New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-08
CAPTURED BY TELEGRAPH.

CAPTURED BY TELEGRAPH
During the winter of 1869 was employed
as night operator in the railroad office a
D, Iowa. The principal road between
Chicago and Omaha runs through D.
land the great number of irregular night
trains, and constant danger of collision re
suiting therefroln, rendered the position OF
night operator by no means an easy one II
might be we'll to mention here as necessary
to the following story that, besides the
railroad office. there was also at D. a
business office of the Union Company. This
We always spoke Of as the down town
Office.
One stormy night, no. far from eleven
O'clock II sat at my desk-and, for a won
der, idle. Tho wires had not called for
some time, and was leaning back in nv
/ chair listening to the wind outside and re-
tiectiDg upon the loneliness of my situation
| The eastern train had crossed the river more
than an hour ago; all the depot officials had
| gone off home, and 80 far as I knew / was
entirely alone in the vast building.
Finally, tired Of thinking, picked up the
| its columns. Among other things I read
the detailed account OF q fearful tragedy
| that had taken place fifty miles up the river
| on the previous night. Three raftsmen,
| we'll known as desperate characters in that
vicinity, had entered the cottage of one
Mathews, . farmer living in an isolated
spot. had butchered the farmer and his
children, terribly maltreated his wife, and
then departed as they came, having taken
with them whatever plundes ~as handy.
What interested me most was full descrip.
ton, for purposes of Identification, of the
chief of the yillainous trio. Tim Lynch
Here it il:
Five hundred dollars reward will be
paid for Information leading to the capture,
dead Or alive, OF Tim Lynch. the yingieader
of the Mathews tragedy. Lynch is re-
markedly large man, SIX feet four inches in
height, very heavy, and broad across the
shoulders; eyes greenish- gray, with . deep
scar over the right one: hair wiry, black,
and beard OF same color. When last 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 intorma-
ton OF his whereabouts.
g., Sheriff Of 49, County,
A: the very instant finished reading this
advertisement there occurred the most re.
markable coincidence that has ever come
under my observation. ( heard heavy
tread on the stairs, and then the door
opened, and there entered Tim Lynch.
The moment set eyes upon him l recos-
nized him as perfectly as though had
kno wn him all his life. The AMY overcoat,
the gray pants tucked into the heavy
boots. the massive frame and shoulders,
the slouched hat pulled down over his right
eve to conceal was sure-the scar; above
all q desperate, hunted look in his for.
bidding eountenance-all we're not TO be
mistaken. was 40 certain of his identity
IS though he had stepped forward, pulled
off his hat to show the scar and told ne his
name.
TO say was not alarmei.at this sudden
and unwelcome intrusion would be untrue.
am not brave man, and my present stu
alton. alone in the depot with hunted muir.
derer, was by no means reassuring. My heart
beat violently, but from mere force Of habit
arose and asked him TO- be seated. While
he turned to comply succeeded in con
queriDg my agitation to some extent. He
drew = chair noisily forward and, sitting
down, threw open his coat displaying by SO |
doing heavy navy revolver stuck in his |
belt. Then he freed his mouth OF q uuap. |
sity Of tobacco juice and spoke:
Young ieller," he said, motionino with |
his head toward the battery. tibet thar ma
sheen is what yer call Telegram. /
3 pose!"
'Well,- answered, with fam, smile, !
to be eonciliatory. 'that's what |
we send kilograms by"
wal, ! want yer 20 send message to . |
friend O. mine out in Cohoe. tell yer afore. |
guess you'd better trust me. young Teller.
Here he laid his hand significantly on his
0elt.) I'll fetch ct in ter morrow ct cts con-
venient"
fastened to cay that che charge could
uss q, well be paid a: the other end by his
riend.
"Umpb! Plaguey little you'll git o Jim, I
eckon. HOwsumever, perceed."
What is the message, and to whom is it
o go'"
ha the bull cult here las night, and Their
heep'L be close on his HEELS
As he delivered this sentence he looked
t me as though he expected me to be mys-
flied. But thought it best not to appear
Q. and l said carelessly:
II suppose You are dealer in stock, and |
bis is your partner All, sir, the telegraph
clips you fellows out Of many sharp bar
AIM"
"Ya'as,' he answered, slowly, evidently {
leased with the way I took it. "Ya'as, '
lem's 'um. I'm sending down lot of i
Jock. Bought it dog cheap in Genesee
lsterday. Purity lot as ever You see."
L turned to my instrument What was to
done Though ours was q railroad office | '
9 often send business messages but if 4
~ 90 usual INV cuOulu pEOOdUly SoG |
d OF my unwelc0me visitor without fur U
Ter trouble. But in TIE short conversation q
18th him | had somehow recovered from t.
y first alarm, and now conceived the r
ga OF the capture of Tim Lynch. r
was only poor salaried operator, try a
g to save enough to marry in the spring.
i've hundred dollars would do me q great a
al OF good just now-to say nothing of
g eclat of the thing. But how was it to
accomplished! Here l was alone in the
pot with man big enough to whip his 6,
eight in such little men as l was several C
mes over. Any attempt to secure him | I
,gle-handed was not to be thought of. D,
1t could not excuse myself. and, going I'll
t, fasten him in! No; we'll knew from az
. distrustful look IN his face that any ia
Dposal Of mine to leave the room would AT
peremptorily objected to by him. What pc
IN W.
Why simply this: l would telegraph to ! ne
downtown station. But alas! That | oil
y day the connection between the two | hi
ces had been cut for repairs. 1t was sell de
u used at any time, OF course. But what be
thats 1t was only question of few DO
onds more time. WI
III these thoughts went rapidly through gel
mind with the rapidity of lightning as l tn
ut to the battery. Lynch regarded me al,
% the corner of his uncovered eye with ne
uspicion that made me, shake in nv ist
es. As eat down he arose and came to rel
side. do
Look here, young feller," he Kissed in ati