Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-13

and assistance was autographed for, which VA
soon on the spot One hundred killed and
wounded were taken from that wreck, but those
were war times and the accident was soon for
gotten In the turmoil and carnage Of battle.
mat VA. . case where speed might have been
sacrinced for safety with great advantage
when the Union army gained foothold after
foothold In the south and the confederstss, in
retreatins destroyed everything they could not
upon the rank and Ale Of he northern army for
machinists to re-equip the railroads and sngin-
GERS 70 man the locomotives. recall distinctly
the building from the ground up Of five loco
motives by our soldiers in vicksburg after it's
capture; Col. Coibaugh had commend Of the
men and they worked like beavers and the win
ming OF battle could hardly have made them
prouder than whom the engines were ready for
service. A majority Of the engineers were
practi machinists and this helped to facili-
tate the work
zone of my friends of those DAYS, 81 Sutton.
was in the Thoroughfare Gap affair, and as 1
nursed him in the hospital he gave me the par
ticulars OF that terrible experience. Every
thing is fair In love and war; it is said but that
trap was nothing less than heathenish. What
made Sis position all the more pitiable was the
fact that his only son acted as his fireman
Before the war broke ont he had had q smatter-
ing OF the telegraph business.
NINE IN THE TUNNEL.
"On the night in question 81 held the throttle
OF an engine that had twenty car loads of sup
plies Of every description behind it, the cost of
which was away up in the thousands 81 told
me that after he had got the train under way
MS son made remark to the effect that he
didn't like the looks Of things, a. he had heard
message go over the wire warning the COM
manding officer that the country the train was
to traverse contained several guerrilas, and that
the train, in consequence, had been sent out
heavily guarded.
Everything went well until Cumberland
tunnel was reached. Here the affair came Of
that killed Sis boy and sent 81 to the hospital
1t was nothing less than an exploded mine of
giant powder, the trap being set at the entrance
to the tunnel. The country surrounding the
tunnel was well adapted for the fendish pur-
pose, the railroad entering atwenty-Ave-foot cut
at the tunnels entrance, the banks being lined
with dense underground and heavy timber.
sis boy called out to him as the heavy train
swept into the cut:
''Dad, if We get through this tunnel all right
we're SAFE
These were the last words that 81 heard his
boy speak. The train steamed on; 81 on the
lookout, with nerves strained to a swapping
tension; the boy shoveling in coal to keep the
steam up and the guards on the train answering
back the familiar call of AIS WE'LL At the in
slant the entrance Of the tunnel was reached q
binding, thunderous fash smote Sis ewes and
ears his engine reared up in front and careened
over on its side: the rocks above the tunnel en-
trance. loosened by the conclusion. came
crashing down and some ten cars in the for
ward part Of the train were piled up in one con-
fused tumble of wood, iron, rocks and a mis-
cellaneous collection of merchandise from tin
pans to overcoats. Under and between this
mass were 81. his boy and about fifteen soldier
boys brave and true. 81 and four of the bows
in blue were the only ones that were taken out
and pulled through, living to tell the story Of
their experiences. And these five would have
gone with the rest, but for providential fore
sight on the part Of the quartermaster, who or
dered the three cars containing powder to be
coupled on to the rear Of the train. Had they
been in front there Is no telling what would
have become Of that supply train and its guar
dams.
EXCITING, BUT NO FATAL RESULTS.
1.-THE only exciting adventure that partici-
pated in in which there were no fatal results
occurred on one Of the short runs have before
mentioned during sherman's march to the sea.
was with an advance guard that dashed into
little station in Georgia called Social Session
before the 'rebs' could get away with or kill
locomotive that thev left standing att the de-
pot. OF course We Immediately fired up and
mounted it and I took charge Of the throttle
Our intention was to rush up the road about
five miles to little station named Monro and il
possible capture or destroy confederate prop
erty Of every description. We had no idea Of
encoun.ering any rebels in force, as all tho,e
We had caught sight Of were panic stricken. We
had made these short runs so often before that
doubtless our success may have made Us reck.
less.
up the road We went at . fairly lively gait,
keeping -harp lookout for anything or any
body Of importance that might appear within
our range OF vision. Arriving At Monro We
found the little station denuded Of everything
worth taking or destroying. Only few min
u'es we're wasted there, a. We wanted to get
back TO Social Session and strike out In ne
direction where We 'Yanks' were not expected.
1--WE were about mile out Of Monro on our
return trip going along at . fairish lively rate,
when, just as we turned q sharp curve and
struck o straight piece Of track, we saw about
200 Johnnies congregated on the track about
three-quarters Of a mile ahead. We were EVIL
IDENTIFY trapped beautifully. The confederates
bad Witnessed our sally and had concealed
themselves, waiting for our return to complete
our capture. Horrible stories had reached the
ranks OF Sherman's army as to the treatment
meted out to Union prisoners, and We decided
on the instant not to give in.
1.-The 'rebs had just about reached the track
when We first observed them, our quick return,
no doubt, being unexpected, and were now plac-
ing large telegraph pole across the track as an
obstruction in case We failed to surrender on
account OF their large numbers. To run back
through Monro was not to Do thought Of, as the
enemy in our front told N there we're more Of
them not far away, and the situation was de-
"our thoughts few fast and the lieutenant in
charge decided to 60 ahead. The engine was
still moving along slowly and the 'Johnnies'
were coming down the track toward M a. il
anticipating an easy capture.
ROW LET Hzn 60.
Everybody lie down, sang out the lieutenant,
and the dozen men Of the party commenced to
concentrate themselves into q email q body as
possible. Now let her 60, BILL again called
out the lieutenant, and wen trust to Proyi-
dence TO carry us through
''Slowly pulled open the throttle and the
engine commenced going faster and in a
minutes time we were flying over the rails.
That telegraph pole bothered me considerably.
because reasoned that 1t was placed directly
across the track our jig was up, but il in the
hurry II was thrown on the rails 90 Is to slant
the least degree II could be knocked out Of The
way. As soon a. had the throttle wide open
and saw the 'rebs' scatter from around the pole
and track l deserted my post and threw myself,
with the rest Of the mon, upon the small pile Of
coal IN the tender.
"None too soon. The confederates OWNED
our purpose and the bullets came crashing
around us In perfect shower and II seemed m
impossibility that some Of us would not be
perforated.
ION We dashed. All at once there came !
shock, the good old engine trembled and svayed
IKE young saphng in . storm, but, huzxah il