San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-29
A RAILROAD YACHT.

81 notice that some pretty fast time is
being made on the eastern railroads lately"
remarked the major as he laid down his
paper. at reminds me of a fairly rapid
trip made on the Union Pacific some
years ago
81 was on duty at Sydney barracks, and
not having much to do had accepted the in
vitation of my friend Ben Winthrop, di-
vision superintendent at Sydney, to go with
him on duck hunt down at Lone Pine, a
little watering station about twenty miles
down the line. This was quite a favorite
place for shooting and we had often been
there before on the same errand.
"The station keeper, Tom Carter, was an
odd genius, whose literary-dime literary
and philosophical turn of mind enabled
him to bear the solitude of his life in a
cheerful way. The contentment of men of
this stamp calls for very peculiar tenn
perament-about that of lighthouse
keeper, | should judge
"This man Carter lived in the little two
room cabin provided by the railroad, with
no family except couple of trick dogs, of
which he was very proud, and which could
do everything but talk, he claimed.
"The dog fancier was very glad to see us
when we got off the freight that brought us
down and gave us all the information that
he had about ducks and other game. The
ponds were about three miles away, and as
it was already after sunrise some time we
hurried right out to the shooting ground.
81 must tell you that Winthrop, my COM
panion, was man in thousand; he had
worked his way up to his present position,
and before the arrival Of the railroad had
been an all around stage man. He was we'll
up in his business, and had a reputation for
pluck and energy second to no man on the
road.
I'VE reached the ponds, found lots Of
ducks and tended strictly to business all
day: as Carter did not, Of course, own
horse, we had brought sort of gocart
along to get our game back from the ponds
to the station. It was getting quite dark,
and rs we had as many ducks as we cared
to drag three or four miles we concluded
to return.
"We were very tired, very hungry, very
wet, but very cheerful-in other words, we
were returning from successful hunt.
We had trudged along, taking turns at the
cart, and were about half way in when we
saw an object lying beside the road. 1t
was dog, and the animal whined when
Winthrop stopped to examine it.
"'By George said he, this is Carter's
dog and he's all wet
$50 it proved; it was one of Carter's pet
dogs. It was covered with blood and seemed
weak; yet it managed to lick Winthrops
hand, wag it's tail and then limp off in the
direction of the station.
Something's wrong here, lieutenant
said the railroad man; that dog wasn't
here accidentally Then lie added: Car
ter is in some sort of trouble, and his dog
has tried to warn us. Probably tramps;
they make row once in awhile Mt these
lonely stations. The only thing to do is to
push on, though
AT last we got within a short distance
of the station, but on account Of the lay of
the land it was not in sight
lyon wait here and III go ahead and
see what's up said my companion; 50, al
though | did not much like the idea, !
stopped with the cart and he went cauti-
ousIy ahead in the darkness-for it was
now night and the moon had not risen.
Soon he returned, and when | asked what
was up he simply replied, Come ahead
From his manner it WAS plain some
thing had occurred, but | said nothing and
mechanically pulled the gocart with its
load of ducks.
"When we reached the little station house
] was surprised not to see Carter with
light waiting at his door to welcome us,
for did not believe anything was wrong
1T was dark and STILL We left the cart
and quietly stole up to the building, there
being no one visible. We paused at the
door; no bark from Carter's other dog
We quietly entered and could make out
81 of Ixr,p ba
BACK AGAIN. said a weak voice which
we both recognized.
Eyes, back again. replied my friend.
What's the matter?
"'ls that you, Mr. Winthrop was the
response, somewhat louder.
"'Yes, of course it is; what's up with
you, anyway? and Winthrop started to
light match.
Don't! Don't make lightP exclaimed
Carter, who had partly risen from the
floor, they'll see you
who'll see me? Who's theyY
"'Train robbersl' was the answer, in q
hoarse whisper.
"'Whatp almost yelled my companion,
starting back
"'Train robbers, say the man repeat
ed. They're here, an they shot me in the
leg an they've killed my dogs, damn 'em.'
"We both knelt down and examined the
mans leg; it was as he said; he seemed to
have bad wound in the ankle, but as it
was bandaged in a fairly good way we did
not examine it very closely. The injured
man did not offer any further explanation
and we sat down at his table to await his
pleasure.
ut was a grewsome business sitting
there in the dark, a wounded man on the
floor raving of train robbers, and three
hon - hafora INV troip xUo,ld ha In. lint as