Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-10-21

TOO latel Too latel Oh my Godi
The agony OF those moments was
terrible.
"Ah some one broke me; i-i-R'
" Robbers are going to wreck No.
82 at trestle just north 81 her
Il was ticking when suddenly l
received blow that sent me to the
floor and left the key wide open.
"'D-n you what were you ticking
on them wiresp cried the outlaw.
Z" How can | send anything with
my foot" / tremblingly exclaimed.
That's just habit OF mine drum
ming on the key with my heel
Z" Habit or no habit you won't put
your foot on this table again tonight
He evidently believed that | could
not send with my heel. but il 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 l had said to
the dispatcher or just think L was
trying to scare him and lock up his
office to go home l thought the
latter more probable.
Anyway it was now too late 10
stop the i'll fated mail; it would soon
plunge of the trestle. carrying its
cargo OF human beings to II certain
death.
Il lay there waiting for the dread
full crash to come in such an agony OF
suspense that the next day strands OF
gray were found in my hair. All!
how l blamed myself for not thinking
of using my heel before did.
Suddenly the sounds OF rileshots
in quick succession came from the
trestle
1.-The boys are attacl1ed' ex-
claimed tho desperate excitedly.
but by Cd. you shall not escape
unhurt' And placing the muzzle OF
his revolver close to my head he
fired.
Il fell back unconscious.
when / regained my senses the
room was full OF men, one OF whom
was bandaging wound on my head
and explaining to the others the ex-
tent OF the same.
=. "A close shave but only scalp
wound. men. he was saying. dare
say he will be all right ia few days
All! he is conscious now. he said ten.
Derby as | slowly opened my eyes
Tell us all about it young man
1t was rather laborious task. as
the wound on my head was exceed
ingly painful but went ahead and
related the whole occurrence from
the time the pistol was pressed against
my head until was shot
when had finished. the gentle
man who had bandaged my head.
and who afterwards discovered was
! a doctor. explained 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 already saddled
and bridled to ride TO his homo after
he had reported No. 32. and cut
through tho woods at breakneck
speed. He knew that No. 80 invaria-
bly, 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 I'M
| til within about two miles OF Hamlin.
and the conductor and detachment
| of United States soldiers who were
luckily on board. went ahead on foot
and surprised the outlaws who
showed resistance andwere fired into
two of them being instantly killed.
| The otbers were at that moment orn a.
menting telegraph pole.
And now my narrative draws to a
close Two weeks later l was ordered
to report here. and was given the
position OF second train dispatcher.
MY promotion dates from that day.
But what did Mr. Rhodes get?'
some one asked
Mr. Rhodes Is now chief dis
patcher. Farmers Voice.