Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-09-15

20 ana OAdud runs thIOuSh -,
and the great irregular night trains,
and constant danger of collisions
resulting therefrom, rendered the
position of night operator by no
means an easy one. 1t may be
well to mention here, as necessary
to the following story, that besides
the railroad office there was also at
D business Office of the
Union Company. This we always
spoke of as the "down town Office
One stormy night, not far from
eleven O'clock, I sat at my desk
and for q wonder idle. The wires
had not called for some time and /
was leaning back in my chair lis
tening TO the wind outside, and re-
lecting upon the loneliness of my
situation. The eastern train had
crossed the river more than an
hour ago, all the depot officials had
gone home, an so far as l knew l
was entirely alone in the vast build
ing.
Finally, tired of thinking, I pick
ed up the evening paper and
glanced listlessly over its columns.
Among other things | read the de-
tailed account of q fearful tragedy
that had occurred fifty miles up
the river on the previous night.
Three raftsmen, well known as des-
perate characters in that vicinity,
had entered the cottage of one
Mathews, a farmer living in an
insolate spot ; had butchered the
farmer and his children, terribly
maltreated the wife, and then de-
parted as they came, having talser
with them whatever of plumber
was handy. What interested me
most was a full description, fol
purposes of Identification of the
chief of the villanous trio, Tim
Lynch. Here it is +:
Five hundred dollars reward will
be paid for information leading to
the capture, dead or alive, of Tim
Lynch, the ringleader of the Matt
news tragedy. Lynch is remark
ably large man, six feet four inches
in height, very heavy and broad
across the shoulders. Eyes green
ish gray, with deep scar over the
right one. Hair wiry, black, and
and beard of same color. When
first seen he was dressed in black
Kossuth hat, faded army overcoat,
pants of gray jeans, and heavy
boots. The above reward will be
paid to any one furnishing positive
information Of his whereabouts.
(Signed) Sheriff of-County.
AT the very instant l finished
reading the advertisement, there
occurred the most remarkable
coincidence that has ever come
under my observation. / heard a
heavy tread on the stairs, and then
the door opened and there enter
ed-Tim Lynch? The moment 1
set eyes upon him l recognized
him as perfectly as though l had
known him all his life. The army
overcoat and grey pants tucked
into the heavy boots, the massive
frame and shoulders, the slouched
hat pulled down over the right eye
to conceal-I was sure-the scar,
above all desperate, hunted look
in his forbidding countenance-
all were not to be mistaken. /
was certain of his identity as
though he had stepped forward,
pulled off his hat to show the scar,
and told me his name.
To say that / was not alarmed
at this sudden and unwelcomed in
trusion would be untrue. am
not brave man, and my present
situation, alone in the depot with
a hunted murderer, was by no
means reassuring. My heart beat
violently, but from mere force of
habit, arose and asked him to be
seated. While be turned to COM
ply | succeeded in conquering my
agitation to some extent. He
drew a chair noisily forward, and
sitting down threw open his coat,
displaying by so doing a heavy
navy revolver stuck in his belt.
Then he freed bis mouth Of guam
tity Of tobacco juice, and spoke:
"Young feller," he said, motion
ing with his head toward the bat
terry, "that thar macheen is what
yer call Telegram, s'pose 2"
"Well," / answered with faint