The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-22
Gentlemen's White Wash Ties

conceive the idea of tampering with the
tracks.
"The train left Chattanooga one after
noon, and Uncle Joe sat In the cab wish
ing the trip was over. The cars wero
crowded with horses, which were badly
reeded at the front, and besides myself
and the fireman, the train crew didn't
consist of over half dozen men. We
made the most of the journey in safety,
and after we had left Resacca behind,
which was the last stop before Dalton,
I began to feel easier and my spirits rose.
Jumped for His Life.
I'VE weren't going very fast, and
was looking out the front window all
the time, keeping my eyes on the track
ahead, and ready to shut down the throt-
tie at the least sign of danger. Nothing
unusual was in evidence until we were
only a few miles from Union outposts
at Dalton, when the track about fifty
yards in front of the locomotive seemed
to have a spreading appearance to me.
In a few seconds, as we drew closer, ] saw
that one of the rails was not as 1t should
be, and I shut off power in hurry, In
tending to investigate But before we
could stop felt the engine sliding to one
side, and, realizing that we would prob
ably be ditched, I called to my fireman
to jump for his life, and took flying
leap myself from the careening locomo-
tive, landing unhurt in the soft clay
some distance from the track. The train
happened to be in a shallow cut at the
time not more than two feet deep, and
the engine. upon leaving the rails, did not
go far before she plowed her pilot deep
into the side of low embankment and
came to a standstill.
s'I was still wondering what the matter
was and was just in the act of arising to
my feet from the spot where l had fallen
upon taking my jump, when before you
could say Jack Robinson, the train was
surrounded by gray-coated cavalrymen
The soldiers rose UP as If by magic from
behind both sides of the gully where the
track ran and that they meant business
| could see by the manner in which they
went about the thing. They didn't pay
any attention to me or the rest OF the
train crew, and l had plenty of time to
hide my watch and pocketbook In the
stump Of an old tree. but they went for
those cars where the horses were. They
forced open the sliding doors with pro-
ficiency that would have done credit to
professional cracksmen, and man en-
tered each car to look after the horses.
The horses had halters over their heads
and the halters were attached to racks
which extended along the sides of the
cars. The men who had entered among
the frightened steeds united the ropes.
and improvised bridges being constructed
from the sliding doors. the animals were
driven from the cars and as fast as each
horse reached the ground the halter dang.
ling from his neck was grasped by a wait
ing soldier, and he was led away into
the woods.
Raiders Took the Horses.
',T3v gun boys those cars were unload
ed quicker than had ever seen the trick
done before, and In half an hour the
raiders were clear of the scene with fresh
mounts and only the ditched train and
the astontshed crew were left to tell the
tale.
1T footed II into Dalton and teJegraphed
for helm. and in a little while, help having
arrived, we got the engine back on the
track ready to return to Chattanooga. I
made a close investigation and found
that the spikes had been removed from
two rails. and the rails of course. spread
when we ran on them, and the engine
was ditched.
THAT was a daring deed. / want to tell
you: that sally was made right in the
teeth almost Of the whole Yankee army.
and only brave men could do such a
thing. How wIheelers men knew that
the train was carrying horses l never
learned. but they must have got a tip
somewhere-of that there can be no
doubt. I suggested to the federal quar-
termaster that in the future. when horses
were to be shipped to the front. it would
be a good idea not to halter them. as the
halters made it easy for the raiders to
lead the beasts off, once they had caught
them.
THE little incident just goes to show