The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1910-02-11
AN INCIDENT OF MORGAN's RAID

LAIADVENEUlSE 80
AN INCIDENT OF MORGAN'S RAID
ERS.
This thrilling incident happened on
the morning of July IA, 1868, on the
Little Miami Railroad. which ran out
of Morrowtown, Ohio. John Red
mon was the engineer of a special
train filled with recruits who were to
be taken twenty-five miles away to
Camp Dennison.
Just before the start was to be
made, word came that General Nor
gan and his cavalry were in the vicin-
ity; but the volunteers were enthusi-
astic and wouldn't hear of delays.
They were enough, they said, to take
care of all the guerrillas in the Con-
federate army
Everything went we'll for the frs,
two-tfirds of the journey; but at
Loveland word was received that Nor
gan was nearby, lying in wait for
this very train. The trainmen were
anxious to turn back; but the army
officers and recruits insisted so siren
uously that they go forward, boasting
that they were sufficient protection,
that one of the railroad officials told
the engineer to proceed if he wished
to. Redmon had his favorite loco
motive, the John Kilgour, and didn't
know what fear was; so he signaled
"AlI ahoardi" and started
Morgan's raiders suddenly ap-
peared at Danger Crossing, only four
miles from their destination, and
opened fire; but the engine men
ducked, and the train went ahead at
full speed. The volunteers set up a
great shout of derision for the Con-
federates and praise for Redmon; but
a short distance farther on huge
pile of ties and rocks had been placed
on the track and when the Kilgour
struck it, it was hurled into the ditch
beside the track.
The fireman was instantly killed;
but Redmon escaped without being
seriously injured. The volunteers
were easily captured by the Confed-
crates and sent to a Southern prison.
Sunday Magazine.
A RIFLE AND A SLEEPING
SWITCHMAN.
Paddy Flynn, who is now an engi-
neer on one of the fast trains of the
B. e N. W., was fireman four years
r In, ort
and very fine diamond pin entirely
to his quick and most remarkable
action in time of extreme danger. He
is a remarkable rife shot, holding
several cups and medals for his PROV
ess as a marksman at county and
State shooting matches. On the prin-
ciple that as he was running out of
Omaha he might at any time be called
upon to look at the barrel end of a
rife, Paddy always carried his favor
ite f1rearm with him. He was never
called upon to use it against bandits;
but this popularity of his was of
good service in one emergency.
One Sunday afternoon, when it was
already almost dark, at four-thirty
o'clock, Paddy climbed into the cab
of No 4, then the fast mail train be-
tween Omaha and Lincoln, which had
right of way and was supposed to
have all switches locked for it. With
the Irish fireman, Of course, was his
inseparable weapon.
About fifteen miles of the journey
had been made, and the express was
going into station where it was
scheduled % pass slow local which
had taken the siding. Glancing in
stinctively at tho switch, the engineer
was Mortified to find that it was still
set for the sidetrack, and that there
was every chance of a terrible rear
end collision, which, with both trains
loss of life. At the switch, his head
between his hands and his red Ian
tern in front of him, was the rear
brakeman, who had evidently gone to
sleep while waiting for the express,
forgetting to throw back the switch
for the main line.
The engineer reduced his speed as
much as possible and turned to speak
to Paddy. At that moment a rifle
shot rang out and the red lantern
was shattered to fragments. The
brakeman awoke to see the oncoming
headlight, and quick as thought threw
the switch to the proper side. He
had no time to lock it; but he held it
for the minute while the express
passed.
Such remarkable presence of mind
attracted the attention of the chief
officials of the company, and the pre-
sentation Of the pin was the result of
report by the engineer. When
Paddy was congratulated on his quick
wit, he grinned and said:
"You see, gentleman, the boys al
ways did be hayin' the laugh on me
because l toted my gun in the cab;
but I always told EN- I'd have the
laugh on them some day. Besides, it
was an easy mark, and as 1 turned the
same trick ten years ago l knew it
was a cinch unless the boy at the
switch lost his head" - New York
Tribune Sunday Magazine.