Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-09-13
SELECT STORY.
Captured by Telegraph.

PAiINi fai lottu bS1"tSH "SllCslSO ttIu
Omaha runs through D, and the
great number Of irregular trains, and
constant danger of collision result
ing therefrom, rendered the position
of night-operator by no means an
easy one. 1tmay be well to mention
here, as necessary to the following
story, that besides the railroad office,
there was also at D. a business
office Of the Union company. This
we always spoke of as the "down-
town office" 49,.
One stormy night, not far from
eleven o'clock, | sat at my desk-and,
for wonder, idle. The wires had
not called for some time, and I was
leaning back in my chair, listening
to the wind outside, and rejecting
upon the loneliness Of my situation.
The eastern train had crossed the
river more than an hour ago all the
depot officials had gone off home,
and, so far as knew, I was entirely
alone in the vast building.
Finally, tired Of thinking, I pick
ed mp the evening paper and glanced
listlessly over it's columns. Among
other things, Tread the detailed ac-
count ola fearful tragedy that had
taken place fifty miles up the river
on the previous night. Three RATS
men, well-known desperate charac-
ters in that vicinity, had entered the
cottage of one Matthews, a farmer
living in an isolated spot-had
butchered the farmer and his child
rem, terribly maltreated his wife,
and then departed as they came,
having taken with them whatever
plunder was handy. What interest
ed me most was full description for
purposes of identification, of the chief
of the villainouS trio. Here it is:
$500 reward will be paid for inform
alton leading to the capture, dead OF
alive, of Tim Lynch, the ringleadcr of
the Matthews tragedy. Lynch is a re-
markably large man, six feet, four
inches IN height. very heavy and
broad across the shoulders. Eyes
greenish gray, with a deep scar over
the right one. Hair wiry, black and
beard of the same color. When last
seen he was dressed in black Kossuth
hat, faded army overcoat, pants of
gray jean, and heavy boots. The
above reward will be paid to anyone
furnishing positive information of his
whereabouts. (Signe0
Sheriff of - county
At the very instant | finished read
ing the advertisement there occurred
the most remarkable coincidence
that has ever come under my observ-
alton. [ heard heavy tread on the
stair, and then there entered-Tim
Lynch. The moment [ set eyes upon
him l recognized him as perfectly as
though | had known him all his
life. The army overcoat, the gray
pants tucked in the heavy boots, the
massive frame and shoulders, the
slouch hat pulled down over his
right eye to conceal was sure-the
scar; above all, a desperate, hunted
look in his forbidding countenance-
all were not to be mistaken. | was
as certain Of his identity as though
he had stepped forward, pulled of
his hat to show the scar and told me
his name.
TO say I was not frightened at this
sudden and unwelcome intrusion
would be untrue. | am not 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 tc
comply, I succeeded in conquering
my agitation to some extent. He
drew chair noisily forward, and sit
ting down threw open his coat, dis
playing by so doing heavy navy re-
volver stuck in his belt. Then he
freed his mouth of quantity of to-
bacco Juice and spoke.
young feller," he said motionlng
with his head toward the battery
''that there masheen is what yer call
Telegram, s'pose?'
"Well," l answered with faint
smile intended to be conciliatory
"that is what we send kilograms by
oval, l want yer to send a mes,
sage toa friend O mine in Cohoe.
tell yer aforehand | hain't got no col
lateral. But l kinder guess you had
better trust me, young feller. Here