The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-23
GLAD an MET JESSE JAMES.

Life Of a Young telegraph Operator.
From the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Speaking Of train robbers and outlaws"
said the telegraph editor, 81 have a most
wholesome respect for those gentlemen, and
a much higher opinion of their bravery and
sQuareness than most people. In the winter
of lSsO-1SS1 was appointed by Supt. Swift
| OF the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific rail-
road night telegraph operator at Prince
ton Mo-, q little town up in the north
western corner Of the stale. At the time
had never been further west than Chicago,
and was all anxiety to see border life in its
pristine beauty and simplicity. Naturally l
was elared at the prospect of having my
desire grstihed, and the fact that was
| going to part OF the country made famous
| by the notorious James boys, who were at
the time in the zenith of their glory, did
not lessen my pleasure.
81 arrived at my destination to find,
much to my disappointment, that Prince
ton, to all outward appearances, differed
very little from any quiet, pretty down-east
village But better acquaintance, at
tanned after a weeks residence, convinced
me of difference so marked that l had
serious doubts as TO the advisability OF re-
naming. A precipitation on the part of
the inhabitants to use a gum both for
amusement aud argument, caused many I'M
pleasant moments, and though l escaped
being party to any affairs where this
very handy weapon came into play, 10 did
not add to the peace of mind which good
health and a large appetite should bring. l
always had with me the fear that some
| night a masked gentleman wonld pre-
sent himself at the depot, as he had done at
| the stations above and below, and before |
had time to escape cover me with his
6-shooter, and request the contents OF the
money drawer. However, as the days
| nd haF
| than an occasional duel between natives,
| which sometimes resulted in funeral and
/ sometimes did not, my fears subsidized, and
1 I became so accustomed to the simple, out
| spoken way of the people that l even car
| ried a gum and really went 80 far as TO
picture myself shooting II at the masked
| highwRyman.
| "a rude awakening was In store for me-
This peacefulness and serenity was only the
calm before the storm that broke with all
the flerceness and suddenness OF Kansas
cyclone, and destroyed, hopelessly DESTROYED,
all my youthful yearning for the unostenta.
tlous simplicity and frAnkness OF Missouri
society. On the evening Of April Is, 1881,
reported at the office at the usual hour Of z
O'Clock. 1t was one OF those warm, close
evenings when we are almost anxious
to retire from the further Fespon-
burdened by a spring fever aud
the vicious attacks Of mosquitoes and gnats.
Reaching the depot, / found the usual relay
of hangers-on, smoking, chewing and dis
cussing the latest scrap. which sent Long
Jim Pike to join the silent majority, and
st. Joe Bill to an imprOvised hospital In the
: back room OF the Golden Sun saloon with
his carcass full Of knife wounds The
weather, however, was evidently not en-
couraging for discussions that required an
} effort and this one grew lifeless and I'M
interesting, till one by one my companions
dropped out, and was left alone
1.-The night passed slowly, its quiet dis
turbed only by the singing of the mosquit-
oes, the humming Of myriads of bugs, and
the arrival Of an occasional freight train
that came in out of the Egyptian darkness
like some huge dragon. putting and snorting
and shriekinR as If looking for something to
devour, then passed with a rumble and roar
of anger at its defeat, and disappeared into
the blaokness from whence it came.
lat $3.50 in the morning a through pas
senger train was due from the north. and
its arrival was the one pleasant relief from
the monotony Of the long hours for there
was always more or less Of excitement in
the hurry and hustle of the coming and
going of passengers. About an hour before
tralntime, the arrival Of which | was
already anticipating, there en- cred into the
one waiting room Of the depot man about
medium height, dressed in the rough
fashion of the country, and wearing a
|
left one to guess at the character of the
wearer. Ticket to Cameron was all he
said when he stepped to the window, and :,
receiving his piece Of cardboard, retired to
a dark corner, where he sat down
81 might have paid little more attention
to his appearance had he not been shortly
followed, first by a party of six or seven
rather hard-looking customers who were
evidently under the influence OF Missouri
lightning, and moment later by three or
four ladies with escorts. 1t took but a few
momeRts to supply the required tickets, and
| stepped outside the Oflc9 to pay my re-
spects to one OF the ladies' whom | knew. |
had hardly reached her side when one Of the
gang Of roughs commenced using language
that was more expressive than elegant aud
| had no other recourse but to go over aud
demonstrate with him. Somehow, as |
stepped across the room, the feeling came
} over me that was to have trout aud a
little tremor Of fear passed up and down the
seam of my waistcoat.
However, kept bravely on, and in a
gentle and gentlemanly way, reminded him
of the fact that there were ladies present
and it was necessary for him to modify his
language. HIS friends sided with me and
attempted to keep him quiet, but without
avail, and they finally arose and went out