The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-09-02


produced as usual his cash-box and
sheets, counted and balanced his ac-
count, telling the money, which
amounted to about eighty pounds, out
on the counter before ji.m- Finally, he
replaced il IN the box, which he handed
To the boss. who placed Al in the safe,
closing, but not locking. The door.
Meanwhile 1 had quietly and unob-
served procured u box very similar TO
Harper's. and after partly filling il with
some odd pieces of metal 1 fastened one
end of long wire to its brass handle.
1 prepared another similar piece OF
wire. Ostensibly for working purposes,
i had gathered all the batteries AT Onr
command underneath the counter, and
when the work was over Iquietiy knelt
down and joined them all together in
series. AT the same time L fastened
one end of my spare wire To the mega
tive pole of this monster battery, and
then standing up and leaning over the
counter succeeded, unnoticeG, IN at
taching the other end OF the wire u
narrow brass rail which ran along the
top edge OF the counter. / must explain
that in order TO reach the safe from the
pantry door, a. we called II, IT was
necessary To pass almost the entire
length of this counter, and of course 10
repass IL in returning.
The hour for closing arrived. My
three friends had been wsjiing some
time. Everything being r-2dy the
boss sent our three colleagues home,
saying we would follow shortly. The
three guests went with them IL was
still raining and they hurried of The
gas was Immediately turned of, and
AT once opened the safe and removed
the cash box, which Harper put in
place of safety, and substituted the one
/ had prepared with the length of wire
There was plenty of slack " ire, which
we brought round the back of the safe.
over the other end of the counter.
fastening the free end to the positive
pole of the battery.
All was now ready. We hid behind
the counter and waited. Harper who
was very bitter against the thieves on
account of their unfiattering description
of himself, took up his place close to
the Wheatstone tranSmitter, clock
work machine driven by heavy weights.
and capable of attaining 4 very high
speed
An hour passed. 1t struck twelve.
The rain was still beating against the
windows. ! was stiff and cold and
weary. and was beginning to wish we
had called in the police, when | heard
something trifie louder than the rain
at the pantry window. There was
quick scratching sound like nail
drawn across slate, and Immediately
after we heard the window latch slipped
back and the sash quietly raised. The
men were certainly expert IT their
work. Had We not been alert and eN-
pecting them, we should not have heard
their operations. Ia a few moments
the pantry door opened with a gentle
creax, and the marauder was in the
room. We held our breath. Confident
in his knowledge, the man had no light
save what came from the windows. He
approached the safe, and could not al
together suppress an exclamation OF sur
prise and delight At finding il open. lie
was destined for more surprise and less
delight shortly. Peeping carefully over
the counter. L could just discern him in
the dim light, with the box in his right
hand, turning to retrace his steps. A.
| had anticipated. and indeed reckoned
on, he stretched out his empty left hand
to guide himself along the counter,
and-seized the brass rail As he did
80 The full force OF the battery struck
him. ''Blazes," he shouted, or rather
yelled out. lie tried To let go the rail,
.
cash box, but that stuck 20 him too.
He began To hop about, and stamp. and
groan, and swear. and pray continually
and all at once. We could hear the
7 cash box thump and rattle against the
( floor or counter as the current jerked
: his arm spasmodically To and fro
( At this point Harper quietly turned
( on the transmitter and pushed the lever
over To top speed. Anyone who has
heard an instrument of this deScrip-
ton set in motion at its maximum
| speed knows what Z sensation of COM
! ing disaster is given 10y the RAPIDLY in
| creasing revolution of score Of
wheels which gather speed and force
and noise until il seems as if the whole
K machine will burst up by excess of We
/ locity. Imagine the effect this had on
! the nerves of the man aleady in the
grip of some mysterious, -untightab Bile
/ agony. OF course he jumped to the
: conclusion that the noise Indicated
! some fresh increase of his torments.
| He began To scream for mercy
] .'Oh-h-h! Help me. Murder. Oh. gen
| tlemen, stop it, Don't kill me! Help.
Help lie writhed and struggled, fell
on his knees, and, by an enormous ef-
fort tore the rail from its place; but
| time his cries and struggles redouhled;
! but at last he lay exhausted on the
floor. / then turned of the current
and we turned on the gas There lay
our man. his face gray and distorted as
though he had had fit He was quite
young. After he had somewhat recov-
cred he begged hard TO b-, let go, gasp
ing out: You've done it hard enough
! on me-
After some hesitation the boss decid-
ed 10 let MIN go. l fancy he was not
| quite at his ease as to how his action
| would be regarded by the department
Another reason was that the second
man had got clean away. He had been
waiting outside; but on hearing the dis
turbance and his pals cries had fed and
/ left him.
The man was grateful for his release
and walked slowly and heavily away.
lie was evidently severely shaken, and
1 should scarcely think would ever try
10 rob a telegraph Office again Cham