St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-06-22
SAVED ~ a 0ELL.
a0W o 0aDg ~ Robbers Wa Broken Up
by ~ II. Telegraph Operator.

aov . 0aDg ~ Robbsrs Wa Broken Up
by n Es. Telegraph Operator.
Some years ago my life and $50. 600
belonging to my partner. Jim Bigncy.
and myself. were saved, And gang OF
robbers broken up by means OF an eiec-
trio bell. Jim and I had been teic-
graph operators, but had abandoned
the business for mining. We had luck
in prospecting. and after a few years
had sold our claims for $27. 800. OF
which we took $500 in promissory
notes and started East with the bal
ancc. chiefly in bank notes. 1t ap-
pears that three outlaws learned the
real value of our old trunks and con-
tents. had left Jim at the clerk's
desk OF q new-fangled hotel In West
ern town and followed the porters rs
they carried the baggage to the front
end OF our room. on the fourth aoor.
After dismissing them l had shut the
door. neglecting to lock r. however.
and had turned to the wash-stand. be.
hind, when heard the door swing
slowly open behind me. thinking it
was Jim. rinsed the lathcr from my
eyes and turned. only to find man
holding a six-shooter in py face. an.
other locking the door I'd third
making . break for the trunk. !
wanted at first to argue The matter
from . 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 disenoa oaged hand.
I felt that the silent Instrument in his
hands was a deeper. a moro potent ar
gument than any I could advance, un.
der existing circumstances. Back him
up to the wall and keep him covered
until we get the stun. and then we'll
help slit his throat and lope." re-
marked the leader. Though the pro-
gramme did not just suit me. / acqui.
esced. rs far rs the wall. .Put your
hands behind you," commanded my
jailer. l did. whom happy thought
struck me. My right hand had come
in contact with knob, which recOg-
nized as the electric bell which COM
municated with the clerk. This was a
feature OF civilization the robbers were
no. posted about Uuobserved by
them. began sending" the following
message:
and are just waiting to get our dust . murder
me. Get . man and step-laddes. md don't
make sign OF noise, put gun @roush the
transom and shoot. BE quick and careful.
NY only hope was that Jim might be
still lounging were ! left him, In which
case his ear would quickly catch on.
There was a chance in hundred.
and began to sweat very freely. But
I 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 beer
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
at last. 1t would be painting it .
shade light to say we had sprung a
surprise party on the visitors. had
a gun in moment and kept the thieves
at bay until the two men outside got in
and tied them up. except the leader.
who was as dead rs a man ever gets to
be. 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. As ]
had expected. when the bell began
ringing the message in the Office. Jim
was there and commenced stalking it. v
The clerk gazed in such astOnishment
that he forgot to start boy up to
answer it for q minute. when jim
pulled his gun and remarked. 'The
first man that leaves this room gets all
I've got here in the neck" When he
had got the ''ringogram. as he after
ward termed it, he rapidly explained,
cautioned every body else not to fol.
low, took n drummer he had met or
the train. snatched q ladder and as
soon as he could climb around, the jot
was done.-A. Howard, in St. Louis
Globe-Democrat