Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-13
The STORY Teller.
GRIZZLY BILLS UND0ING.
BY J. A.'MEIsTER.

exciting thing that ever occurred to
me. Why, l can't even think of it
now without shuddering little. I
was considerably younger in those
days than I am now. At the time
1 was a telegraph operator and dis
patcher for the Mountain Valley Rail
road company in western mining
country. 1t was wild and lawless
country, and was not much in love
with my place, but being poor I was
obliged to accept the conditions with
the best possible grace;
"Goldton, where I was located, was
really nothing more than railroad
station. 1t was not on the main line
of the Mountain Valley railroad, but
on a spur which ran to the Ingot
mines. Travel was not very exten-
sive; in fact, but one train day
passed my lonely station.
"On the 18th day of every month 1
received by express for the superin-
tendent of the Ingot Mining company
the money with which the miners were
paid off. The amount averaged be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000. On the
18th of June in that year the superin-
tendent of the mines came to me and
said:
"'Perkins, the pay money will be
here tomorrow as usual; but 1 want
YOU to exercise more than ordinary
vigilance in guarding it, as I under
stand Grizzly Bill is operating in the
mountains again.
"Grizzly Bill was name to inspire
terror. The individual who bore that
unmusical sobriquet was an outlaw of
great daring and resolution he stop
ped at nothing. 1t was therefore, quite
natural for me to feel some little tre-
pidation. I assured the superinten-
dent, however, that I would do all in
my power to guard the money; and /
think" continued the major with some
self.satisfaction, "that I kept my word
in this respect.
"During the night which followed, a
violent rain storm swept through the
mountains, Shortly before 10 o'clock
the next morning I received word over
the wire that the train from Pikeville
could not get to Goldton owing to a
washout below Summit Rock. 1t was
thought that the track could be made
passable by afternoon, and that the
train would reach my station before 6
o'clock. I communicated these facts
to the mine superintendent by means
of an assistant who was always at the
station during the day.
"At 5o'clock that evening 1 received
message saying that it would be i'm
possible for the train to get through
before 9 or 10 o'clock the next morn
ing. sent word to this effect to the
mine superintendent, who, in turn,
communicated it to the men. Feeling
rather tired I turned in early that
night. Sleep, however, was out of the
question.
"The baggage, freight, express and
telegraph Offices were all under one
roof. One corner of the big ware
house Git was hardly anything else)
was partitioned off so as to to make a
private inclosure. This box-like com
partment I used for sleeping, eating
and the transaction of the company's
telegraphic and railroad business.
The sounder and receiver were affixed
to a table conveniently near my bed
and if necessary it was possible to
transmit or take message without
even arising. Of course I never found
it necessary to do this; simply men
ton it to illustrate the arrangement of
the Office.
"Along toward midnight the tele-
graph instrument began to click. |
heard my call, opened the key and
asked what was wanted. The opera
tor at Pikeville wired back that the
train which had been delayed on &C.
count of the washout had started for
Goldton, and would reach there be-
tween 8 and 4 o'clock in the morning.
At precisely 2.45 o'clock the train
steamed into Goldton.
"The express messenger alighted and
handed me huge and many-sealed
package. 1t contained S17, 800.
"'Oh, that isn't ALL said the mes
senger with laugh; Il have box in
the car that's as heavy as lead. We've
been wondering all the way up the
mountain what it contained
"The box was lifted from the Cur
and placed on end in the freight de-
partment of the station. 1t was fully
seven feet long and four wide-horribly
suggestive of the rough box in which
coffin is inclosed. l thought of this
after the train had resumed it's jour-
ney. I put the pay money in the
safe, turned the combination lock and
retired. I fell into doze, from which
was aroused with start by what
seemed to be the ticking of the sound
er. 1t said as clear as if some one
had spoken, Beware; danger threat
ens.' l sat up in bed. The moon was
shining brightly through the window.
gazed intently at the sounder. 1t
made not the slightest motion, yet the
message came again, this time even
more startingly distinct than before.
What could it possibly mean? 1
thought that I was dreaming at first ;