Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-02-21

These repeated several times, hoping
they might reach the ear of some opera
tor on the line. then slowly and dis
tinctly wrote these words, still sObbing
violently:
"Who-hearS- -this-for- heavens
ke-report- - train dispatcher
at-Laramie-quick- that AMIN
the - hands-of - seven robbers
whO-will-compel- -to-fag-No.
-4-Send- d-help-quick."
Then signed name and Office call.
1 released the armature and the in
strument clicked out:
"Brace-up-little -girl-I-hear-
I-youAH."
III" was the train dispatcher's call
With fierce shout the leader sprang for
ward and rudely snatched me away from
the table and asked:
"Gal, what's that?'
"Only distant office asking for or
ders for freight train," 1 responded.
"None O. yer lyin', you little imp" he
roared. "Yer up to some trick!''
NO." 1 replied, 81 am not. If were
doing that my fingers would be on the
instrument. Don't you see L am not
touching it, and yet it works. 1t is on
ly an order to a freight train away down
at Medicine Bow"
Keep away from that table" he said,
savagely. "An' if ketch you at any
tricks III choke the life out O. you"
Oh, how eagerly my ears drank in ev-
ery word the instrument clicked out!
l heard a telegram to the Sheriff of
Green River, twenty miles west, asking
him to arm a posse of men at once and
get on a special train which would be
ready for him. Then another to the
young Superintendent, who was at Green
River, telling him how my slowly writ
ten words had been heard by the dis
patcher, and asking him to supervise the
preparations and fly to my relief. Then
a third dispatch to the Master Mechanic,
instructing him to fire up his fastest
passenger engine and couple on to a car
riage and await the Superintendent's or
ders. My heart beat so violently that it
almost took my breath away. 1t seem
ed an age ere heard the Green River
operator call the dispatcher and say:
"The Superintendent, with Sheriff and
twenty armed men, is aboard, and train
ready for orders"
The order came flying. 1t Cold the
engineer he had clear track, and to run
at his very highest speed within half a
mile of my station, and with his party
to alight. Then came the welcome re-
port from the Green River Office:
Especial train east departed lib"
Oh, how my poor heart beat, and how
my every nerve tingled with excitement!
1:15-I mentally figured that the train
on such desperate errand should make
nearly mile minute, and reach the
stopping point at 1:36.
The robber chief gave his men their
instructions. 1 was to be sent alone to
signal the train, and when it halted the
band would make rush and board the
train.
"Bill, you jump on the engine as soon
as she stops, and hold the engineer and
fireman under your gun. Jack, you pile
into the mail car, an make the clerk
give up his registered letters, an Yank
an Alecl1 IL will work the express car,
while Tom an Shorty hold the conduct
or and brakemen back. Do your work
quick an bold, an don't be afeared to
burn powder if necessary. Thar'S big
haul on that train, an we've got to have
it."
How eagerly 1 watched the clock, and
how slowly, how very, very slowly the
hands seemed to mOve-1:20, 1:25 and
80 were ticked off; 1-35! Would they
never come?
The men sat on the bench along the
west side of the room, facing along the
two windows on the east. L tried to
figure how long it would require for the
men to walk to the depot from the stop
ping place. Perhaps even then. they
were surrounding the station, and
might hear a knock at the door any in
slant. Would there be a fight? Oh,
horrible thought In few moments
might see men shot down before my
face. and l might myself be killed. ]
almost tainted with fright. The blood
seemed to freeze in my veins, and
grasped the chair or l would have fallen
to the floor; 40! There came fearful
crash of glass. and the black muZzles OF
a perfect cloud of rifles were thrust
through the window and pointed direct
" at the robbers. Then a voice cried
out:
"Men, throw up your hands! l am
the Sheriff, and in the name of the law
demand your surrender. Make but a
move and I'll order my men to fire?'
eyer little catr' hissed the leader,
glaring at me savagely as the band sud
denly held aloft their hands. Then the
Sheriff and three men entered and dis
armed and handcuffed the robbers, and |
saw the Superintendent looking at me
and heard him say, "What a debt l owe
you, my brave girl" and then 1 fell
fainting into his arms.
When l regained consciousness L was
living in my room at Green River, with
several ladies around me, and was told
that seven days had elapsed since the
capture of the robbers. | was suffering
from brain fever, brought on by the ter
rible strain l had passed through, and
had been unconscious for that long pc
riod. For many days thereafter | how
cred on the border between life and
death, and the Superintendent was at
nv bedside several times every day,
cheering me up with words of eneour-
agement and doing all in his power to
alleviate my sufferings.
l finally recovered andwa called into
Court to to testify against the desperate
gang. l shall never forget their fierce
glance toward me as | told how | haC
| entrapped them, or, how, in spite of the
efforts of the Judge and Court officers
to prevent it, the crowd cheered me a'
left the stand. The men were sent TO