River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-01-13
MISCELLANY.
A NIGHT OF TERROR.
BY A. S.


This night, which will dwell in my
memory with vivid distinctness while life
and reason are left me, was in October a
long time ago. | was at that time
telegraph operator stationed in little
Canadian town upon the Grand Trunk
line of railroad.
Mine was by no means model place of
residence. There were beer-gardens,
drinking-saloons, gambling-houses, out Of
all proportion to the more respecta-
BILE shops and residences; We had two ar.
.seSts of counterfelters, and there was
scarcely day passed that there was not
a brawl amongst the rufiians around us.
Still, there was a school, and timid,
blue-eyed woman had come to teach
there.
How long an unprotected woman might
have lived there, | can only guess, for
Alice Holt had been there but three
months when she consented to walk into
church with me one day, and walked out
my wife. This was in July, and we had
occupied pretty cottage nearly quarter
of a mile from the telegl aph Office since
our marriage.
Being the only man employed in the
Geographic business in the town, was
obliged TO remain constantly in the office
during the day and part OF the evening,
and Alice herself brought me my dinner
and supper.
There was a small room next to the
office, with a window, but only one door,
communicating with the larger room.
Here Alice had fitted up 1ressing-table,
and mirror, wash.stand, and som shelves,
where she kept pepper, salt aud pickles
for my office repasts. The two rooms
we're on the second floor of a wooden
building, that stood alone.
With this necessary introduction |
come to the story of that October tight,
and the part my blue-eyed Ance, My
eighteen. and afraid of her own shadow,
played in it.
was in the office at about half.past
seven o'clock, when one of the railway
officials came in, and harried, saying:
"Stirling, have you been over to the
embankment on the road to-day !"
The embankment was not quarter OF
mile from the office, on the east side.
NO; have not,
alt was special providence took me
there, then. One of the great mass
es of rock has rolled down directly across
tn, track. 1t will be as dark as a VOLTS
mouth tonight, and if the midnight up
train comes without warning there will
be horrible smash up
ut must stop at postville, then, re-
piled. Il will send message
"Yes. That Is what stepped in for.
The down track is clear, so you need not
stop that train
"All right, sir
was standing at the door, seeing my
caller down the rickety staircase, when
Alice came up with my supper. 1t was
hot and / was cold, so drew up table
and opening can and basket, sat down e
enjoy it. Time enough for business
/ thought, afterward. As ate we chat
ted.
"Any messages to-day T. my wife ask
ed.
"Jne for John Martin
John Martin A lice cried "tht
greatest ruiHan in the neighborhood
What was the message
midnight train "
"Was that oil ~
"That was all Mr.. Hill had just beer
in here to tell me there is huge rocl
across the track al the embankment, so
shall stop the midnight train at Postyille
The passengers must wait for few
hours there, and come on in the morninI
after the track is cleared"
"Havc you sent the message. Robert 7
"Not yet. There is plenty Of time
That train does not reach Postville til
half.past eleven, and IL is not yet eight
Yes--it il just striking"
"Better send II, Robert. II ther'