The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-18
TRAPPED.

hASAV A4AA pVpA wy ASASAAS " y s-sNeAAA'
adventure with train robbers, and cur
osity and love for the brave induced IN
to call on her to tell me the story, says
writer in the Hartford Times, When
went to her house / was welcomed by
handsome lady OF about 30, and in re
Spouse TO my earnest request for thi
one chapter OF her life she related tn
following;
"In 1873, when but a girl OF eighteen
| left my home in Omaha and came GU
here 10 ill the lonesome position OF
night operator at a small station on tn
Pacific railway in this Territory,
was dreary, desolate spot In the mids
OF a desert. The only buildings at tn
station, apart from the depot, were a sec
ton house, occupied by track foreman
and few Chinese laborers, a water tanl
and coal shed. The day operator ant
agent, a mere boy, slept at the section
house, about two hundred yards distant
80 that during the long, dreary night
was alone In the depot,
oNo.4 express train, bound East, was
due at2:l5fn the morning, but 1t never
stopped unless signaled, aud as this was
the only train during the latter portion
OF the night you can imagine my lonely
situation upon the desert wild. ! had
my books and guitar for companions,
and passed much oil the time reading,
and when the dolciul howlings OF the
wolves were borne 10 my ears from the
distant sand hills I would pick up my
guitar and endeavOr TO drown theircries
with music and song.
1.-THE superintendent OF the division,
buoyant, high-spirited young gentle-
man, came over the road at frequent in
tervals and Cheered me up with prom
ises Of a better. position when a vacancy
should occur. He often found me on
the very brink OF despair, almost on the
point OF resigning my position and re-
turning to my humble home and the
mother who depended on my salary for
the necessaries Of life; but his promises,
his genial conversation and words ofen.
couragement drove away the gloom, and
/ came to look for his visits with a sense
Of the keenest pleasure. l began 10 re-
gard him with a sisterly affection, he
was SO kind and tender, and so solicitous
for my welfare and comfort.
Zone night shortly after midnight, Us
! sat at my table reading a late novel, l
thought heard a shufillng footstep on
the depot platform; but as 1t was not re-
peated l concluded It was but a wolf
more daring than his cowardly follows,
and l resumed my book. A few mo-
ments later / heard a low knocking at
the door, which always kept locked,
and q strange feeling came over me. Dur
ing my several weeks stay at the station
l had never had visitor, and the sud-
den knock, so low, yet 30 startlingly
clear in the stiffness Of the night, caused
my form TO treInble and my cheek to
blanch.
"My first thought was OF Indians, and
then reasoned that 1t might DO some
tramps desiring shelter. While ! sat
therei in alright the knock was repeated
louder than before, and mastering all
my courage approached the door and
asked:
who's there2'
"a gruff voice replied:
"'A traveller who desires 10 take the
east-bound train
at was my plain and unmistakable
duty 10 admit him, and, with trembling
fingers, / drew the bolt.
INSTANTLY the door was pushed yio-
lently open, and / sprang back TO the
table and sank into my chair In terror,
when seven burly men, wearing cloth
masks on their faces and armed to the
teeth, entered the office. One OF them,
evidently the leader, walked up to me,
and, pointing large revolver to my
head, said in low, firm voice:
"'Gal, We don't want to hurt you, but
II you make suspicious move or
scream, or give any alarm, so that any
o. the men In the section.house kin hear
you, I'll spite tho looks O. that pretty
lace with bullet. Be quiet and sensl.
BILE, and behave yourself, and yer sham
be hurt. Wharls yer rod signal lamp
WWhat would you do?' / gasped.
"'None o. your business. We don't
want to hear any unnecessary back talk
nor no impairment questions. WHARF
the red lamp%
"a thrill Of horror swept over mt
when the truth burst upon me that / wa
In the hands OF band Of desperate traiT
robbers, whose evident intention 1t wa
10 signal the train and rob the express
car at my station. What could / doH l
was yet three hours until the train wa
due, but could not elude my Captor
to rouse the section men, and / knew b.
: the ugly CLEAN In the leaders eyes
through the hole IN his mask, that II
made the least outcry be would not hes
itate to carry out his threat and murde
me. / knew they could find the lam
easily by searching for II, and in
trembling voice l told him II was hang
Ing Just Inside the door OF the freigh
room. One OF the men got It, and, ate
: examining II to see that II was In order
tho rough band took seats TO await tn
incoming Of tho train.
The leader III his pipe, and looking
me for few minutes steadily, said:
"'Young gal, when that ar train loot
her whistle we've got some work for YOU
An official duty, as you might call II
You must 20 out thar on the platiorr
and signal The train to stop aud take o
some llrpt.OlaBs passengers. An locke
.. here, Ii you mako o suspicious move q
J don't swing the rcd lamp In the prope
: way we'll Just ventilate that gracefC
body with bullets an jump on our horse
and Eit. Do you understand
u desperate resolve had been hkin
place In my 6ewildered brain. ! reptile
that l fully understood him, and With
pitoous cry, "0h, you will make mu'
: Herer Of mel" 1 threw my arms and IN
head down upon The table and began
cry and sob bS my heart were breal
Inc, Had no seen my face 10 migl
have noticed . total absence Of tears.
was crying for purpose,
} IWhen my arms dropped upon u
table ] allowed my hands 10 fall upc
the immature Of tho telegraph instr
: ment, 10 that | could prevent II fro
tickling, while my right hand rest
u upon the key. So being, 30 that al
, SLIGHT clicking The key might maj
would not reach the robbers, open
: II and slowly made the telegraphLO CHI
Acters;
il L p
IifhesO / repeAtsl several times, he
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