The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-09-03
SELECT STORY.
CAPTURED BY TELEGRAPH.


through D., and the great irregular
night trains, and constant collisions re-
sulting therefrom. renders the position OF
night operator by no means an easy one.
1t may be well to mention here, as nee
essary to the following story, that beside
the railroad there was at D-a busi-
ness Office of the Union Company. This
we always spoke of as the down Office. y
One stormy night, not far from eleven
o'clock, / sat at my desk-and, for a
wonder, idle. The wires had not called
for some time, and was leaning back in
my chair, listening to the wind outside
and rejecting 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 so
far as knew was entirely alone in the
vast building.
Finally, tired ofthinking, 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. The
raftsmen, we'll known as desperate char
acters in that vicinity, had entered the
cottage of one Matthews, farmer liv-
ing 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 plumber was handy. What in
terested me most was dull descrip-
tion, for purpose of identification, of the
leader of the Infamous trio, Tim Lynch.
Here it is: H
Five hundred dollars reward will be
paid for information leading to the cap
ture, dead or alive of Tim Lynch, the
ringleader-o the Matthews tragedy.
Lynch is a remarkably large man, six
feet four inches in height, very broad
across the shoulders. Eyes greenish
gray, with a deep scar over the right
one. Hair wiry, black, and beard of the
same color. When last seen he was
dressed in black Kossuth hat, faded
army overcoat, pants of gray jean, and
heavy boots. The above reward will be
paid to any one furnishing positive in
formation of his whereabouts.
[Signed,1 Sherif-County
At the instant finished reading the
advertisement there occurred the most
remarkable coincidence that has ever
come under my obser vation. heard a
heavy tread on the stairs, and then the
door opened and there entered-Ti m
Lynch The moment l set eyes upon
him I recognized him as perfectly as
The army overcoat, and gray pants
tucked into the heavy boots, the massive
frame and shoulders. the slouched hat
pulled down over his right eye--to con-
ceal, was sure, the scar aboye--a des-
perate, haunted look in his forbidding
countenance-allw were not to be mistak-
en-. was as certain of his identity as
though he had stepped forward, pulled
off his hat to show the scar and then
told me his name.
To say that / was not alarmed at this
sudden and unwelcome intrusion, would
be untrue. / am not brave man, and
my present situation alone with hunt
ed murderer, was by no means reassur
ing. Ny heart beat violently, but from
force of habit arose and asked him tc
be seated. While he turned to comply
/ succeeded in conquering my agitation
TO some extent He drew chair noisily
forward, and sitting down threw open hi
cloak, and displayed by so doing {
heavy navy revolver stuck to his belt
Then he freed his mouth of quantity
of tobacco juice, and spoke:
"Young feller," he said, motioninl
with his head toward the battery, ''tha
thar macheen is what you call tele
gram, s'pose ?"
"Well," answered, with. a fain
smile, intending 10 be conciliatory
"that's what we send kilograms by"
oval, want you to send a messag
to a friend o. mine out in Cohoe. tel
you aforehand hain't got no collateral
But kinder guess you'd better trust me
young feller." Here he laid his han'
Significantly on his belt.) "I1l fetch
in ter-morrow if its convenient"
FASTENED to say that the chSfge coul
just as well be paid at the other end b
his friend.
'sUmphl Plaguey little you'll get {
Jim, reckon. Howsomdever, perceed
sWhat is the message, and to whom
il to go?"
81 want you to tell Jim Fellers, c
Cohoe, that the bull quit here las nigh
and that sheep'll be close on his heels.
As he delivered this sentence he look
ed at me as if he expected me to be mys
tilted. But thought it best not to az
pear SO, and l said carelessly:
II suppose you are dealer in stoc
and this is your partner? All, sir, th
telegraph helps you fellows out of man
sharp bargain"
"Ya'as," he answered, slowly, ev
IDENTIFY pleased with the way l took
"Ya'as, that's 'um. I'm sendin' down
lot o. stock, Bought it dog cheap ov'
in Genesee yesterday. Putty, lot as ev'
you see."
/ turned to my instrument. What W:
to be done? Though ours was railros
Office we often sent business messages; al
if / did as usual now should prObab
get rid of my unwelcome visitor witho
further trouble. But in the short Co
versation with him had somewhat !
covered from my first alarm, and nc
conceived the idea of attempting Il
capture of Tim Lynch.
/ was only poor salaried operate
trying to save enough to marry in t
spring. Five hundred dollars would
me good deal of good just now-to s
nothing of the eclat of the thing. B
how was it to be accomplished? He
was alone in the depot with man