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

UnaI should 60 down IN lCS history as
a red-letter day of the most vivid hue.
To add zest to the collection the
railroad officials began to notice the
great inroads on their supply of com
bustibles, and the train men had to
rack their brain for new stories as to
their rapid disappearance.
On account of the vigilance of the
railroad officials the boys base of
operations was transferred from the
yards of the road to the outskirts of
the town. Trains going east were
easy to mount, but those going west
called for volunteers who were expert
train jumpers, and the narrow escapes
made wherein the loss of limb, or
even life, hung in the balance, were
numerous enough to appall any boy
but the son of a railroader.
Charley Van Lew and Johnny Hook
were both thrown half under fast NOV
ing freight in one day, but their cool
ness and strength pulled them through
with badly torn clothes Coupled
with these mishaps were numerous
brushes with the railroad detectives
n the way of chases over cars and out
o er the hills into the country. The
boys were known to the detectives,
and while they did not care to arrest
them it was their duty to keep them
off the cars and protect the company's
property. At nightfall several of the
boys, in company with their fathers,
would run across these officers, but a
knowing wink would set matters right
before any harm had been done.
On the lst day of July halt was
made in the foraging and the work Of
extracting the red powder from the
sophomore signals was beguR
A flour barrel was used as a recepta-
Gle, and at the end of two days work
it was three-quarters filed. The tor
pedoes had mounted up in number
until nearly 200 of them were piled
up in a store box in an off corner of
the room.
Then, as final endeavor, three of
the boys III whom were traits that go
toward making up diplomat called
on the chief train dispatcher at that
point and in the most persuasive tones
begged for a contribution toward help
ing out their celebration.
With keen discernment the dis
patcher saw into the whole scheme and
promised to help them if they would
let him know the full particulars OF
their plans. No more fuu-loving man
lived than EN-" Stevenson, the dis
patcher, and the boys, knowing this,
told him ALL
His contribution was an eye opener
to the boys, and, after opening the
signals, the barrel was filed to the
brim with the precious red fire.
At last the great day arrived, and
the parents of the boys belonging tc
the club were astonished at the use tc
which the money given for firecrack
ers and other explosives was put. In
stead of buying frecrakers and tor
pedoes they made the mouths of many
ofthe outside boys water as they passet
among them munching peaches Oh
apricots, or contentedly chewed away
on some delicious sweetheart
And then the novelty of the situa
ton struck some of the younger boy
and sarcastic remarks were flung a
them as to their patriotism. But tn,
members of the "Our Boys" said moth
ing, looked wise and waited for tn,
cover of nightfall.
At o'clock everybody in the littl,
town was on the streets promenadine
and viewing the few roman candles ant
skyrockets set off by the more aristo
cratic and wealthy citizens.
BY that time the barrel of red fir
had been transferred to a field jus
back of the town and long fuse con
nected Herewith. Each boy appro
priated as many torpedoes as he coulc
carry without exciting suspicion aD,
took up positions assigned to them b.
the chief conspirator.
The town was to be given surpris
and the Fourth of July celebratio
that would open the eyes of the oldes
resident.
The scheme worked to charm.
At 9 o'clock exactly the through ez
press was due and from the telegrap
operator it was learned that it was O
time. The town was located along
side the track and grade of consiC
= cradle length ran through the cente
of the former and was the cause {
' most of trains reaching high rate {
I speed