The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-11-18
BY MY HEEL.

This question was asked by one of
crowd of four or FIVE gentlemen seated
in the handsome private Office of Mr..
Ransom, superintendent of transporta-
ton of the Chicago and Western railroad
at Omaha, Neb
"Well," replied the superintendent, a
good looking young man Of twenty-six
or Whereabouts, IF you will have the pa
thence to listen l will narrate briefly how
my heel caused my promotion and was
the means of saving many lives"
Five years ago was station agent
and operator at Hamlin on this road.
The depot was the only building at
Hamlin, consequently had to do my
own cooking and sleeping in the depot,
getting my supplies from Rands, place
Of about 500 inhabitants, eight miles up
the railroad.
cit was about 10 o'clock on hot,
sultry night in August. There did not
seem to be breath of air stirring. The
windows were up and the doors were
thrown open so as to admit all the air
possible No. 80, the fast mail, had to
be reported before l could get good
night from the dispatchers and retire.
81 had pulled off my shoes AID had
nothing ON my feet but my stockings.
As was idly leaning back in my chair.
my feet propped up on the instrument
table and lazily drumming on the key
with my heel, heard slight noise be
hind me. Before | could turn around
to ascertain the cause a mans harsh
voice rang out:
"'Move an inch and you are dead
man. and at the same moment l felt the
cold muzzle of a revolver pressed against
my head.
and look straight before YOU command
ed the same voice sternly.
~ obeyed alacrity.
MY hands were seized roughly and
bound securely to the back of the chair
CHOW, my beauty. l guess you won't
do much more telegraphing tonight,
and he broke out into a discordant
laugh.
HE evidently thought it amusing. |
didn't.
leone on, boys he yelled I've got
this kid fast
"After a moment three or four men.
as we'll as l could judge with my back
to the door, walked in.
"'Ha! ha! cap'n, you've got him, have
your and they all laughed roughly.
Jim, said the man addressed as cap
tain, have you got the spike litter?
"'You bet has, from one of the men.
THE captain then turned and ad-
dressed me.
"'Young man, no harm is intended
| 1Ny l,t-
less your curiosity is very much aroused
as to our intentions. Well, it can do nc
harm to enlighten you, as the mischief
will be done before you can give any
alarm We intend'-and here the mans
voice became absolutely fiendish-'tc
take up two rails ON that trestle out
there. Let us see, the fast mail is due
here at
"'My Godl man. broke in with nor
ror, surely you don't intend to wreck
the fast mail? Think of the lives thai
will be lost if it runs off at that trestle!
and great beads of cold perspiratioI
stood out on my forehead as | graspet
the full horror of the situation.
/ 1.-The trestle referred to was about 10t
yards north of the depot, and spanned .
very wide but shallow creek, fully sew
enty-five feet below. L knew if No. 8:
jumped the track on that trestle it mean
death to every person on board.
"'Jim, cried the captain, you remain
here and keep your eye on this fellow
If he moves kill him. The remainder o.
you come and let's get to work
'sThen all except Jim followed thu
captain out and soon heard the metal
l. vlNov.
spikes from the rails.
"Oh. what could be done!
''My hands were bound so that coul'
not reach the key, and even if / tried tn
outlaw behind me would send bulle
crashing through my brain. How coul
| warn the crew of No. 81 of the i'm
pending danger?
1.-The station ten miles above Rands re
ported No. 81 on time. Soon 1t would b
at Rands. Never did time pass SO quickly
II was now 1887 o'clock and No. 3
must be coming into Rands. Suddenl
an inspiration flashed through me lik
an electric shock Why could ne
warn No. 81 with my heel? In my lei
sure moments had amused myself b
. learning to send with my foot, neve
dreaming that it would ever be an ad
vantage to me.
81 quietly pushed open the key wit
my heel and called r. three or fou
> times as fast as possible, when | WAS il
terrupted by the desperado.
t "'What air you wiggling your foo
: about on that table forP
my foot has become cramped, re
manning in one position so long, l re
I oil
my heart was in my throat.
I'm 80 sorry he said sarcastically
:, l commenced calling r. again. 1t wa
: now 1910 o'clock and No. So must hav
= left Rands-
"Too late! Too late. Oh, my God
: the agony of those moments was terri
l. BILE.
"Ah, some one broke me; i-i-R.'
Robbers are going to wreck No. 3
!, at trestle just north of her
II was ticking. when suddenly | r.
4 ceived blow that sent me to the hoo
" and left the key wide open.
T. "sD-n you, what were you tickin
is on them wiresY cried the outlaw.
r. elbow can l send anything with IN
/ footY tremblingly exclaimed That
g. inst a habit of Understanding on tn
= key with my heel
q ".Habit or no habit, you won't pr
YOUR feet on this table again tonight.
He evidently believed that coul
At not send with my heel. but it was nj
his intention to take any chances.
ee 81 wondered what the operator
" Rands would do-put on his grour
!, wire and report what had said to II
= dispatcher, or just think | was tryir
le to scare him and lock up his office
s. go home. thought the latter mo
lo probable.
r. Anyway it was now too late to ST
ne the i'll fated fast mail; it would so'
OC plunge off the trestle. carrying its car
10 of human beings to a certain death.
of ~ lay there waiting for the dreadf
10 crash to come in such an agony OF 81
pense that the next day strands OF or
were found in my hair. Ali how
blamed myself for not thinking OF usil
my heel before did.
To- "Suddenly the sounds OF rlfieshots
k. quick succession came from the trestl'
es- 1.-The boys are attacked! exclalm
OF the desperado excitedly, but. by q