The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-01-12
BUILDING RAILROADS.
Experience of a Merchant That Reads
Like Romance.


have just had a conversation
with merchant who was in business
at German, on the line of the West
Virginia Central and Pittsburgh
railroad, at the time of the building
of the road. This railroad runs
from Cumberland, Md, to Elkins,
W. Va, a distance of over one hun
dred miles. His adventures were
thrilling and being a man who held
truth and veracity as sacred, l have
no doubt but that they were true.
The railroad was completed to Cor
man in 1884 and the work of sur
veying, grading and track laying
went on the proposed route. ANY
one who has ever been around
where railroad building has been
in progress will substantiate what
follows, because they know the class
OF men engaged at such work.
Those who have not will wonder in
amazement and perhaps doubt the
story.
Winter had set IN. The snow
was deep and the winds whistled
through the forests. The merchant
had his building in the center of
what is now a fourlshing and pros
porous town. 1t was his custom to
sleep in the upper story in coy
little room. His protection was a
big bull dog whose mouth had "a look
of destruction about 1t, while his
eyes flashed with determination to
protect his master or die in the at
tempt. "Jack," as was his name,
was chained in day time and after
the store was closed, at late bedtime,
he went on duty as guard. A huge
revolver Law handy for emergency.
Loaded to it's full capacity it was
daily handled and every thI.g about
it was safely sure should it be
needed. These were the merchant s
defenders and the only "friends"
upon whom he could rely. At
night with the watch dog free and
the revolver in a convenient place
he would ay down to sleep. not
knowing what an hour or minute
would bring forth. Would his store
be fired by some one who asked for
credit and obtained it not? Or
would posse of burglars burst
forth the dooos, shoot faithful Jack +,
kill the proprietor and carry off
what plunder they wanted? These
accompanied by thousand similar
suggestions would flash and re-hash
through the tired brains of him as
he would tuck the cover around
him and fall to sleep hoping that he
who led Elijah would protect him
through the night.
One cold, bleak night the mer-
chant was up late arranging and
protecting some potatoes from the
freezing point. 1t was after mid
nlght-that hour when the spirits
roam ard mans brain wanders with
thoughts eternal and internal.
When it seems like ages between
heart and beats. When the images
of friends appear like phantom
ghosts. A little noise is heard on
the platform in front OF the store.
The merchant listens. Perhaps it
Was imagination as Jack did not
seem to notice anything. In a few
minutes another rustic is heard.
There was confirmation of the first.
The dog got up and went to the
door, smelled bit and snorted a
time or two. What to do was the
question with the merchant.
Thoughts of murder-oh awfnl
word-of robbery. Finally the big
lock was turned and Jack was sent
out to investigate. The merchant
listens but hears nothing from
Jack. Then the door is opened
with all the bravery of a standing
army. The light flashes out and
the form of man is bekeld in the
snow, apparently dead. Had the
man been murdered and brought
there? Or was he pretending death
to take the merchant unawares!
All what bravery it took to go out
and see. The man IN the snow was
rolled over and pinch of life could
yet be seen. He was dragged into
the store, the door locked, and
work of resuscitation began. His
hands and feet were bathed in coal
oil to draw the frost out. Presently
the man spoke and he told of his
nights experience. He had been
up the road with gang drinking
and he had been unceremounsly
elected from the building. With
nowhere to go he wandered around
and seeing light in this store said
he made for it and that was the last
he knew until now. He remem-
bered nothing about falling on the
platform or being brought into the
store. The merchant told him he
had done all he could for him and