The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-10
A LATE PHONE CALL.
HOW THE SuPERlNTsNoENT'S SLuM-
Der WAS DISTURBED.
Suddenly Excited by Fears of a Terrible
Disaster op His Railroad--An Important
Question That Was Settled by Another
Onicial.

Disaster on His Railroad--An Important
Question That Was Settled by Another
onciaI.
Superintendent s. has been connect
ed with the profession of Tailroading in
New England for the past 80 years. Heis
genial sort of fellow, a man with nerves
Of steel and other qualifications that par
ticularly fit him for the important duties
of bis Office There Is also "A vein of humor
running through his composition, and no
one enjoys a good story or practical joke
more than he.
During the early days of the telephone
! he was party TO an incident i'm connection
with the hello machine which, while
/ it at first slightly nettled him, yet by a
! happy tLoughtwas turned into first class
| rake at one of the other officials on the
| road, and 10 this Gay superintendent :.
refers to the matter with kcenest enjoy.
ment.
1t was past midnight some years ago
| when the superintendent arrived ut his
! home after a most trying day, and as he
crawled into bed he said to his wife he
hoped the telephone would not ring dur.
Ing the NUTS liz WAS 10 NtNAAN u iNNNt NS
he was as near the point of complete eX-
haustion as ho could get and retain his
normal balance Finally he fcll into a
doze, hut before reaching what is known as
n dead slumbor there was tremendous rat
tie Of the telephone bell.
His wife spUng out Of bed TO ascertain
the cause Of the alarm, and made haste to
disconncct the wires so that the racket
would not disturb her husband But he
bad heard the changing, and almost breath
lessly listened 10 catch word that indicat-
cd trouble on the division. He had already
pictured to himself terrible wreck on the
road with a hundred or more men, wom-
en- and children making death struggle
10 eXtricate themselves from the mixed
timbers Of a bridge and the shattered pas
senger coaches which were threatened
with destruction from fire and flood
"Who is ity' inquired his wife.
A momentary pause.
UNLESS it is something very important
shall not call him.
Another pause.
lis it really necessary that you should
speak with himY"
But as the superintendent was now out
Of bed, and his curiosity had been raised
TO know more about the business of the
party at the other end of the line, he took
the receiver and placed it to his car.
"Who is it," be inquired, and there was
a frecracker snap to the words.
at is Mrs NJ"
"Who arc yOu?'
II am lady in search of information,
and as you are the only one whom know
that can give it to me l rung you up"
Il don't know you, madam, but II I can
be of service 10 you let me know what
You want and will do the best l can to
help you.
"Woll, then, what's the fare to Yellow
stone park
The superintendent was so startled by
the question that he let the receiver fall
from his hand, and it struck him upon tho
left knCepun. He hastily secured it and
again placed it TO his ear.
whats that;" he inquired in tone
that nearly melted the wire.
What's the fare to Yellowstone park,
pleasei"
The heated superintendent was about to
hang up the receiver and treat his inquirer
with cold silence, when upon second
thought the whole situation struck him as
being decidedly amusing, and, notwith-
standing his desire for sleep and his indig-
nation at being disturbed, he concluded to
60 further into the details Of the matter
"How is it that you call me up at this
unreasonable hour of the night? Dom you
know it is nearly 2 O'Clock in the morn.
ingg'
Il know 1t is quite late but as I was
coming homo from party at Mrs. B's
j became involved in "a heated controversy
with Mrs. ID. on the matter of tho cost
80 All, TO, l,. Ill T..
sisted that it would take at least $780,
while contended it could be done for S40O
She was so persistent and annoying that l
could not go to bed until found out from
a railroad man the true facts in the case
You had not retired, hopper"
Eyes, l had retired after one of the hard
est days work l ever knew
"Oh, am SO sorry, but now that you
are up will you kindly answer my ques-
tion?'
81 know nothing about rates. I am
the superintendent of the line, not the pas
senger agent. He's the one you want to
talk to-"
whats his NUMBER"
"Wat u moment and I'll give it to
you.
The superintendent did not give his late
caller the general passenger agents num-
Der, but that OF the passenger agent up in
Woonsocket, who had the reputation of be.
ing great practical joker, and the super
intendent never lost an opportunity to, In
way, square the account he had against
him.
"Are you therep" inquired the superin-
tendent.
Eyes; I'm waiting"
"Well, If you call No. -, woonsocket,
you can obtain all the information you
wish concerning the rate to Yellowstone
park. Good morning." And the tired
superintendent made haste to curl himself
up for the remainder of his sleep.
The next day the superintendent hap
pened to be at Woonsocket and In passing
through the station he stopped at the win
dow of the ticket office and looked In. The
agent was sitting at his desk, holding on
to his head with both hands.
whats the matterp You appear tired"
shouted the superintendent through the
opening.
"Not tired, but have ripping head.
ache"