The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-07

into the road; it took some time TO re-
move the wire. which was tightly wound
around TIE axle of my front Wheel ana
sprocket Even when freed OF the wire
l found the frame SO badly peht as 10
make 1t impossible 10 ride. leaving me no
alternative but to walk back TO the pam;
a long and painful undertaking, put
reached there in time 10 cut the tei-,aie
clear Of the lines before the morning
force came to duty.
Too sore TO attempt another such ride
the following eight, l decided to report
my exploits to the superintendent ana get
his advice and assistance; tins dlo s.'o
was much pleased at the interest ne
evinced in my scheme. but l couio no.
ioin in his hearty laugh at my 'hors de
combat" nor had l yet appreciated the
humorous side of my mlShap-
ALL NIGHT WATCH.
After a good days rest l felt better
and nj midnight was again at my post
ready for an all-night'S vigil II necessary,
the two men detailed by the superin'end-
emf to assist me were in the open doorway
Diaying a friendly game OF seVen-up "iilie
/ had taken up 4 position pehinu lug
switchboard so as to watch me lei-la,e
,anps. Both men were splendid Wheei-
men, and I envicd them the exciting rlde
I was at any moment expecting 10 seho
them on: hut the hours dragged by one
by one with wearisome monotony ana yet
no sign nom the tell tale; after 4 White
the men stopped playing and became re-
1niuiscent and / sat there highly enter
tanned as story followed story, accounts
full Of narrow escapes from death by wire
ana sro,esQuely interviewer with nv
NOR and pathoS. exaggerated IN
the telling no doubt, but haT-
Ing for a background many stirring
incidents which go to make the every
day life of the average llncman
Gradually the stories became less IRE
ouent and finally ceased altogether ana III
the place of the suspicious luil that 1ol-
lowed q duet of gentle shores was heard
| did not wake the sleepers, but sat there
my thought turning back to n time three
years ago, when T., a newly-sraduated
electrical engineer. stood at the gate
discussing the world l was going to con-
uuer. l had come TO say goodbye LOT
was leaving the dear old village for more
active fields.
A LITTLE MEMORY.
The future. to any experience was
bright and smooth and its outlook les
sened to some extent the pain OF part
ing. but nevertheless there was a lump
in my throat when train time arrived and
/ drove off with all my belongings in a
small hair trunk In the back OF the
wagon.
1t had been long time since then and
I had received many hard knocks IN the
fight, but that parting was still dear 10
my memory, could shut my eyes and
again see her sweet face all smiles, yet
with a suspicion Of tears in her eyes like
the sun shining through an April shower;
and the fine old house with its gable roof
Just peepinS through the trees: how
clearly it all comes back 10 me. I sat
I'D with a start and rubbed my eyes; the
day engineer was shaking me by the
shoulder. ! too had been asleep, but II
was still! early with only hazy Srayness
to mark the break of day; did not
know how long slept but the lights OF
the ;tell-tale were still burning, so no
wires had been cut
With another nights watching and dis
appointment I was worn out and dis
couraged, SO only waiting until. the ma
chimes We're started and the first car sent
out, I went home 10 breakfast and to
bed: that Is such was my intention, out
had hardly taken my seat at the table
when the phone rang and l was called
back to the plant.
A DEAD THIEF.
Duty first is my motto and though
hungry and tired I FASTENED Off to lind
on my arrival the body of one Of our line
men lying stretched on the engine room
floor Motorrnau Jennings. who took the
first car over the RiverInont branch. mad
found the man lying face downwards at
the foot of one of our poles near the end
of the line The treatment for severe
electric shocks is the same as for case
of drowning without the barrel rolling.
but although We worked faithfully and
used every effort to coax back his lie
1t was of no avail.
We greatly regretted the mans death,
but there was no doubt that we mad at
last caught the thief. If any doubt had
existed it Was soon dis-,elled when
among a number of papars in his pocket
we found freight reseipts for over a
thousand pounds OF copper wire.
At first we were at a loss TO account
for the mans death. but the superintend-
ent In looking over the lines, found GROSS
between one OF our 1890 volt alternating
circuits and a power wire: as this was
connected through my apparatus to the
railway feeders the whole system had be-
come live, and my harmless teil-tale had
become deadly trap.