The Press., 1884-07-17

gers, and though 1t was rather cramped place to work, after long and patient labor I succeeded in separating the wires. ] heart the instruments on the table click as the circuit was broken. I brought the ends together again, and click--the circuit was complete. I now began, slowly and laboriously, to carry out nay plan Taking wire between my fingers in either hand l brought the ends together, held them there an instant, separated them and just touch- ed together again, making a dash and dot, or the letter ssN," which was the dis patchers call I repeated this a few times and in a moment the response came, "I, I, N." Now, carefully and with long, struggling letters, I tapped out this mes sage: .-I t -.. ,... g ''KNL Dsp'r.-N. Robbers bust'n safe send N. Pm bound on floor sending this tapped wires. a OPERATOR. '. 70. K.'' came the answer with a few words of cheer from the dispatcher, who seemed to comprehend it all in minute, and moment after I heard him send this message, brief but to the point:
 Conductor No. 7-Aldina. Take on night police at Aldina-Stop at Kenelsville- Cap ture robbers bursting safe-Be quick, but cautious. RENNE, Train Dispatcher"
 Meanwhile the burglars had succeeded in drilling hole 1n the safe door, and blew quantity of powder into the safe. A piece of fuse was produced and one end inserted in the hole, and after lighting it the party adjourned to the freight room to await developments listened in an az ony of suspense for the explosion, but three-five-ten minutes passed and stll the safe remained intact. l heard No. 7 reported as leaving Aldina two minutes l late-at 1907 Would she reach Nenels- vile i'll time? At last the robbers fetllrn- ed cautiously, and there was considerable swearing when it was found that the fuse, dampened by the rain, had gone out just before reaching the powder. A fresh piece was placed in position, and the leader had just taken his cigar from his mouth to light 1t, when suddenly the door was burst open, and ill 8 moment the room seemed full of men in railroad and police uniform. A short, sharp battle ensued. l Was step- ped on, kicked and walked over, until al most wished no aid had come. The rob- bers, seeing that they were cornered, drew their reyolvers and fought despeately, but were overpoWered, by force of numbers af- ter slightly wounding two of the rescuing party. was quickly released, related my story, and learned how the train had been stopped some distance below the station and the rescuing party had come the rest of the way on foot, arriving just in the nick of time. The three rogues were taken on to the next station, and one of the train men was allowed to keep me company un- til morning, when I had the pleasure of seeing the money package safe in the hands of MT. Churchill. The burglars were sentenced to long Imprisonment at the next term of court, though they never could be made to tell how they knew the money was in the depot. But I suppose they must have been in the express office when the money was shipped, and follow ed it up on a venture.
 I did not work at Kenelsville long after that. The express officials took consid- erable interest in me, and at their recom- mendation I was advanced as fast as my ability would warrant. But never wake up at night and hear the rain pattering on the roof and beating against the window panes without thinking of my night of ter TOT in the Kenelsville depot.