The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-07

! : Ahpo lsai is i tell tb us
you are filling such responsible DO
sition and you not yet thirty years
old?"
This question was asked by one of a
crowd of four or five gentlemen seated
in the handsome private Office of Mr..
Ransom, superintendent of transporta-
ton of the Chicago & Western railroad
at Omaha Neb.
We'll" replied the superintendent,
good-looking young man of twcnty-six
or Whereabouts, ''if you will have the
patience to listen, 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 Ham
lin; consequently, had to do my own
cooking and sleeping in the depot, get
ting my supplies from Rands, place of
about five hundred inhabitants, eight
miles up the railroad.
at was about ten 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 could get
good night from the dispatchcrs and re-
tire.
II had pulled off my shoes and 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, mans harsh
voice rang out
Move an inch and you are dead
man, and at the same moment felt
the cold muzzle of q revolver pressed
against my head.
"'Put your hands behind your back
and look straight before YOU COM
manded the same voice sternly.
II obeyed with alacrity.
'My hands were seized roughly and
bound securely to the back of the chair.
Now my beauty, guess you won't
do much more telegraphing tonight
and he broke out into a discordant
laugh.
''ue evidently thought it very anus
ing. / didn't.
"'Comc on, boys he yelled, I've got
this kid fast
After a moment three or four men
as we'll as 1 could judge, with my back
to the door-walked in.
"'Ha! ha! cap'n, you've got him,
have you? and they all laughed roughly.
Jim said the man addressed as
captain, have You got that spike lifter?'
"'You bet l has, from one of the
men.
The captain then turned and adj
dressed me:
Young man, no harm is intended
you if you keep perfectly quiet. Doubt
less your curiosity is very much aroused
as to- our intentions. Well, it can do no
harm to cnlightcn you. as the mischief
will bc done before You can give any
alarm. We intend and here the
mans voice became absolutely fiendsh
to take up two rails on that trestle
out there. Let me see, the fast mail is
due here at
God! man. broke in, with horror,
surely You don't intend to wreck the
fast mail? Think of the lives that will
be lost if it runs off at that trcstle!"
and great beads of cold perspiration
stood out on my forehead. as grasped
the full horror of the situation
The trestlc referred to was about
one hundred yards north of the depot.
and SPAWNED n very wide but shallow
creek, fully seventy-fve feet below.
knew if No. 80 jumped the track on
that trcstle it meant 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 of
you come on and let's go TO work
Then all except Jim followed the
captain out, and soon heard the me-
tallc clnl of the crowbar, as it drew
the spikes from the rails.
"Oh! what could be done!
My hands were bound SO that
could not reach the key, and even if !
tried the outlaw behind mo would send
u bullet crashing through my brai:..
How could warn the crew Of No y.
of the impending DANCE?
The station ten miles above Rands
reported No. 80 on time. Soon it