The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-05-08
SAVED BY a BELL,
How Gang of Robbers Was Broken On
by an Ex- Telegraph Operator.

ny an FIX telegraph Operator.
Some years ago my life and $40, 900
belonging to my partner. Jim Bigney,
and myself, were saved, and gang OF
robbers broken up by means of an cleo
trio bell' Jim and | had been teie-
graph operators, but had abandoned
the business for mining. We had luck
in prospecting, and after few years
had sold our claims for $4,000, of
which we took $1,000 in promissory
notes and started East with the bal
at1ce, chiefly In bank notes. It ap-
pears that three outlaws learned the
real value of Our old trunks and con.
tents. l had left Jim ut the clerks
desk OF a new-fangled hotel in West
ern town and followed the porters as
they carried the baggage to the front
end OF our room, on the fourth floor.
After dismissing them l had shut the
door, neglecting to lock it, however,
and had turned to the wash-stand, be.
hind, when l heard the door swing
slowly open behind me. Thinking it
was Jim, l rinsed the 1ather from INV
eyes and turned, only to find g man
holding six-shooter in my face, ali
other locking the door and a third
making a break for the trunk. l
wanted at first to argue the matter
from d standpoint of morality, and
so inquired what right they had
to disturb me in dressing. But the
man with the gun remarked, axiomat-
ically: "Might makes all things right,
stranger, and this is might" tapping
his weapon with the disengaged hand.
l felt that the silent instrument in his
hands was a deeper, d more potent ar
gument than any | could advance, TN.
der existing circumstances Back him
up to the wall and keep him covered
until we get the stuff, and then we'll
help slit his throat and LOPEZ" re-
marked the leader Though the pro-
gramrne did not just suit me, l acqui-
esced, as far as the wall. "Put your
hands behind you," commanded my
jailer. | did. when happy thought
struck me. My right hand had come
in contact with a knob, which recog-
nized as the electric bell which COM
muuicated with the clerk. This was
feature of civilization the robbers were
not posted about Unobserved by
them. l began sending" the following
message:
JIM-Three robbers have the door locked,
and are just waiting to get our dust to murder
me. Get man and step-ladder and don't
make sign OF noise, put gun through the
transom and shoot. Be quick and careful.
My only hope was that Jim might be
still Longing were I left him, in which
case his ear would quickly catch on.
There was q chance in a hundred,
and [ began to sweat very freely. But
started repeating the message and
was nearly through, when bang, bang.
two shots were fired from over the
door, and the man, who had not been
hit, turned just enough to let me hit
him back OF the ear with my right
hand-the force of despair and the
knowledge of being on the right side
1t last. 1t would be painting it a
shade light to say we had sprung
party on the visitors. had
! gun in moment. and kept the thieves
1t bay until the two men outside got in
Ind tied them up, except the leader,
Who was as dead as man ever gets to
70. The other wounded one died in a
hospital three months afterward, and
ny jailer was killed in attempting to
escape jail about the same time. ASH
lad expected. when the bell began
'inging the message in the office, Jim
vas there and commenced "taking it"
The clerk gazed in such establishment
hat he forgot to start boy up to
answer it for a minute, when Jim
pulled his gun and remarked, 1.-The
irst man that leaves this room gets all
We got here in the neck" When he
lad got the ''ringogram," as he AFTER
yard termed it, he rapidly explained,
autioned every body else not to fol-
ow, took drummer he had met on
he train, snatched ladder and as
DON as he could climb around, the job
vas done. A. Howard, in St. Louis
1lobe-Democrat.