Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-07-15


| you remain quiet
"'But who are your / returned with as
much resolution as / could summon up.
1t would not bo policy TO surrender until
know to whom l.
"A loud laugh from the entire crowd cut
off my speech.
"'That's good one, said the tall indi-
yidual. Twas jist letiin' you down kinder
easy cause you cum into my place un-
awares. We can kill you easy enough, if
you insist upon it,
Il did not. Resistance would be the last
thing should attempt against such over
powering numbers.
II handed over my weapons TO the leader,
and he ordered two of the gang to take me
into tho back-room and watch while they
conferred together.
"I passed nearly an hour in the back
room, listening to the talk going forward in
front. From the broken words / heard l
pieced out the following:
"The supply train, due tomorrow, was to
pass this afternoon, and the outlaws were
plotting its destruction.
The track was nearly mile from the
house, and the leader concluded to go at
last. He entered the room where l sat,
and ordered the guards to watch me closely.
"One of them pleaded 80 strongly to go
upon the expedition that the leader SUBJ
mitted, and when the men left was alone
with the old woman and the single robber.
"My own fears and troubles had been
swallowed up by the more important news
had received regarding the train.
1T was quite valuable, besides being
much required by the troops at the time.
There were several officers on board, also,
and their capture or death would be great
loss.
"To shorten long story, had flask of
liquor in my pocket; the outlaw had o
larger in his own possession, and he also
had an appetite for larger quantity than
was obtainable.
"He drank up the liquor in his own flask
in very few minutes, and my own followed
Immediately afterward.
AS might have been expected, the cold
and the liquor threw him in q drunken
slumber. Inow decided to leave the house
at any risk.
"The old woman had remained in the
front room. Slowly l drew away the ruff
fans weapons. i had been left unbound,
and warned by my own escape, proceeded
to secure the fellow without awakening
him. l then entered the front room and
prevailed with the old lady to allow me to
serve her in the same way.
horse and was riding at break neck speed
toward the railroad track.
IL heard the engine whistle shrilly as ]
left the stable, and knew the probabilities
were against my reaching the spot in time
to do any good.
IL rode with the speed of the wind over
the snow-covered ground, and came into
view of the track just as the train halted.
Running the steed back, looked at the
cars; they were already in the possession
of the outlaws.
"A couple of the men had gone up the
track with red flag, and bad halted the
train-in an ambush of their fellows.
"They jumped on board, with shouts and
screams of triumph, while the bullets rat
tied fiercely.
disappointed that had not been few
minutes earlier, watched the rascals.
Tho soldiers upon the train were soon
all dead or prisoners, and then the outlaws
left the cars.
standing together in body, they con-
suited for a moment, and then the engine
was uncoupled, two men leaped upon it and
drove down the track.
81 watched them with bated breath. What
did they intend to doP 1t was soon ex-
planned.
"The locomotive was stopped again n
few miles away, then the lever was thrown
back, and the engine rushed back upon the
cars with the speed of the avalanche.
"A moment, and it collided with the
foremost car, plowed its way through,
and soon the valuable supply train was but
a mass of smoking ruins"
The Colonel Stopped and drew long
breath.
"I tell you it was thrilling night" he
said, after moment; "but the guerrillas
soon paid for the damage.
II escaped without difficulty, and reached
camp again that night. The following
week Witnessed the destruction of that band
of bushwhackers, for the soldiers were
by the loss Of their supplies,
and rested not moment until they re-
venged it."