Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-07-07

to give the little town celebration
that should go down III it. history rs
red'lettef day of the most vivid hue.
10 add zest to the collection the
railroad officials began to notice the
great inroad. on their supply of com
hnstibles, and the train men had to
rack their brain for new stories rs to
their rapid disappearance
On account Of the vigilance of the
railroad officials the boys base Of
operations was transferred from the
yards of the road to the outskirts Of
the town. Trains going east were
easy to mount, but those going west
called for volunteers who were expert
train jumpers, and the narrow escapes
made wherein the loss of limb, or
even life, hung in the balance, were
numerous enough to appall any boy
but the son of railroader.
Charley Var Lew and Johnny Hook
were both thrown halfunder fast mov-
ing freight IL one day, but their cool
ness and strength pulled them throu III
with badly torn clothes. Coupled
with these mishnps were numerous
brushes with the railroad detectives
In the way of chnses over cars and out
over the hills into the country. The
boys were known to the detectives,
and while they did not. care to arrest
them 1t was their duty to keep them
off the ears and protect the company s
fol g ~
boys, in company with their fathers,
would run across these officers. but q
knowing wink would set matters right
before any harm had been done.
On the lst day of July halt was
made in the fornCing and the work Of
extracting the red powder from the
sophomore sisuals was begun.
A flour barrel was used as recopta-
Gle, and at the end Of two days work
it was three quarters filled. The tor
pedoes Ind mounted up in number
until nearly 2O) Of them were piled
up in store box in an off corner Of
the room.
Then, as n final enicavor, three OF
the boys IN whom were traits TINT 90
toward making up diplomat called
on the chief train dispatcher ut that
point and III the most persuasive tones
begged for contribution toward help
ing out their celebration
With keen dlscernment the dis
patcher saw into the whole scheme and
promised to help them if they would
let him know the full particulars of
their plans No more fuu-loviug man
lived than En- Stevenson, the dis
patcher, and the boys, knowing this,
told him all.
His contribution was IN eye opener
to the boys. and, after opening the
signals, the barrel was Fl led to the
brim with che precious red fire.
At last the great day arrived. and
the parents OF the boys belonging to
the club were astonished ut the use to
which the money given for hrecrach
ers and other explosives was put. In
stead of buying tirecrakcrs and tor
pedoes they made the mouths OF many
otthe outside boys water as they passed
among them munching peaches OF
apricots, or contentedly chewed away
on some delicious sweehneat.
And then the novelty of the situa-
tion struck some of the younger boys
and sarcastic remarks were flung n;
them as TO their patriotism. But the
members OF the "Our BOYS said moth
ing. looked wise and waited for the
cover Of nlghtfall.
Al S clock everybody in , the little
town was on the streets promenadinc
and viewing the few roman candles and
skyrockets set of by the more arlsto
cratic and wealthy citizens.
Bv that time the barrel OF red fire
had been transferred 10 a field Just
back o. the town and long fuse con
nected Herewith Each boy appro
priated as many torpedoes as ne could
carry without exciting suspicion ayd
took up positions assigned to them b,
the chief conspirator.
The town was To be given surprise
and the Fourth of July celebration
that would open the eyes o; the oldes
resident.
The scheme worked to q charm
4, 9 o clock exactly the through ex
press was due and from the telegraph
operator it was learned tha, it was o.
time The town was located along
side the track and grade Of consi.l
cradle length ran through the cente
of the former aud was the cause o
most of trains reaching a high rate o
speed.