Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-07-11

an electric shock. Why could not
warn No. 82 with my heeli In my lei
sure moments had amused myself by
learning 10 send with my foot. never
dreaming that il would ever be an ad-
vantage to me.
II quietly pushed open the key with
INV heel and called r. three or four
times as fast as possible, when was in
terrupted by the desperado.
"'What air you wiggling your foot
about on that table forr ..l|
"My foot has become cramped, re-
naming In one position so long re-
piled, as carelessly as I could. although
my heart was In my throat.
"Tm 50 sorry he ssid sarcastically.
| commenced calling n again. IL was
now lO:40 o'clock and No. 32 must have
left Rands.
"Too late! Too late. Oh, my God!
the agony Of those moments was terri
BILE.
"Ah, some one broke me; ii-R.'
Robbers are going to wreck No. S2
a. trestle Just north Of her
Il was ticking. when suddenly l re-
CtlNCu n UlOW tn2t cSAs AssS ~ "-~ ~~~-
and left the key &ide open.
"'D-n you, what were you tssking
on them wiresY cried the outlaw.
"'How can send anything with my
foot? tremblingly exclaimed 'Thsts
lust a habit Of Understanding on the
key with my beel.'
"'Habit or no habit, you won't put
your feet OH this table again tonight
"He evidently believed that ] could
not send with my heel. but II was not
his intention to take any chances
IL wondered what the operator at
Rands would do-put on his ground
wire and report what | had said TO the
dispatcher, or just think was trying
to scare him and lock up his ofice 10
20 home. thought the latter moro
probable.
Anyway it was now too late TO stop
the i'll fated fast mail; It would soon
plunge off the trestle. carrying its cargo
Of human beings to certain death.
"l lay there waiting for the dreadful
crash to come in such an agony OF sus
pense that the next day strands Of gray
were found in my hair. Ali how !
blamed myself for not thinking Of using
my heel before did.
Suddenly the sounds OF rifieshots In
quick succession came from the trestle.
"'The boys are attacked exclaimed
the desperate excitedly, but, by Cd.
You shall not escape unhurtr And plac-
ing the muzzle of his revolver close TO
my head he fred.
IL fell back unconscious.
when regained my sen1es the room
was full of men, one of whom was band
aging n wound on my head, and explain
ing to the others the extent Of the same
"'A close shave, but only scalp
wound, men, he was saying I dare
say he will be all right in a few days
All! he is conscious now, he said ten
derly as slowly opened my eyes. Tell
us all about it, young man.
1T was rather laborious task, as the
wound on my head was exceedingly
painful, but I went ahead and related
| the whole occurrence from the time
| the pistol was pressed against my head
until was shot.
when had finished, the gentleman
| who had bandaged my head. and who !
afterward discovered was doctor. ex-
planned how Operator Rhodes, at Rands.
when he heard my message did not wait
for the key to close. but ran out doors
mounted his horse. which he had al
ready saddled and bridled to ride TO
his home after he had reported No. 82,
and cut through the woods at break.
neck speed. He knew that No. 80 inva-
riably stopped for water at water tank
four miles from Rands by rail, but only
two through the woods. He had reached
there just in time to climb on the rear
car and give the alarm.
THE train was then run ahead until
within about two miles Of Hamlin, and
the conductor and detachment oi
United States soldiers, who were luckily
on board, went ahead on foot and sur
prised the outlaws, who showed resist
ance and were fred into, two Of then
being instantly killed. The others wer'
at that moment ornamenting atelegrapl
pole.
"And now my narrative draws to
close. Two weeks later ! was ordere<
toreport here, and was given the positio,
Of second trick dispatcher.
my promotion dates from that day.
'"But what did Mr.. Rhodes getY som
one asked.
"Mr. Rhodes is now chief dispatcher.
| al