Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-11-04
The Storw Teller.
THE TELEGRAPH ROBBERS.

to while away the Clme-We WeIe ooilSeu w
wait owing to broken rail-told the follow
ing story:
"Ten years ago I was telegraph operator
at small town in New Jersey, but my health
failing, gave up my situation, and taking
an agency, travelled westward until finally
reached the city of San Francisco, where
took fancy to visit the mining regions; so,
selecting suitable goods to sell among the
miners I went, satisfied my curiosity, made
little money, and was returning in the stage
coach, when the incidents | am about to relate
occurred, or at least began to occur.
"There were beside myself three inside pas
sengers; an old gentleman Of sixty, and two
roughly dressed men, apparently, miners
These two sat at opposite ends of the coach,
not appearing to know each other, while the
old gentleman and myself sat close together.
I noticed that the old gentleman had heavy
tin or iron box between his legs, which he
seemed to be anxious to keep out of sight.
"After a short conversation with him, on
general subjects, I allowed myself to drift
gently into a doze and while in that condi-
ton, my ear, trained as it was to the intelli-
gent sound of the telegraph instrument,
caught faint tic, tic, which resolved itself
IN tne 1OllOWlDg WOrQS
"'Bill, the young one is going to sleep, aud
/ will tend to him while you pitch the old
one out over the precipice, when make the
signal, and secure the box"
"I was now as wide awake as if had been
called by an operator to receive message,
but pretended to be still sleeping, while
listened intently. Then l heard the coach
window rattle, and it read:
"'All right, Bob. We will be to the Big
Jump in twenty minutes, and then give the
word and out he goes
Taking cautious look from between my
eyelids, saw that one of the villains was tel
egraphing by vibrating knife blade between
his teeth, while Il {, other used the window for
the purpose, neither of them appearing to no.
tice the other.
81 knew the precipice to which they re.
ferred terrible place, where a miner had
once jumped off in fit Of despair at his bad
luck, from which it was known as the Big
Jump. How to communicate to the old gen.
tleman was at loss to determine, but finally
I took out newspaper and urderscored the
words in a lengthy editorial, which, if read
consecutively, would read:
"Be cautious, sir. The two villains here
intend to kill and rob us in ten minutes.
When arise you attack the one with the
mustache and, 1 will take the other. Kill if
necessary"
"Then handed the paper to the old gen.
tleman, saying, Have you read this sir Its
a most excellent editorial"
"He took the paper put on his glasses and
began to read. Soon the underscored words
drew his attention and he began to study
them. Then l saw him grow pale and feel
for his box with his foot. Handing me back
the paper he said Significantly.
"'Do you believe that, sir?'
"I know it to be true, sir, said |.
Horrible" said he slipping his hand in
his breast pocket, stern look coming in his
face as he added: II believe that Id feel
like shooting some one
81 saw had man Of courage to help me,
so I cared little for the villainous smile which
his remark brought to one Of the ruftians'
face. saw we were near the Big Jump and
were going down a steep grade at lively
rate when one of the villains telegraphed !:
"'Nowv
"The next minute was on him, knocking
him senseless with my revolver. The old
gentleman did equally as we'll, the ruffians
being taken completely by surprise at our
sudden attack. We had passed the precipice
now, and calling to the driver to stop, he and
the one outside passenger helped to bind our
prisoners, whom we left inside, while We
climbed to the top. But when we arrived in
Sacramento we found the robbers had released
each other and dropped out along the road.
"The old gentleman introduced himself as
Mr.. Stamford, Sacramento banker, and in.
sisted on my accepting the hospitality of his
home, saying that had saved his life and a
large amount of money. I consented, and
was driven with him to his handsome resi-
dence on the outskirts of the city, where
was introduced to his wife, and two daughters,
the former kind, motherly woman, and the
latter a handsome brunette and pretty
blonde.
"Three weeks stay at Rose Hill, Mr.. STAN.
ford's home, with its lovely walks amid a
wealth of tropical flowers, and the society of
Ella and Blanche Stamford, lovelier if not
more beautiful than the flowers that bloomed
around them, only served to make me wish
for longer stay, and when Mr.. Stamford
offered me position in his banking. house, |
most gladly accepted it, not failing to take
courage from the evident delight Of the fair
Blanche, whom thought the lovelier of the
two sisters, when told her of the offer and
decision.
about this time Mr.. Stamford, at his
wife's request, replaced two Irish servants
with two Cinnamon, much to the formers vio-
lent denunciation. Mrs. Stamford was loud
in her praise of her new help, who seemed to
be quite active, orderly fellows, always ready,
always willing, and always to be found at
their posts.
"To these two spoon gobbles.' as the Irish
girls called All Wing and All Lee, I some.
how conceived a decided aversion. There
was, l thought, a sinister look about their
eyes (Which seemed to be cut less on the bias
than usual with Mongolians) which sent a
chill over me whenever met their gaze.
"None Of the family seconded my dislike
to the Cinnamon, except Blanche, who SEEM
ed to think exactly as did, which accept
ed as another sign of encouragement, all the
rest attributing it to my dislike to the Mon
goians as race.
lone quiet, summer night, l had retired to
my room in the second story, and lay think
ing Of the happy possibility of Blanche
Stamford returning the love / felt for her,
when my attention was attracted by the rat
tling of half window There was not a
breath of air stirring to produce such sound,
and I was about rising to ascertain the cause,
when it ceased, and window on the next
floor began to rattle. Then I caught the
meaning of it. Some one was telegraphing
with the sashes.
81 listened, and presently the second story