South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-02-24

struction gang at Big Rock, and
they turned to and overpowered
the tramps and scattered them in
every direction. 1t began raining
at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and
when night fell it was az dark as
pitch. At s o'clock train loaded
with bridge material and accom-
panied by twelve mechanics reach
ed my station from the west on ,ts
way to Big Rock.
Just a. it came in I got word
from Clark over the wire that q
landslide had occurred between
him and Lone Pine and no trains
would be able to pass it before next
day. This, you viii observe, cut
Lone Pine of on the east, and it
held the bridge train at my station.
l turned in about IL O'clock, with
the rain coming down as il every
thing was to be drowned out, and
it was just half an hour after mid :
night when l vas called by the lit
tie woman at Lone Pine.
"I'm sorry to disturb you" she
said, "but l fear I'm going to have
trouble"
whats wrong?"
GA number of those tramps who
were bounced at Big Rock today
have reached here and taken pos
session of two empty freight cars
on the siding. The whole crowd
is half drunk and raising Cain"
eff they have shelter and some
thing to drink they won't be apt to
bother you tonight. However, I'll
sit up with you for while for COM
pany's sake. Are your firearms
loaded?"
eyes. The gang appears to have
four or Eve revolvers, and two bull
lets have been fred through the
window"
"Well, don't show any light, and
you had better bnnk down on your
cot. The fellows will get over their
hilarity pretty soon."
1t was five minutes before heard
from her again. The engine of
the freight train was standing al
most opposite the door, and dur
ing the interval l went out and
reused the sleeping engineer and
fireman and told them what was
going on at Lone Pine. II things
got desperate with the little woman
l proposed to take half dozen of
the mechanics and go up to her re-
lief. When she called me again
she said:
One OF the gang has routed me
up and demanded wkiskey and
something to eat. When 1 ordered
him away he made threats of what
they would do"
fDon't get shaky." L replied.
cts probably bluff. Construc-
ton No. 8 is lying here, and in
case you need help lot Of Va will
come up on the engine. Well
have q clear road and can make it
in fifteen minutes"
1t was seven minutes before she
called again. The locomotive had
been Ared up and the fireman had
gene back to the caboose and rout-
ed out six men who had reviewers,
and they were ready to make a dash
with us.
"You remember the old oaboose
car at the end Of the side traok?''
queriOd the little woman at Lone
Pine.
eyes"
"Well. they have made a bonfire
Of it, and it's blazing away even in
this rain. Thsre are fourteen OF
tho fellows and the toughest lot I've
ever seen. / think they mean to
attack the house. Hadn't you bet
ter come upi"
ri don't want to take the re-
'ponsibihty unless it is positively
necessary. You are expected to
'tard them Off il you can. No one
will blame you il you wipe out the
Whole gang. Talk right up to
hem il they come to the house"
Three or four minutes slipped
away, and then she announced that
hey had given her FIVE minutes in
which to surrender, aud that one
II the empty freight cars had bsen
irsd.
"They can't set FIRE TO the house
nth fba wrafor F.1ff,o, ILL, t1.sa - Z