The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-09
HOW FIRST SPIKE
WAS DRIVEN
Members 4 Savage Grand Opera
Company Kidnap II. E. Dunn,
Manager Of New Road.
TAKE PAYETTE BY STORM
HOLD CEREMONY ON THE MAIN
STREET OF IDAHO TOWN.

This is story that simply defles
keeping. 1t might be entitled 1.-THE
First Spike or Why He Didn't Come
Home" The story has for its central
character II. Z. Dunn, for many years
travelling passenger agent of the Ore
gOn Short Line railroad. MIR. Dunn will
resign his position with the Oregon
Short Line about Feb. Is, to accept the
vice presidency and management Of
the Payette Valley railroad, which
was launched in Salt Lake last week.
On this hinges the story.
Among the multifariOus duties Of
travelling passenger agent is the super
vising of excursions, special trips, etc.
That is why Mr.. Dunn was chosen to
accompany the II. w. Savage Grand
Opera company to Nyssa, Ore, when
its engagement in Salt Lake closed last
Saturday night. Mr.. Dunn had had
this assignment a year previous, and
many members of the troupe remem-
bered the genial Hi"
Plot is Hatched.
During the stay in this city a friend
ship sprung up between Mr.. Dunn and
the opera people. Several of the male
members Of the tTouple learned that
Mr.. Dunn was about to resign his posi-
ton with the Short Line to be the big
MoguI' Of a railroad which he had
originally and successfully carried to
a successful contamination A deep
dark plot was Matched behind the
scenes in the Salt Lake theatre. Men
IN ancient costumes put their heads
together and whispered; a priest in
robes and mitTe would appear sudden
~ from behind a stage tree and confer
with the court fool with tinkling CAP
and bells or humble sheDhard with
crook and horn; mighty air Of rnys-
terry penetrated each and every corner
OF the spacious stage. AS the Satur-
day night performance came To a
close there was "a sound Of revelrv nv
night" In green room and dressing
room sly Winks were passed from mar,
10 man. An occasional outburst mr.
laughter would break forth suddenly
put would cease as suddenly. When
the play was ended the start for Paw
cite was commenced. Shortly after
midnight train Of twelve cars nuIIad
out Of the depot carrying the IT. w
savage Grand Opera company and IT
E. Dunn. L.
The advertising matter of the Savapa
opera company says the number of
men travelling with the trouDe is
loo. This is correct. Imagine what
sport 100 men can have when thrown
tCgether in q train Of twelve carsI
IEen imagine what sport $50 ioIIv good
fellows can have when their number
mas been increased by the annexation
or another good fellow. ''HP' Dunn
ana ms loo companiOns had more fun
on this trip than the proverhfsI small
BOY has at the proverbial circus. RTt
All Things have an end. As the train
drew near Nyssa on the fOIlo1,,i,,ar
afternoon Hi Dunn made a +rio
through the train bidding each and ali
a farewell When the train was al
most In Nyssa Mr.. Dunn discovered
MS oYercoat and grip were missing
Locked in Drawing Room.
He remembered distinctly leaving If
across the back of a chair where he
could find 1t easily when he reached
Nyssa. Then began a frantic search
Every one in the company Joined IN the
search and got into each others way
Some one said he believed the coat and
grip were In the drawing room. Into
the ear rushed the unsuspectfnp Mr.
Dunn. As he pushed ODen the door
men, picked from the largest
IN the company. grabbed him. Stretch
ing him at full length on the floor they
took turns at sitting upon him. After
Nyssa had been left far behind Mr.
D l,1 was allowed to sit up. He said
things, but no one listened to him.
About 4 O'clock the keen ears of the
railroad man caught sound Of three
pulls at the air valve The train was
to stop at the next station.
why Payette2" wondered Mr.. Dunn
but no one volunteered an explanation
As the train drew into Payette 9qg
Inhabitants were thrusting their heads
TO see what all the excitement was
about. One man had left town that
morning on a hunting trip. There i'm
the station stood a train Of twelve cars
From those twelve cars poured zoo
strangers who formed In line behind a
band of twelve pieces.
At the head of the procession, Just be-
hind the band, marched A. L. Flynn.
assistant manager Of the Savage Grand
Opera company; Joseph T. Sheehan.
tenor, and HIP Dunn, victim. Mr..
Dunn was half dragged. half carried
by the two menI Ralph Edmunds. i'm