The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-28

ance and LOYALTY TO have figured in some OF
| the adventures recounted. His experience
includes service in most of the Western
and Southwestern States, railroad work
done during a strike. in the midst OF an
| Indian raid and amid disturbance
| created by cowboys on mischief bent. some
of the incidents are tragic. some thrilling,
and more are humorous. The reader cam
| not go through this book without 4 kcener
| sense of the responsibilities and dangers
| incurred by the railroad man, AID moro
thorough appreciation of the couras' de-
! termination and resourcefulness Of the
American engaged in this business. As for
/ the style OF the book, it is plain and I'M
vanished in the extreme with that direct
ness and occasional ruggedness which MARI
| the phrasing Of some other BOOKS oil Us
class. The writer is evidently more intent
on telling his story than on invenulg
pretty sentences. and when he does use
| figures of speech they are apt to be CHILLED
from the school reader" or the Fourth OF
July orator
One of the most dramatic as well as
most tragic episodes in the book is in the
chapter called An Old Despatcher's Mis-
take" This tells of the fatal error made,
in some mysterious way, by an old and
trusted employe. a man of undoubted abili-
ty, integrity. and faithfUlness. On the dis
covery of the error, this man shot him
self rather than endure the disgrace. 1t
seems TO have been, possibly. case of
reaction from a strain too great for hui
man nerves TO endure. In this chapter oc-
ours curious touch OF the superstitiOus.
characteristic of railroad men as IL is of
sailors. Men who take large risks in their
daily occupations are apt to have pTesen-
timents and signs. The man whose
error led TO this particular railroad wreck
had said that morning that he did not
know what was the matter, but he felt
sure that something was going to happen.
While in Arizona the hero had consid-
erably exciting experience. 4 band of
Apaches raided the town. and the tele-
graph operator had just tine TO dive I'M
der the station through trspdoor, viii Ii
promptly shut and locked him IN. MeaE-
while the Indians set the bui. Sing on fire,
and things soon became very warm for the
Gagged man. He finally broke the trap
door with his rife, and emerged into the
burning building. to find the Indians put
to flight, and DIS" the operator 10 the
east, was still calling. The youth having
gotten out Of the office into the open air.
reached in through a window, grabbed a
set OF loose instruments, and telegraphed
a brief account of the situation to the
other office. He then made his way 20
what was left OF the population" as he
expresses it. and subsequent proceedings
were as follows:
recognized one Of them who was commonly
known as "Ful-house Charley" and weakly said:
Don't shoot, Charley, It's BATES, the night
operator al the depot
We'll. Where the devil have You been all the
Time? When tho depot was burning some Of
us went over there but you'd gone some place.
We couldn't anything, let 'er burn.
Your side partner, the do! man, was killed and
scalped."
1t appeared that Just as the fight was the
hottest three troops Of the United States Coiored
Cavalry appeared the scene, having been on
the trail Of this same band all DAY. They made
short work Of The red men. Who melted away
10 the fastucsses Of tn. Mosolions, irst citing
FIRE 10 the depot. the troops in ciose lrsuit.
II there wcrr faithful. bard-worsing fighters
in that county, it these same dusly brli-
uetcs.
This is fair sample of the more lively
oecuTrence s in the book though Mr.. Brady
has not committed the mistake of putting
in so many Of them that no living man
could have had all those different expert
ences. Among the comedy chapters Is one
containing an account OF a wedding per-
formed by telegraph. and another tells OF
an amusing happening in which the hero
did not appear particularly heroic. This
is iu
The first night sat down to work at six thirty.
and IN = few minutes was receiving the wors;
pounding ! bad ever experienced, from some
operator ia CIT ctiCc who signed il" There
was no kick coming on the sending il was as
plain d lsrge-sized poster, but it was "a
ALFRED last that u made me hustle for all |
Was worth To- Et il down. There l. no sense in
a fellow sending 90 last, because nothing is made
ny il and 81 tires everyone completely out. or
dinarily. q thiriyuord- a-minute clip j good
stiff speed for report but this night, thirty-iiye
or forty was nearer the mark In every operator
there is certain amount Of professional pride
inherent ,hs; makes him refrain from breaking
on report unless i i absolutely necessary. The
sender ALWAYS keeps record 81 tie bTsaks Of
each receiver on The line. and IL they become too
frequent the offender j. gently fired. On the
night IN question didn't break. but there were
several times when foreign dispatches com.
ing in that l faxed names in great shape. 1t
was ugly night out. and about o'clock our
quad few tie track, and in minute III said
TO me:
Here's ten blacks (dly messaee) just landed
me 10 send 20 you and without waiting for me
to get ny manifold clip out Of the Way lac
started. ] cidn't get chance 30 put Tie time
or date down. and was swearing. fighting mad
After sending Eve Of the ten message, Ill
stopped second and said:
How do / Conner
''Y0u come like tic devil. For heavens sake.
let up Bit" ! replied.
Who do you tAink you arc talking tor came
back 70
Seemingly. patience bad ceased 10 be virtue
with me. so ] replied ''Some id ambitious
chump Of 2 fool who's stuck making record
for himself"
That settles you. Call your chief operator
over here"
The operator signing "JL" CHANGED 10
be woman. The relish with which the
narrator tells this tale proves that he can
enjoy a Joke even when it is on himself.
(New York: Doubleday & Mcclure Com
pany. $3.50.