The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-02-12
"ENGINE THIEVES .
The Great Story of Capturing a
Locomotive"
By REV. WM. PTTTENGER.
[CoPYRIGaTED, lSSI.l
CHAPTER IX-conc,aded.

CHAPTER IX-c0nc,aded.
The last one of these narratives that our space
will permit Us to insert is the most eventful OF
all. Alfred Wilson and Mark Wood were the
last of the whole party to be captured. The
story is told in the most graphic manner by
! Wilson in his published account of the eXpedi-
tion. l would gladly give it in his own words
but for Its great length, and for the further fact
that he gives literally many OF his converse
tions with the rebels in which both parties in
dulge in no small amount of profanity.
As Wilson ran from the abandoned engine,
of which he had been fireman, he heard his
name called, and, halting moment was joined
by Wood, the only native Englishman of the
party, and from that time the two became in
seParable companions. They gained open
field on a long slope III front of them, but did
not feel safe in trying to cross it. especially as
they were out of breath and the enemy not far
away. They fortunately saw where a tree had
been cut down, probably the preceding Sum-
mer and the brush lay scattered around with
the dead leaves still clinging to it. Wilson
adroitly covered Wood with some of the brush,
making the heap so that it would not attract
attention, and then crawied under beside him.
| There they awaited with revolvers drawn, ex-
pecting TO be discovered, and determined, in
that event, to fight TO the death. The rebels
came very near. so shat in some instances they
might have been touched by the hidden fugi-
suers were watching the men at a distance
rather than looking for those at their feet.
Much of the rebel conversation could be over
heard. One of two stalwart pursuers, armed
with muskets, while just by the brush heap,
cried OUT
"There goes two of them! Come on; let's
go for them!"
Lets get more help" responded the other.
"But you see they have no guns" urged the
first, and they rushed out of hearing.
These two poor men remained in that one
place long while before they dared venture
forth Their escape from detection was little less
than miraculous. So many persons had trampled
over the ground where they left the train that
the dogs could do nothing at tracking them, or
their refuge would soon have been discovered.
The incessant rain added very much to their
discomfort, as it did in the case of all the
fugitiveS, but helped to throw the dogs from
the track.
After dark, however, they crawled out from
the brush-heap, and could scarcely walk. After
looking about they decided to take an opposite
course from what they had seen their comrades
take, which was in the main westward from
Chattanooga. They wished to pass far to the
eastward Of that town, and knew that they must
carefully avoid it.
The remainder of that night they travelled
rapidly, and about daybreai found an old barn
and hid themselves in a NOW of corn-fodder,
where they slept comfortably until about one
o'clock, when they were discovered by two
women who were hunting eggs. The latter
were greatly frightened, and ran to the house
which stood near, bat Wilson and Wood fol-
lowed, said they had been in pursuit of the
train-TObbers, and preferred sleeping in the
barn to disturbing anybody at the house
Dinner was over, but some corn bread and but
termilk was furnished. This was the first food
since leaving the train, and it was most accept
nh rN1f1 fos r,,1 +l,as,
greatly refreshed.
But they did not think it prudent to 60 far
before seeking concealment in a dense thicket
TO await the approach of night. A squad of
mounted soldiers went by on the road they
had just left, apparently searching for some
one. At nightfall they shaped their course, as
nearly as they could, towards the Tennessee
River, east of Chattanooga. They avoided the
roads, but narrowly escaped running into
picket At dawn the foot of the mountains
was reached, and the wanderers breathed freer
than in the open cOuntry.4 They witnessed the
rising OF the sun, and were greatly cheered by
It's genial warmth. Sleep and WEAKNESS claimed
them until nearly night, and with darkness
they started Oh again. It was hard work, feel
ing the way over rocks, climbing precipitous
places, and descending the steep inclines
through bushes and briers.
On Wednesday morning mountains were on
all sides, with no sign of human life or habta-
ton. They took a nap in the warm SUM- but
hunger soon reused them. That one meal of
corn-bread and buttermilk was all the food
they had eaten since their start on Saturday
Thus pressed by hunger, they resolved to
travel day as well as night, as in that lonely
region it was not likely they would be molested.
In the afternoon they reached the brow of
high mountain, overlooking a lovely and peo-
pied valley. Almost perishing with hunger,
they concluded to venture down and apply for
food at a hut little separated from the rest
A young woman appeared at the door and,
after hearing their story, proceeded to get them
meal. Wilson asked the way to the next
town, the name of which he pretended he could
not just speak, but she helped him out by men
tionng "Cleveand?" They feasted on ham,
eggs, and rye coffee, and went on their way
rejoicing.
Wilson determined to have map of the
country. So leaving Wood outside we'll hid
den, he ventured into Cleveland, and bought
MitchelPs Geography and Atlas" the work,
as he thought, of his commanding General! He
returned to Wood, tore ont such portions of the
map as they needed, and threw the rest away
They were now able to form an ineligible
plan, though the one selected was full of peril
Wilson seems to have been fond of the water,
and certainly managed well upon it. He
wished to reach the Tennessee River, procure
a boat of some kind, and float down the river
past Chattanooga to some point within the
Federal lines.
BY evening the travellers had reached the
limits of that mountain ridge. and came down
again into the valley. Another secluded log
house induced them to apply for food without
waiting TIL they were on the verge of starva-
tion. Here they were fortunate. Only noble
looking lady was at home at first. She heard
their story, but made up her mind that they
were Union men, and in that belief gave them
the best fare she had and would accept no pay
for it, She and her husband, who afterwards
came in, gave them all the information in their
power as to the best way of avoiding the rebel
cavalry in the neighborhood, and asked no con-
fdence in return.
But mistortunes were before them. They
now passed through a thickly -peopled valley,
observing the greatest caution. Notwithstand-
ing their vigilance they were suddenly halted
by Col. Shows Cavalry,-a company Of rebel
home guards whose principal business it was
to keep down the Union men of the vicinity.
By shrewd diplomacy they succeeded in max
ing the Captain believe that they belonged to
the neighboring town of Harrison. While ac-
cepting this statement he insisted that they
were trying to run away to the Union army, but
agreed that they might return to their homes
If they would first take the oath of allegiance
to the Confederacy, and then be ready to join
his company when he called for their services.
The oath was bitter pill but they swallowed
it, and were set at liberty
They might now have taken very safe
course up the line of the Cumberland Noun
taiDs into Kentucky, but Wilson's mind was
fixed upon getting boat and going down the
Tennessee, which was almost in the opposite
direction. Their thoughts recurred to the