South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-06-26
a FRIENDLY FOE.

Ae sianSe an adventure, perhaps,
as any man can relate, fell to my lot
while | was experimenting tina con
struction OF a branch railway in the
Province of uydrabad, Southern In.
dis.
This branch was one hundred miles
In length, running from Hvdrabad to
small military post called Wadi,
where II joined the Western Railway
of Indis. From Wadi, almost half
way to Hydrsbad extended the i'm
mense jungle of O,ur, frequeuted by
various wild beasts, and by a still
more savage people, a class of de-
PRAYED Hindoos. who lived in butts In
the recesses OF The forest, and subsist.
ell on wild fruits and game.
10 these people the railway was an
object of detestation. They had a
wholesome dread OF the English, how
ever. and with the exception Of an
occasional theft of tools, or the cast.
log OF spears at our uorkmen. thew
did not molest us.
1t was formidable under aking TO
build roadbed through such dense
and marshy Jungle, bnt we overcame
all difficulties nobly. aud were soon
nearly half way TO Hydrabad.
AS the railway progressed the tele
eraph line was put up at the same
time, and thus cons'an communica-
ZION was kept up with Wadi. Al 9
point only i've miles distant from the
eastern eige of the jungle. aud nearly
fortyshye miles from Wadi, we erected
a transit station, installed therein O
telegraph operator. and brought for
ward large qusntlties OF tools and ma
chinery from Wadi. Just when eve.
ry thing looked most favorable we
were startled by rumor that tie wild
men OF the jungle were srming them,
selves and swarmIng together witt
the sVowsd intention OF Staying The
engineering corps, aud destroying
the station.
The news came to us from sources
the reliability of which we had nc
reason TO doubt. Our party compris
ed i've Englishmen and large mum
Der OF native workmen. These latte
we promptly armed, and prepared il
other ways to defend the station.
The jungle men owned very few
firearms, and IL only our workmeI
showed proper VaIor, we bad it'll
fears ss to tue result of the attack
rhst very night, however, every on
OF the rascals scuttled off, fearing I,
face the enemy.
npfv the nya If - vu.ra laft ~,
our situation was decidedly serious
It became even more so an hour 10
Ter when we discovered that tele
graphic communication with Wad
was cut of.
The rascals mean business sal
Jack Hunt. This looks as thong
they we're preparing for an imme
date attack. What had we bette
dor Strike for HydrAbsd or max
q stand OF IL ?
Tue station mu1t bo defended
replied, deCidedly-fUr Of course th
! responsibility was all on my shoul
ders. We can't afford to lose on
! tools md machinery. l can see bu
one way TO save them. l must TAX
the trOlly, try TO run through 70 Wa
di, aud bring Captain Kennedy bAcl
with detachment or troops. Near
tire you fellows must hold out Tx
grim doalh.'
You'll never get through, ssit
Jack; its madness.
I'll Try it., replied, briefly, 'An
aDy way lPs orr only chance.
No further objections we're mad
and | vas soon ready for the start.
a mysterious noise coming frol
the direction Of oar feet led 70 tho ii,
c0vsry Of two Of our runaway work
men who we're hiding under The sta
ton floor. These rRscals agreed {
accompany me as trollymen on con
dition Of complete forgiveness.
The trolly is simply a comfOrtabl
seat, mounted on four wheels, who
runs Of its own accord down grad
and is propelled over steep places b
the trollymen, for whose convenienc
a step is attached to the rear Of Oh
seat. Under the trolly was sma
rack, and ia this slowed my rio
and ammunition, retaining q revolve
= 10 my hand, ready for use.
The first Eve mile stretch was per