The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-12-12

Even now the miScreantS were get
ting the rails in shape to insure the
contemplated disaster. How could
Swipes avert it? There were two des-
perste men in the Office who were Ger
tainly armed. Swipes had nothing to
combat them with W. a pocket-knife.
It would be useless to attempt to over
power them.
He quietly arose, slipped his clothing
on, stepped to the window, and by the
light of the moon, just disappearing un
der the western horizon, saw by his
watch hat it only lacked ten minutes
of the time when No. 16 was to leave
Brewster, the station west of Cromp-
ton.
His line of action was laid out in an
instant. Quietly opening the baggage
room door, he rolled his bicycle outside
and, taking a lantern with a red globe
in one hand, he mounted, and was SOC
speeding westward at a tremendous
rate. Faster and faster he urged his
wheel. He could never pass the bridge
in time to stop the train. Then, too, he
would be seen by the wreckers if he at.
tempted it, as the wagon road followed
the right of way at the bridge. 1t wa
impossible to go around off the road or
account of the ravines. Precious mo
ments were flying. Swipes set his
teeth together with a bull dog determi.
nation and pedaled for life.
In his strenuous efforts to get more
speed out of his wheel one of the pedals
broke, causing him almost to take a
header. He sprang TO the ground and
ierked the tool bag from the wheel; as
he did 20 the wrench fell out, struck the
globe of the lantern and broke it into
fragments.
Great God!" he exclaimed, "what
am I to do"
But not a moment did he lose. Seiz.
ing a pair of pliers and a short piece Of
wire which fell from the tool bag, he
dashed up the road like mad, leaving
his wheel where it had fallen.
Far away in the distant city the train,
dispatcher vas slowly calling Brewster
station for the report of train 16. The
train had been a few minutes late all the
evening, but was gaining, and he had
hoped to have it reach Brewster on
time. 1t vas now just due at Brew
ster, and he continued to call:
"Bu., Blu, Ds., Bu., Bu-"
There was an interruption on the cir
cult. First a few unintelligible sput-
ters from the instrument, then slowly
was spelled out the following:
"T-r-a-i-n w~-r-e-c-k-e-r-s have re
moved two rails at high
bridge. For G-o-d-'s-s-t-o-p No
Six
Then the wire came open.
The dispatcher comprehended the sit,
uation in an instant. He sprang to the
key on another line and fairly made the
telegraph instrument jump from the
table as he called Brewster. He finally
raised him and said:
"No. 49,"
"Here, go in min.," was the response.
"Hold 16; don't let her get away!"
No answer to his order.
Again he made the sounder hum as he
rapidly called "Bu."
Presently he was interrupted by the
operator at Brewster answering:
Just in time to catch hind end rear
coach and pull bell cord as train start
ed"
THANK God!" exclaimed the dis
patcher.
In a very few moments orders were
given TO the section men to proceed to
the high bridge ahead of No. 16 and
thoroughly examine the bridge before
allowing the train to cross. And to also
examine wire No. 1, for an opening be-
tween Brewster and Crompton.
Two rails were found with angle bars
removed and the spikes drawn and
pulled out in such shape as would have
sent the train to destruction.
After getting the track in shape and
the train safely owe the bridge, the
trackmen proceeded to look for n break
in line No. 1. As it was now daylight the
line could be plainly seen.
Three miles west of Crompton the
break vas found. Swipes was also
found at the break, with one broken
and his right leg broken above the
knee. He had climbed a telegraph pole
was supplied with a ground
cut the main wire and attached
the wire he had taken from the toolbag
of his bicycle to the west end of the
main wire, so it would be long enough
tap against the ground wire on the
pole. He could just accomplish this by
on to the pole at the extreme
Then he was able to roughly spell
a message of warning by tapping
the main line to the ground wire, al
though he had no means Of knowing
whether he was heard or not. Receiv-
n severe shock from the wires, he
had lost his hold upon the pole and
fallen to the ground, thereby breaking
his limbs.
Swipes privately told his story to the
agent after his fractured limbs had been
attended to, and the superintendent of
the road was sent for. On the arrival of
hat official the night operator was
placed under arrest, and when con-
with the knowledge of mis- crime
ne turned states evidence and fur
1ished information which was the
means of securing the arrest and sub
conviction of the entire gang.
To-day Swires is chief train dispatch
er of that road. When asked how he
anne into that DoSition. being Younger