The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-09
TELEGRAPHERs' YARNS.
How a Great Robbery Was Partly Prevented
by an Operator.
Nebraska Correspondence Detroit Times.

by an operator,
Nebraska Correspondence Detroit Times,
Several old telegraph operators in the course
of a long conversation here told some of their
experiences on the frontier. One of them began
by recalling the great bullion robbery at this
place. 1t was at noon, and most of the
depot and stage hands had gone across
the yards to dinner AS the operator
sat in the telegraph Office alone two men pre-
sented themselves at his door, and demanded
admittance. Both had revolvers He jumped
up, and let them in, and they quickly bound him.
Believing that he was safe. they disappeared,
and he saw no more of them. AS soon as they
were out of sight, he managed to get to his
instrument, 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 until 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
proceedings there, and in few minutes he was
gratifed to hear the intelligence licked over the
wires that the superintendent and a
for for Sidney on special train.
The distance was IO2 miles, but the run was
made so rapidly that the people of the town
were hardly aware of the robbery before the
train dashed in. The operator had by that time
been released, and it was found that the thieves,
who had been secreted under the depot had
come up through hole in the floor made by
removing a board The bullion weighed
thought they could not have carried it far a
vigorous search was made near at hand. Before
night the greater part of the gold was found in a
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 $13, 900 in currency
Another operator remarked that he was the
man who discovered the Ogalalla train robbery.
He was in charge of the little Office at Kearny.
He had had very stupid afternoon, and, as the
IO
less. AS no one came in, he leaned forward,
placing his arms on his table and his head upon
them.
81 must have slept soundly for while" he
said, 'for lost myself entirely for an hour or
two but presently | had an indiStinct impress
sion that some one was calling for assistance.
In my dream it seemed to me that could hear
the cry Help HelpF and that was powerless to
render any assistance. Finally sat bolt up
right with nervous feeling as if something terri
BILE had happened which ought to have prevented
I rubbed my eyes and looked around sleep
ily The depot was empty. 1t was dark out
side, and the rain was falling l stepped to the
door and looked out FOR minute, but heard
nothing. Then | went back to my desk filed
and lighted my pipe and began to read Myeyes
had Just fallen on the page when my instrument
sounded once or twice very feebly looked at
it closely. 1t licked again almost inaudibly
Something's the matter thought l. got
I'D, leaned over the sounder and listened
could just catch the faintest click, as if a child
might have been playing with key somewhere
While listened I began to comprehend the ma
ture of the message that was being sent. l
could not catch all the letters, but got enough,
after listening to it dozen times, to make out
this much: 'Ogalalla, Ogalallal Help,
help" 1t flashed upon me all
at once. The overland train was
being robbed, or had been robbed. grabbed
my key, and let everybody have it from Chey-
enne to Omaha. There was some lively tele-
graphing there for time. They sent engines
out from two or three points, and got to Omaha
in time to scare the robbers off. You see was a
great deafarther off than dozen other operators,
but somehow l was the first one that caught
on. The way it happened was this: The rob
bers came into the depot at Ogalalla 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
up they left him, and he Immediately
got himself in position where he could use
the key a little. The boys who saw him say it
is mystery how he ever did it. His legs
were tied twice, and 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, showed
how faint the stroke was 1t was the queerest
experience Of my life