The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-09-14
Selfrt Stury.

Selfrt Sfnry.
CAPTURED BY TELEGRAPH.
During the winter Of 1869 I was en-
ployed as night operator in the railroad
office at D., Iowa. The principal
road between Chicago and Omaha runs
through D, and the. great irregu-
lar night trains, and constant collisions
resulting therefrom, renders the position
of night operator by no means an easy
ione. 1t may he we'll to mention here, as
necessary to the following story, that be-
side the railroad there was at D ga q
business office of the Union Company.
This we always spoke Of as the .sdown
office
One stormy night, not far from eleven
O'Clock, sat at my desk-and. for q
wonder, idle The wires had not called
for some time, and was leaning back
in my chair, listening to the wind out.
side and rejecting upon the loneliness
of my situation. The eastern train had
crossed the river more than al hour
ago; all the depot officials had gone of
home, and so far as l knew was en-
tirely alone in the vast building.
Finally, tired of thinking, picked up
the evening paper and glanced listlessly
over its columns. Among other things
read the detailed account of fearful
tragedy that had occurred fifty miles up
the river on the previous night. Three
rsftsmen, well known as desperate char
acters in that vicinity. had entered the
cottage of one Matthews,a farmer living
in an isolated spot-had butchered the
farmer and his children, terribly NAL
treated his wife, and then departed as
they came, having taken with them what
ever plunder was handy. What interes-
ted me most was a full description, for
purpose Of identification, of the leader
Of the Infamous trio, Tim Lynch. Here
it is:
"Five hundred dollars reward will be
paid for information leading to the cap.
ture, dead or alive, of Tim Lynch, the
ringleader Of the Matthews tragedy
Lynch is remarkably large man, six
feet four inches in height, very broad
across the shoulders. Eyes greenish
gray, with deep scar over the right
one. Hair wiry, black,and beard of the
same color. When last seen he was
dressed in black Kossutl hat, faded
army overcoat, pants of gray jeans, and
heavy boots. The above reward will he
paid to any one furnishing positive in
formation of his whereabouts
[Signed] Sheriff - County"
At the instant / finished reading the
advertisement there occurred the most
remarkable coincidence that has ever
came under my observation. 1 heard a
heausy tread on the stairs.th door open
ed and there entered FIN Ev nUn The
moment set eyes upon him recogniz
ed him as perfectly as though l had
known him all his life. The army over
coat, the gray pants tucked into the
heavy boots, the massive frame and
shoulders, the slouched hat pulled down
over his right eye-to conceal, | was
sure, the scar above-a desperate, hunt
ed look in his forbidding countenance-
all were not to be mistaken. l was as
certain of bis identity as though he had
stepped forward, pulled off his hat to
show the scar, and then told me his
name.
To say that I was not alarmed at this
sudden and unwelcome intrusion, would
be untrue am not brave man, and
my present situation, alone with mur.
derer, was by no means rcassuring. Ny
heat beat violently, but from force ol
habit l arose and asked him to be seat
ed. While he turned to comply l sue.
ceeded in conquering my agitation tc
some extent. He drew chair noisily
forward, and sitting down threw open
his cloak, and displayed by so doing 8
heavy navy revolver stuck TO his belt
Then he freed his mouth Of quantity o
tobacco juice, and spoke:
Young fellow" he said, motionine
with his head toward the battery, "tba
thar machine is what you call telegram
| s'pose p
"Well," I answered. with faint smile
intended to be conciliatory, "that's wha
we send kilograms by"
"Wall. want you to send messag,
to friend O. mine out in Cohoe. l tel
you aforehanG l hain't got no collateral
But kinder guess you'd better trust me
young feler." (Here he laid his hanl
| Significantly on his belt I'll fetch i
in ter-morrow, if its convenient"
| l fastened to say that the charg
could just as we'll be paid at the othe
end by his friend
"Umph! Plaguey little you'll get Q
jim, l reckon. Howsomdever. per
ceed"
"What is the message, and to whom
is it to go?''
81 want you to tell Jim Fellers, of Ca
hoe,tha the bull quit here las night, ,an
that sheep'll be close on his heels.'
Ay he delivered this sentence he look
ed at me as if he expected me to be mys
tilted. But thought it best not to ar
pear SO, and said carelessly:
81 suppose you are dealer in stock
and this is Your partner? All, sir, th
telegraph helps you fellows out of man
f a sharp bargain"
"Ya'as," he answered, slowly, eviden
E ly pleased with the way / took it
"Ya'as that's um. I'm sendin' down
lot o. stock. Bought it dog cheap owe
e in Genessee. yesterday. Putty lot Q
ever you see."
, l turned to my instrument. VIII:
was to be done? Though ours was
railroad Office, we often sent bushes
messages; and if l did as usual now
!, should probably get rid of my unwe
: come visitor without further trouble
: But in the short conversation with hi
:, | had somewhat recovered from my fir
= alarm, and now conceived the idea of q
tempting the capture Of Tim Lynch
l was only poor salaried operate
d trying to save enough to marry in Il
n spring, Five hundred dollars would {
}. me good deal OF good jus: now
= say nothing of the eclat of the thing
e But how was it to be accomplished
1T Here l was alone in the depot with MI
big enough to whip his weight in SUI
s little men as was several times over.
Y l. A.