The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-25
A NIGHT OPERATORS STORY.
Exciting Time With Thief Mt a
Lonely Railroad station.


from those of the railroad man. The lat
ter's work may not be as arduous as the
other fellows, but it is frequently at
tended with much greater responsibility
And one does not need to go To Mexico
or Montana In order TO satisfy himself
that the railroad operator also has his
share of close shaves and har-raising
experiences. A Sun reporter met recently
a veteran key twister' who used to be
employed nights on the eastern division
of the Boston and Maine Railroad In
New Hampshire. He tells a startling
story of his experience with burglar
while having orders from headquarters
to stop a through freight. The predica-
ment in which he placed himself by fall
ing asleep at his post should be warn
ing to all night operators who nave
hand In the movement of trains
Just throw two or three shovelfuls OF
coal on the fire every hour or so and
make yourself comfortable. There won't
be much doing tonight. and after NO. z
goes-why, scoot home
Those were the last words Ed said
to me as he buttoned his collar high
around his neck and hurried out of the
office.
ED was the regular night telegraph
operator at the little town or Hampton
situated on n single track railroad IN
New Hampshire. He was not more IMAM
TWENTY-FIVE years old and the monotony
Of his work caused him to seek frequent
recreation away from the office. II n
dance was to come off in the town hall
or within ten miles of it Ed would be
there. provided he could find someone to
tako his place for that night at the ONCE.
Il was only sixteen at the time. A Few
wears before my brother and two other
voung men, all older than mysell, had
built private telegraph nhe between
their homes in order, as they said, TO
learn how TO sling lightning well enough
ia work in busy office Each became
very good operator and IN time tound
employment at his trade.
"Although an eager disciple of the art,
! was almost too young TO have thor-
ouYh knowledge of telegraphing when
nv brother left home; but knew enough
ahout II to want 10 know more. and the
dav and night operators at Hampton
vvara ANNOYED by my visits till they de-
cided that | was an entirely hopeless case
and could even be trusted occasionally 10
sub for them.
And that is what I had agreed to do
for Ed on the night mentioned-a colo
..The task was not altogether an agree
ahle one. No passenger trains stopped
AT Hampton after CPS o'clock IN the eve
ring After 9 no one ever called at the
station TO INQUIRE for freight, and by
half mast 10 all sounds of footsteps on the
nIotform ceased. only a dim light here
and there could be seen, ana every thlIs
about the place appeared TO De deao.
"a thick snowstorm, which set IN our
UTfTAGf
rro,, the lonesomeness OF my quarters.
.Rut every place is lonesome at night,
n,,sed and one cannot always nave
company to cheer him.
..-rbie thought. coupled with the refiec-
zion that in the morning | was 10 receive
Il "a for my services, quoted my Tears
for the time being
"a red a white and blue lantern were
alvavs kent burning in the office atnight
a., 80 they should be needed quickly. l
a,amined each Of these lanterns 10 see
~ II was properly filled and secured, look
cd after the fire in the big coal stove.
readiusted the relay wires. Nos. ana
16 and lay back in the big. cushioned
armchair with the air of one who mad
done his full duty
"Asid, from the clicking of the tele-
praph (Which was intermittent. and made
me start when il struck UP suddenly after
a silence longer than usuaD. all that
could be heard was the grooming ana
signing of the wind and the incessant ana
vearisome hum m m m m MIN OF the
wires outside the station The blending
of the last two sounds was as doleful as
the clang of a bell-bUoy in a violent
storm.
Twelve o'clock came round. That
was a little too early for luncheon. but
| felt hungry and proceeded TO dispatch
the contents of a small basket which ]
had brought from home.
After that became somewhat drowsy.
None OF the trains, so far. had been more
than twenty minutes late. and | had re-
ported each of them promptly to htad-
quarters when ii passed my station.
The temperature Of the Office must
have been 50 when / turned the lamp
down to a mere glimmer and again set
tied back in the big chair about 12:i5.
Through freight No. 252 from the north
would be due in quarter of an hour. l
hadn't heard it reported up the line, but
supposed ii would be pretty nearly on
time.
The storm appeared to be growing
fercer, and / sat and listened to it.
How long | listened / do not know
"A light pounding nearby made me
jump up.
What can that be% 1 asked my
self
The pounding grew louder. All the
instruments were still ana the sound was
distinct.
Il stood almost GREATNESS beside the
table.
In less than a minute was convinced
where il came from.
In the back part of the office were
the ticket windows opening respectively
into the mems and women's waiting
rooms A heavy blue shade on each
window prevented any one from seeing
the interior of tn office. These shades
were always drawn after the departure
of the last passenger train for the day.
Some one had broken into the wom-
ems room and was trying 10 force open
the window to the office, using evident
ly, chsel and mallet.
The doors of that room were always
locked by the day man before going off
duty. and | made sure early in the even
ing that that task had not been neg
lected. Moreover. as tramps were not
allowed in the station, and it was easier
to keep them out than TO put them out.
l had also bolted the doors of the mems
room. Ed often did that after II o'clock.
1.-The safe. containing books, tickets
and perhaps 5000 or $500 in cash, was mid
way between the two windows and about
four feet from each.
For fully five minutes | stood perfect
ly rigid.
apparently the thief is uncertain
whether there is any one here" I
thought. If he imagined there wasn't.
he would certainly smash the window,
ironguard and all, in short order. Maybe
he expects TO find me asleep and as soon
as he prizes open the window will thrust
in a pistol and order me to hold up my
hands
How was I to defend myself? If went
to the window ii would probably mean
prompt surrender or death, and to hest
tate much longer did not seem likely TO