Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-22

leaving the train unguarded The little band
taking advantage Of this condition of affairs
uncoupled a section of the train consisting OF
three empty baggage or box cars, the locomo-
tive and tender. They boarded the train and
started off at full speed before the astonished
confederates could interfere. In answer to
inquiries along the road at stations at which
they were compelled to stop they said they
were running an impressed powder train
through to Gen. Beauregard. Running on the
scheduled time of the train. they thus avoided
collisions, stopping frequently to tear up the
track and cut the telegraph wires. Kingston,
thirty miles from the starting point, was safely
reached But here the difficulty began. The
confederates were running extra trains south
to get everything out Of the way Of the ad-
vancing federal forces. and they were delayed
an hour aud five minutes awaiting the arrival
OF an extra" local divided into two sections.
Meantime the confederate conductor and
engineer gave chase, first on o hand car, which
ran off the track at one Of the breaks in the
road. and after proceeding distance on foot,
on locomotive which was pressed into service
and loaded with soldiers. The captured train
had only left Kingston four minutes when the
confederates arrived. Then began one Of the
most exciting locomotive races on record.
-Four miles from Kingston the captured train
was again stopped and the telegraph wire cut
A rail was loosened and torn from the track,
when the whistle OF the pursuing locomotive
was heard Again they moved on with light
ming speed. The rebels saw the broken rail in
time to prevent wreck by reversing, but
they had to leave their engine and start again
on foot. Before going far they met q train
that had been passed by the fugitives at
Adairsville and turned the engine back in pur-
suit, dropping the cars. The fugitives passed
an express at Calhoun and had clear track to
Chattanooga, but the pursuers were close upon
them. They had no time to stop to tear up
rail or burn bridge The pursued then be-
gan to drop their cars, which were taken up
by the pursuers and pushed ahead. But the
time thus gained by the former was quickly
lost, as they had to stop to cut the wire after
each station was passed The federals broke
out the end Of their last box car and dropped
cross ties on the track as they ran, thus check
ing the progress Of the confederates and get
ting far enough ahead to get in wood and
water at two separate stations. Several times
they stopped and almost succeeded in lifting
rail, but each time the coming Of the confed-
crates within rifle range compelled them to de-
after mile, around curves and past stations in
this fearful chase for life. Hard pressed, the
federals set fire to their last box car, and as
they passed under long covered bridge I'M
coupled 1t and left it In the middle. But the
oonfederates were upon the bridge before the
ire had gotten much Roadway, and dashing
through the flame and smoke they drove the
burning car before their engine to the next
side track. The situation of the federals had
become desperate. Their fuel had become
exhausted at the very threshold of escape, and
their engine had slowed down to e speed that
rendered it impossible to reverse and endeavor
to wreck the pursuers. There was no alterna-
tive but to desert the engine. which they did,
taking to the woods. A vigorous pursuit was
Instituted and they were all captured within
. week. The whole party was held as spies,