrest our
progress and dissipate our fondest hopes.
There was no telegraph-station where We had
captured the train, but we knew not how soon
our enemies might reach one, or whether they
might not have portable battery at command.
Therefore, we ran but short distance after
Teplenishing the furnace, before again stop
ping to cut the wire.
John Scott, an active young man of the 2Ist
Ohio, scrambled UP the pole with the agility of
cat, and tried TO break the wire by swinging
upon it; but failing in this, he knocked Off
the insulating box at the top of the pole and
swung with it down to the ground. Fortu-
nately, small saw was found on the engine,
with which the wire was severed in two places,
and the included portion, many yards in
length, was taken away with US, in order that
the ends might not be readily Joined.
While one or two of the party were thus en-
gagged others worked with equal diligence in
taking up a rail from the track. No good
track-raising instruments had been found on
the train, and We had not yet procured them
from any other source. A smooth iron bar,
about four feet long, was the only instrument
yet found, and with this some of the spikes
were slowly and painfully battered out After
few had thus been extracted, a lever was got
under the rail and the remainder were pried
loose. This occupied much more time than
cutting the wire and ii required no prophet
to ioreteil that if we did not procure better
tools raii-lfting would have 70 be used very
gnarlnOiV n tho in
stance, however, the loss Of time was no mis-
fortune, as we were ahead of the schedule time
which we still felt bound TO observe.
After another rapid but brief run, we paused
long enough 10 chop down telegraph-pole
cut the wire again, and place the pole, with
many other distractions, on the track We
did not here try to lift rail; indeed, we had
little serious fear Of any pursuit at this time
and merely threw ON these distractions be-
cause OF having spare time to employ.
We thus continued-ruaning little ahead
OF time then stopping 10 obstruct the track and
cut the wire-until Cass Station was reached
where we took on a good supply Of wood and
water. At this place we also obtained a COM
piete time schedule OF the road. Andrews told
the tank-tender that we were running pow
oertTain through TO the army of Gen. Beaure-
gard at CoriDth, which was almost out of am
munition, and that the greatest haste was nee
essary. he further claimed to be a Confeder-
ATE oIDcer OF high rank, and said that he had
Impressed this train for the purpose in hand
and that Fuller, with the regular passenger
tram, would be along shortly. The whole story
was none too plausible, as Gen. Mitchell was
now lnterPosed between our present position
and Beauregard, and we would never have
been able TO get train to the army of the lat
ter on this route; but the tender was not crit
1cal and gave US his schedule, adding that he
would willingly send his shirt TO Beauregard if
that General needed it. When this man was
afterwards asked if he did not suspect the
character of the enemy he thus aided, he an
swered that he would as soon have suspected
the President of the ConfeGeracy himself as
one who talked so coOlly and confidently as
Andrews did.
ceeded without any striking adventures until
Kingston was reached. This place-32 miles
from Big Shanty-we regarded rs marking the
first stage of our journey. Two hours had
elapsed since the capture of the train, and
hitherto we had been fairly prosperous. No
track-lifting instruments had vet been OBJ
tanned, notwithstanding inquiries for them at
several stations. We had secured no infam-
mable materials for moro readily firing the
bridges, and the road was not yet clear before
us. Bot, on the other hand, no serious him
drance had yet occurred, and we believed our
selves far ahead of any possible pursuit.
Bat at Kingston We had some grounds for
experimenting difficulty. This little town is at
the junction with the road to Rome, Ca Cars
and engines were standing On the side track
Here we fully expected to meet our first train,
and il would be necessary FOR US to get the
switches properly adjusted before we could
pass it TO 90 on our way. When we drew up at