The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-04-15
CAPTURED By TELEGRAPH.

during the winter OF 1867 was en-
ployed as night operator in the railroad
office at D., Iowa. The principal
road between Chicago and Council Bluffs
runs through D., and the great, irreg-
ular night trains, and the constant danger
of collision resulting therefrom, rendered
the position of night operator by no
means an easy one. 1t may be we'll to
mention here, as necessary to the follow
there was also at D. a business Office
of the Union Company. This we always
spoke of as the downtown" 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 outside
and rejecting on the loneliness of my
situation. The Eastern train had
crossed the river more than an hour ago,
all the officials had gone off home, and,
SO far as l knew, was entirely 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
raftsmeu, we'll known as desperate char
acters in that vicinity, had entered the
cottage of one Matthews, 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 plumber was handy. What inter-
ested me- most was full description of
the chief of the villainous 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
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,
above reward will be paid to anyone furnish
ing positive information Of his whereabouts.
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. l
heard a heavy tread on the stair, and then
the door opened and there entered-Tim
Lynch! The moment set eyes upon
him / recognized him as perfectly as
though had known him all my life. The
army overcoat and gray pants tucked in
to the heavy boots, the massive frame
and shoulders, the slouched hat pulled
down over his right eye to conceal-I
was sure-the scar; above all, desper-
ate, hunted look in his forbidding coun-
tenance-all we're not to be mistaken. l
was as certain of his identity as though
he had stepped forward, pulled off his
hat to show me the scar and told me his
name.
To say that I was not alarmed at this
sudden and unwelcome intrusion would
be untrue. am not q brave man, and
my present situation, alone in the depot
with 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 he turned to
comply l succeeded in conquering my
agitation to some extent. He drew 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 his mouth of a quantity of
tobacco juice and spoke:
young feller," he said, motioning
with his head toward the battery, "that
thar macheen is what yer call telly-
gram, s'pose?'
Well,"I answered, with faint smile,
intended to be conciliatory, "that's what
we send kilograms by"
Wal, l want you to send message to
friend O. NINE out in Cohoe. l tell yer
aforehand hain't got no collateral. But
/ kinder guess you'd better trust me,
young Teller" Here he laid his hand
significantly on his betty "I1l fetch it
in ter-morrow, eff it's convenient"
fastened to say that the charge could
just as we'll be paid at the other end by
his friend.
"Umphl Plaguey little you'll get O.
Jim, l reckon. Howsumever. perceed"
"What is the message, and to whom is
it to go?"
81 want you to tell Jim Fellers, of
Cohoe, that the bull quit here las
night, and ther sheepll be close on his
heels"
AS he delivered this sentence he looked
at me as if he expected me to be mysti.
fed. But thought it best not to appear
SO, and said carelessly:
"l'suppose you are dealer in stock,
and this is your partner? All, sir, the
telegraph helps you fellows out of many
sharp bargain"
"Ya'as," he answered slowly, evil
IDENTIFY pleased with the way I took it.
"Ya'as, that's um. Pm sendin' down q
lot O. stock. Bought it dog cheap over
in Genesee yesterday. Purity lot as ever
you see."
turned to my instrument. What was
to he done? Though ours was q railroad
office we often sent business messages /;
and if did as usual now should prob
ably get rid of my unwelcome visitor
without further trouble. But in the short
conversation with him had somewhat
recovered from my first alarm, and l now
conceived the idea of attempting the cap
ture of Tim Lynch.
was only a poor, salaried operator,
trying to save enough money to marry
in the spring. Five hundred dollars
would do me great deal of good just
now-to say nothing of the ecIoe of the
thing. But how was it to be accom-
plished. Here was /, alone in the depot
with . man big enough to whip his
weight In such little men ss I was sew.
erai times over. Any attempt to secure
him single-handed was not to be thought
of. But could not excuse myself, and,
going out fasten him ,ini No; well
- ~ - - y 4.