National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-25
TALES OF TIE TELEGRAPH.
Tho Great Bullion Robbery at sidney
Outlaws Circumvented Over the
wires-Ogs1aIis's Memorable Call
for HeIp-Trioks OF the Mine Hunt
ers-FooIi ing n Greenhorn.

Outlaws Circumvented Over this
wires-OgaIalis's Memorable Call
for HeIp-Tricks OF the Mine Hunt
ers-FooiinR n Greenhsrn.
Ne1o York sun.
SIDNEY, NEB., Oct. s.-Sevoral old tel.
orrsph operators mot hero last night, and
In the course of long conversation told
some of their experiences on the frontier
one of them began by recalling the great
iulion robbery at this place. 1t was at
noon, aud most of the depot and stage
hands had gone across the yards to din
ner. AS the operator sat in the telegraph
Office alone two men presented themselves
at his door and demanded admittance.
Both had revolvers. He jumped up and
let them in, and thoy quickly bound and
gagged him. Believing that he was safe,
they disappeared, aud he saw no more
of them. As soon as they were out OF
sight be managed to get to his instru-
ment, and by lying down on the table
found that with one Of his hands he could
reach the key. 1t was difficult work, but
by degrees he improved his position un-
I'll finally he raised the Cheyenne Office
and communicated the fact that robbery
was in progress The operator at that
point kept him posted as TO the proceoi
ings there, and in few minutes no was
grstified to hear the intelligence licked
over the wires that the superintendent
aud party of detectives were en- route
for Sidney on q special train. The dis.
lance was 100 miles, but the run was
made so rapidly that tho people of the
town were hardly aware Of the robbery
before the train dashed in. The operator
had by that time been released. and 1t
was found that the thieves, who had beon
secreted under the depot, had come up
through hole In the floor made by
removing board. The bullion weighed
about 500 pounds, and, as it was
thought that they could not have carried
IL far, q vigorous search was made near ut
hand. Before night the greater part of
tho gold was found in hole under the
depot, and the remainder was discovered
in an adjoining coal shed where it had
been dropped. The thieves got away with
only about $4,000 in currency.
Another operator remarked that he was
the man who discovered tho Ogalalla
train robbers. He was in charge of the
little office at Kearny. Ho had had
very stupid afternoon, and, as the day
was miserable without, he dozed more or
came necessary to light the lamps he
found this occupation distasteful, and as
no one came in no leaned forward, placing
his arms on his table and his head upon
them.
~ must have slept soundly for WHILE"
he said, "for lost myself entirely for an
hour or two, but presently had An indis-
tinct impression that some one was calling
for assistance. In my dream it seemed to
me that / could hear the cry Help!
Helpp and that was powerless to render
any assistance. Finally | sat bolt upright
with u nervous feeling as if something
terrible had happened which ought to
have prevented. / rubbed my eyes and
looked around sleepily. The depot was
empty. 1t was dark outside, aud the
rain was falling. stepped to the door
and looked out for o minute, but heard
nothing. Then went back to my desk,
filled and lighted my pipe, and began
to read. Ny eyes had just fallen on tho
page when my instrument sounded once
or twice very feebly. l looked at it
closely. 1t licked again almost inaudi-
bly,. Something's the matter thought l.
got up. and leaned over the sounder and
listened. l could just catch the faintest
click, as If child might have been play
ing with q key somewhere. While l
listened, / began to comprehend the
nature of the message that was being
sent could not catch all the letters,
but got enough, after listening to it
dozen times, to make out this much:
'Ogalalla, Ogalalln. Help, help 1t
flashed upon me all at once. The over
iand train was being robbed. l grabbed
my key, and let everybody have it from
Cheyenne to Omaha. There was rome
lively telegraphing there for time. They
sent engines out from two or three points,
and got To Ogalalla in time to scare the
Dbbrrs oil. You sec / was good deal
urther off than dozen other operators,
ut somehow | was the first one that
caught on. The way it happened was
this: The robbers came into the de.
not at Ogalaila about an hour
before train time, and bound and
gagged the operator. After they got him
fixed they sat around and waited. When
the train drew IN they left him, and he
Immediately got himself in a position
where he could use the key little. The
boys who saw him say it is mystery
how he ever did it. His legs were tied
twice, aud his arms were pinioned behind
him, SO that it was almost impossible to
move even the fingers. The fact that
could not catch two consecutive letters
until i had heard the message ten or
twelve times shows how faint the stroke
was. 1t was the queerest experience of
my life"
A third man said he had seen a good
deal Of service on the border. and had
had good many adventures, only one of
which ever impressed him much. Down
at Granada, on the Santa Fe road, when
it was first opened he had had q circus
all one night with a party of robbers.
The country was then q very dangerous
one, and the management was in contin-
ual fear of desperadoes.
II was In the Office in the evening"" he
said, getting ready to close up, when
four or five hard men came in. They
didn't say much at first, but seemed to be
looking the ground over. We were al
was on the lookout for that kind of chaps
aud as the machine was ticking l pro.
tended that somebody was ing me a
question. laughed little, and, seiziug
the key, broke in with Everybody
Don't stop the express at Granada to-
mig t, whether signslled or not. Robbers
here" They eyed me sharply, but said
nothing. The sounder kept up a merry
click, and 1 leaned back in the chair. |
They fooled around for half an hour, and |
then one Of them asked me what time the
train was due. "11;5." l said. We'll,
we want il, one of them replied. | |
told him that would signal it. About
1890 i got out the red lantern and |
lighted it. Just as got it fixed two of |
them jumped up with revolvers in their |
hands and said they would save me tho |
trouble. While one of them covered me |
with pistol the others tied me fat on |
my back to q settee. / couldn't move |
head or foot. After they got me there | |