The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-03-17
Captured by Telegraph,

During the winter OF lS69, l was
employe asynigbt, operator i'm the
railroad Offices D---,Iowaj 1.-The
principal road between Chicago and
Omaha runs through, D., and
the great irregular night trains, and
constant danger Of collision resulting
thcrcfrom, rendered the position Of
night operator by no means an easy
one. 1t may be we'll to mention here
as necessary to the following story
that besides the railroad office, there
was also at D q business office
of the Union Company. This we
always: spoke of as the 'down-towu
Office. - ,,n...., ..; ,.... i:.,
One stormy night, not, far from
eleven o'clock, l sat at my, desk and
/ for wonder, idle. The, wires, had
not called for some time, and ! was
leaning hack in my chsirlisteuipg TO
the wind outside and rejecting upon
the loneliness of::my situation. Tho
eastern train had crossed the river
moro than an hour ago; all the depot
officials had gone off home, and SO
fur as knew was entirely alone IN
the vast building.
Finally, lired'of thiuldng;I picked
up the evening paper and glanced
listlessly ov.r its columns. Among
other things l read the detailed &c
count Of a fearful tragedy that had
occurred fifty miles up the river on
the previous night. Three raftsmen,
well known as desperate characters
in that vicinity, had entered the cot
tage of one Matthew's, a farmer living
in an isolated spot-had bdtchered
the farmer and his children, terribly
maltroated his wife, and then depart.
ed us they came. having taken with
them whatever plumber was handy,
What interested me most was full
description, for purposes of identified,
ton, Of the chief of the villainous
trio, Tim Lynch.-Here it is:
EI $500 reward will be paid for infor.
nation leading to the capture, dead
or alive, of Tim Luch, the ringlcadcr
Of the Matthews tragedy. Lynch is
a remarkably large man, six feet four
inches in height, very heavy, and
broad across tho shoulders. Eyes
greenish gray, with deep scar over
the right one. Hair wiry, black, and
beard Of same color. When first
seen he was dressed inblack Kossuth
hat, faded army overcoat,. pants OF
grey jeans, and heavy ,boots.-Tho
above reward will be paid to any one
furnishing positive information of his
whereabouts. : f.'.,... .,
(Signed) Sheriff of K Co.
At the very instant I finished read
ling the advertisement, there occurred
the most re narkable coincidence that
has ever como under my observation.
| heard a heavy tread on tho stair,
and then the door opened and there
entercd-Tim Lynch! The moment
l set my eyes upon him I recognized
him as perfectly as though I had
known him all his life. The army
ovcrcoat and grey pants tucked into
the heavy boots, the massive frame
and shoulders, the slouched hat pull
led down over his right eye to conceal
Il was sure the scar, above all, @
desperate hunted look in his forbid
ding countenancc-all were MOTTO be
mistaken. | was. as certain of his
identity as though he had stepped
forward, pulled off his hat to show tho
scar and told me bis name. ~,
10 say; that l was not alarmed a
this sudden and unwelcomo intrusion
would be untrue. l am not o brave
man, and my present. situation, alon,
in the depot with a hunted murderer
was by no means rc-assuring. NJ,
thearl beat violently, but from mer
1forco Of habit, I arose and asked hin
to be seated. While, he turned t,
comply succeeded in conquering m,
agitation to some extent. He drew
q chair noisily forward, and sittin,
down threw open his coat, displaying
by 50 doing a hoavy navy revolve
ssost noss s b F's $San y1sa 81 tsS} R
1aud spoke:iS -. 22n ri HJllOT
-"Young eller,"he said, motioniaf,
With bis head toward the battery
that. thar machineyis' what:yet call u
Z telegram, I s'pose ?'r T9haD ,'io1od0 !
I aWell,," / answered,s within a2sfain
smile, intended :to be &coneiliatory
''that's what We send tslsgsams, BY:
oval, 1 want you tosehd % messag
to a friend IF. fnine. oats7H CohoS.
tell yer aforehand Fhaintigot mo cd