Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-09-23
THE BREAD CAME BACK.
A LUNCHEON GIVEN AWAY RE-
TURNED WITH INTEREST.
Conviction of q Train Dispatcher for Man
siaughter-A Friend I'M Need Is
Friend Indeed-The Last
Witness.

seated in my Office. enjoying rous-
ing fire while without the building the
wind howled dismally a. it drove the
cold rain with cutting force against
the window pancs. | was congratu-
lating myself on having so comforta-
BILE position that of night telegraph
operator at Lone Tree Station on a
western railroad-wheh my revery
was suddenly interrupted by the en-
trance into the waitihg-room OF
stranger. who. after war ming himself
and partially drying his garments.
said
my friend l have ha d hard time
Of it oday, and Inn nearly famished.
| have had nothing to eat since last
night. ] am broke and out of employ
ment. fyou can assist me to tho OK
lent OF good square me al. God knows
| will repay YOU Just as soon rs can
secure work.
''How do you happen to be on tho
road?' ! asked, for the m III $ appear
ince and appeal indicated that he was
tramp.
II had good position no5 over
5hree mouths ago ana through II
combination of circul Instances over
which | had no control lost it he
answered. His honest look and
straightforward manner so impressed
ne that concluded he was no com
mon tramp AID on the road from no
:ause of his own. that | handed him
NY lunch basket and babe him help
himself.
At that moment the whistle of an
,ngine was heard an overdue freight
rain-and simultaneously my visitor
eft the Office and disappeared in the
darkness.
The events had long since slipped
ny memory and l h nd been pro.
noted TO the position OF manager of a
| clay Office. or. in other words, an
)'fice whore messages are transferred
rom one line 10 anothd r; and we did
he railway teiegraphing.
received one day letter which
lad been following me from place to
place. where l had been working
extra, which cont aimed postal
n ote for 81, accompanied with these
words: .a~
| please accept the inclosed amount
or your kindness to me on that stormy
light in November
| There was no signatu re and nothing
10 Indicate the sender 5 name. The
postal note was issued ut X, but
further than this l could ascertain
aothing as to tho sende RS address.
| l had barely finished reading the
note when tho 1:20 passenger train
arrived. The conductor entered the
dice and registered his train as usual.
after which 1t departed
1t had beea gone pe rhaps four or
five minutes when my call was rapidly
sounded upon the train dispatcher
wire. ! answered and he inquired:
lis No. II the, e?"
] attempted to report No. 1.-THE
passenger train-to him. as is custom
AIRY. whom he interrupted me by say
ing:
Has No. II gomez
Yes sir" replied.
why didn't you hold herp"
"Because had no o ders to-"
Il sent you order No. 20 at l2:1.
o'clock to hold No H. and have your
signature to it"
As 1t happened at the time indi.
Gated there was no operator in the
office other than myself tho other.
having gone to dinner | was positive
no order had been sent
Tho train dispatcher was now call
ing the first station cast of me with
lightning like rapidly He finally
raised the operator and fairly shrieked
over the wire:
Hold that extra!'
Can do it as it has passed." was
HE answer.
Great God! can't any one stoJ
them?' cried the dispatcher.
The extra freight train and thu
passenger train wero cushing toward
each other on the same track rs fast
rs the engines could turn theil
wheels; there was not one chance II
one thousand OF avoiding "a collision
and it came
The verdict OF the coroner jury fast
oned the blame upon me as the dis
lpatchers books showed that Il hold
ing order was sent to my Office in time
TO prevent tho collision and my sig
nature and -. X" were upon it,
lace. The Dispatcher sworo that b,
had sent it, and received my signature
over tho wire. together with IN,
% X"
When the case was allied it prom
lsed to be IL short piece of work, as
had no witnesses. | as pointed GU
rs the careless operator who wa
responsible for the wreck
After tho evidence had all bee,
given in. and the ury had returned
verdict of Guilty of manslauphter '
seemed paralyzed, could not NOV.
Dr. speak.
! Suddenly there was u confusion a
he court room door A new come
dashed in. and breathlessly required
rs this the case bf the railroa
wrecka
Ifnnp hafno -. 49,