The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-07-06

eA'' III OuG SCu6uulG was uOU called
upon to stop at Columbia. The BOYS
knew this, and on the instant that a
freight preceding the express had
pulled out of the way they set to
work.
Only five minutes interviewed, but
they were experts at putting down tor
pedoes, and in three minutes time
every torpedo collected had been
placed on two parallel rails. Then the
sharp whistle of the express was heard
in the distance, and on it came with a
rush and roar.
The boys scattered and with bated
breath awaited developments.
They came the next instant.
With reports like the explosion of
musketry, and if anything louder, the
torpedoes went off in quick success
sion and the promenaders first halted
in amazement and then took to their
heels in alright. They thought the
noise would cease, but instead it
seemed to increase, Two hundred tor
pedoes stretch out over a considerable
distance, and they were laid for the
length of two squares.
People came running down the
streets from the back highways in
curing the cause, and it appeared as
If the town was on its feet, or, fgura-
lively speaking, on its head.
And the engineer and passengers on
the train, what Of them? To the bows
they indeed furnished surprise that
was unlocked for.
The engineer, with hair on end, was
trying all he could to bring his train
to standstill, but it was impossible
to do so before the last torpedo had
exploded; the passengers frightened
almost into frenzy, were climbing
back over the seats, out onto the plat
form and gesticulating wildly from
the windows.
AT last the train halted and all gath
cred around, and, as the train dis
patcher simply motIoned the engineer
to go ahead, great laugh went up and
the passengers were enlightened to
the fact that this was the glorious
Fourth, and they, too, joined in the
hilarity.
As the train disappeared around the
western corner of the street paral-
leled to the railroad and the people of
the town gathered in groups to dis
cuss the strange occurrence, the con-
spirators disappeared from the scene
and glided toward one of the engine
houses of the local fire department
They knew what was coming next.
All of a sudden q great shout went
up from every part Of the town and
all eyes were turned toward the west
ern section of the town. 1t appeared
as if the town was to be destroyed by
fire and that a mighty conhagration
was under way.
The sky was blood red anda mighty
column of smoke was ascending on
high. The boys had done their work
well, scattering the red powder over a
large area and leaving the most daring
boy of the crowd to set the mass of.
Soon the fire bells were tolling and
the exciting jingle of the fire appar-
atus denoted race was on between
the different companies who were de-
) sirous of securing places of vantage
from which to fight the supposed con-
, hagration.
In this race it is needless to say the
, members of the "Our Boys" were in
dulging to their hearts content. They
, all swore allegiance to one company,
{ the Vigilant, and were head and front
of the rush with the hose reel of that
engine.
AT the end of the street the cause of
: the light was discovered, and again the
tongues of the citizens were set wag-
= ging, and the younger generation of
young men voted the days celebration
great success Even the solitary pa
per of the town, while taking the con-
7 spirators to task the following day for
the fright they had given the towns
, people, could not but commend the
4 plan for its originality and startling
t effectiveness
Among the boys Of the town the
story leaked out, and soon the details
: of the celebration were known to ALL
b To say that the "Our Boys" Club took
n boom but family expresses it. Every
+ boy in town put forward his name as
: an applicant for membership, but
T 'exclusiveness was desired, and the
# tone of the club remained at its first
# great height for several years there
after