The sun., 1896-09-13
ADyEyrUnrs OF TEhEGRApuEns.
A Newfoundland that Kept watch-value
OF Rrolied Muskr1t.

Telegraph operators have queer experiences
at times especially ut the lonely railroad sta
tions where travcl Is Hight hours long, and tho
work Is done AT night. An experience meeting
of sailors so far as the yarn spinning is con-
cerue,!. Is a mild compared 10 n teleCrarhrrs
social session n milk is TO tar's shore leave.
Several knights OF the key were sitting about II
table down town after hours recently when the
tongues began to wag about experiences. Gil
Bradley started the ball.
II was sent one night to sub on the Texas
and Pacific at n little station called Gordon
he said. There was one hotel Of four rooms
u mile from the telegraph station, and two or
three cabins about the same distance Off. The
regular operator had hi, rooms over the station
and freight house, where supplies were
Ceived for the coal mines several miles away
IL was The lone!icst place ever struck; but
had to work. After fixing things | lay
down on . bench to wait fer the next freight
suppose | dozeti, for | jumped up
with start at feeling n cold wet nose
showed into my face. There was big New
foundland dog waGging his tail rs merrily as n
buzz saw cuts through soft wood. Well that
dog ran rrst to the lighted lantern on tae floor
then back to me. and then pretty soon ! began
to think something was wrong. UpI got, and
lie led me all through the freight house, UP to
the operators rooms, and back to the Office.
then calmly went 10 sleep with one eye open
and one ear pricked up. waited Tor the train,
but before heard IL he began To bark.
The next night the same performance. Well
after that used 10 20 to sleep, AID tor the week
! was there that dog kept watch. You see. tho
regular WAS fond az sleep ~ night 50 no could
play poker all dRv. | never told on him, but
that was a wel-traiEed dog"
"Ihat's no tx perisnce.' said Billy Marshall
There was only half thrill In that. Why. in
1883, during the blizzard. | was holding down n
I,lghI lob in New Jersey. IL Was III. dreariest
SPOT that railroad Official could pick out for n
station. II wns so quiet in the day time that
you could hear the sunlight clint and AT night
the shadows fall. IL was showing when | went
on Mt night and all trains were blocke and
by morning | was almost buried. MY
lunch was long ago gone. and felt Ike grinding
came ana went. supper hour passed, and no relief
arrived. / lchewed on lead pencils and ubber
bands until | felt Ike n girl bookkeeper. /
pulled in my belt and nearly cut myself IN two.
but the old munger was there just the same. 80
| tried TO sleep. hut there was no sleep in me
with that Rnawing az my stomach.
All at once saw three muskrats come up
through hole in the floor. Muskrat was better
than starvation. so / made for them with a
poker killed one. and the others got away to
freeze TO death SHINING that fellow and dress
ing him didn't take long, and with wire rigEed
"A broller, You bet your He the smell Ot that
cooking rat was Just RreR, joy. and I'm no
chink either. II Just tickled me so that fell
asleep and only woke up when he WAS burnt
that ihe odor nearly chOked me.
THE snow plough came along soon. however.
and when got filled up again was sort OF glad
/ hadn't put down the old muskrat after all.
lie might not have agreed with me-"