The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-02-15
A Plucky Little Woman,
By CHARLES u. LEWIS.

In the building Of the first great
trunk line of railroad across tho con-
tinent upward of 10000 men were
killed by the Indians or met death
through sickness or accident During
the first three or four years of train
service tramps aud toushs aud tcrrors
made life burden for all train con-
luctors, and the small stations were
entirely at their mercy. There were
plenty of telegraph operators out of a
job who could not be induced to take
a lone station at any salary, and
sometimes the company had to send
three men to one station where there
was little or nothing for one to do.
Lone Pine station was up in the
mountains, just at the east end of
long stretch of snow sheds. II was
thirteen miles from Bad Creek to the
west and eleven from Big Rock to the
east. The names of these stations,
together with dozens of others, have
since been changed. At the date |
write of a man named Clark had the
Big Rock station. had Bad Creek
and new agent and operator had just
taken possession of Lone Pine. That
station had been vacant for week.
1t had been held by young man
named Reed for about three months.
but one night he was found dead and
robbed-the work of the lawless ele-
ment then overrunning the West.
The first news got from the new
agent came from herself over the wire
one day, and this is what she said:
"Allow me to introduce myself as
Mrs. Hadley, the new agent at Lone
Pine. / am just out from Chicago.
Charming place this, and l know
shall like it. Hope to become better
acquainted"
found out later on that she was a
widow about 26 yeari old, good look
ing, well educated, and possessed
plenty of courage and common sense.
just why she didn't do as most other
young widows do was no ones busi-
ness but her own. Finding that she
must earn her own living, she learned
tclegraphy and came down the road in
search of a place. They didn't want
to give her the station at Lone Pine,
but she was so persistent that she was
finally installed. As at many other
stations, she had to gather her own
firewood and cook her own provisions,
and there were many annoyances to be
encountered.
Clark and were both knocked out
to find that woman had been sent to
Lone Pine. Had it been a man we
should have expected him to take care
of himself, but as it was we couldn't
help but worry. There was hardly a
day that we didn't have to drive some
tough out of our houses at the muzzlc
of shotgun, and both of us had twice
been held up and cleaned out by
gangs. Her station was even more
isolated, and though her sex might be
respected by some, there were men
abroad as wicked as the old time
pirates. In response to our inquiries
she assured us that she had been pro-
vided with the regular outfit OF
weapons by the company, and that
she should not hesitate to shoot if she
found II necessary.
1t was IN May when the little wo-
man took possession. In describing
her did not say that she was little.
but such was the fact. Her weight
was not over 100 pounds, and she
looked more like girl of 16 than a
woman of 26. got chance to run
up aud see her one afternoon in the
month, and found her nicely settled.
She had been more or less annoyed by
roughs, but there had been no occa
sion to test her nerve as yet. l fount
her doublod-barrellcd shotgun loadet
with buckshot and her navy revolver
ready for business, and she assured
me that she should not hesitate to fir,
upon any man who msnaced be
safety.
went home much relieved In mind
' Outside Of the fraternal feeling .,
strong outside Of the brotherhood o
the key, there was something in th
thought Of that little woman bsinI