The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-03
HANGED WHEN The TRAIN CANE IN.
IL Was Ahead OF Time and the Engineer
Had an Anxious Two Minutes.

IL Was Ahead OF Time and the Engineer
Had an Anxious Two Minutes.
There is a branch OF the Burlington
railroad which runs down into the
southwestern part of Nebraska, and
along which are strung several county
seat towns. At the time TO which ref
erence is made a man named Bruce
Mattingly was awaiting execution In
the Jail of one of these towns, he hav-
ing committed a homicide which, ac-
cording to the theory of the jury. mer-
tied death. He was a pretty bad man.
but, as is frequently the case with
tough citizens. he had a strong circle
OF friends who were disinclined to see
Mattingly snuffed out at the end OF a
rope. They interceded with the gov
ernor after the regular channel OF law
courts of appeal had been run fruit
lessly, but Mattingly's reputation was
against him. inc the governor would
not definitely promise to grant the de-
sired respite. The sheriff OF the coun-
~ had announced that he would walt
until 5 o'clock In the morning for any
~gubernatorial interference. and prompt
ly at that hour, in the absence OF a
notice OF a stay, he would launch Mr..
Mattingly into the elsewhere.
on the morning OF the day set for
the execution the conductor OF Bur-
lington No. 3 was instructed by the
trainmaster TO pick up at this county
seat tow h state fish commission
er's private car, which had been there
for some days. and carry IL on to the
terminal. The engineer. when told Of
the order. suggested that IL woul be
best for him to run In a few minutes
ahead OF card time. SO as to be sure TO
have enough time to get away on the
schedule. for there was n strong COM
petition In the matter or promptness
on thai run. and for over three years
the train had not been behind. SO. be-
ing due at 5 o'clock. the engineer Of
No. 3 rushed things a little and got in
at $50, thus having -four minutes lee
wa TO pick up the commissioners car.
As they pulled up at the platform n
sound OF whistling and the ringing of
bells rose in the town, and from the
high board stockade around n wing
of the county Jail. which was just
across from the depot. a red flag fiut-
tered as somebody hauled IL up on its
temporary pole. The engineer asked
what II meant.
Just hung Mattingly." cried a man
at that moment. breaking forth from
the stockade. Hung him prompt at 5
o'clock. Bill was afraid a order might
tOilt lIDih TIC hVN " az eo " ~
IL was s he let him CO."
But It isn't s." said the engineer.
Its three minutes to it."
mo. IL isn't. It's ). Amt No. 3 In.
an don't she git here at ) to the dotg"
The engineers heart Jumped and
then fell down into a deep well.
do you mean to say you hung a
nan by No. IS time instead OF oy
watches or clocks?" he gasped-
ssnf oanrua Why watches an clocks
varies. Take any dozen watches among
the crowd In hat Jail right now an
I'll bet there amt no two alike IN
pintin' out the time. But No. 3
and the men looked at the engineer IN
eloquent silence which was Immensely
expressive. The latter leaned against
the tank and pulled his own watch and
fastened his eyes devouringly upon II.
He afterward said he lived a lifetime
in waiting for the two remaining min
utes to pass so that the hour would
really be s. Every instant he expected
TO see the operator come nying OUT
with an order to delay the hanging.
and knowing that he had given the
TO execute h man four minutes
ahead OF time he felt that N any such
notice were to come before 5 he would
b. a kind OF murderer. AT last-it
seemed after years-the hands indi-
Gated the actual arriving time OF No.
3. and with a great gasp OF relief the
engineer climbed into the cab and went
about the work OF hooking on the COM
missioners car.
II was some time before that en-
gineer got around TO a state OF mind
where he could speak lightly OF the in
cident. and TO this day he has never
50 much as four seconds ahead OF
time. He says IL isn't conducive 20 a
peace OF mind out in that coun-
where they hang people by rail-
time card.-Chicago Record
The German emperor. on his Norwegian