The Lamar register., 1907-08-28
LOST WIRE
MYSTERY

II was strange who was stealing the
wire up there on the Lehigh & Hud-
son. popularity known as the Lean and
Hungry railroad" said the old railroad
telegraph operator. who has gained
reputation for his work in assisting
Truth to rise after she has been crush
ed to earth, according to the records
of the New York Sun. You see. the
road is putting up new line OF wires
and they had lots Of trouble losing
their equipment.
Most of the trouble occurred up
near Sugar Loaf mountain. near the
old cemetery. just the other side OF
Eastchester station. They never could
seem to find out who stole the wire.
"A fellow would be sending mes.
sages up the road to the different
summer rssorts-'Love me and the
world is mine-and other kilograms OF
the soft-boiied-egE variety-from guys
In the city to their girls In the noun
(ains. but the messages never would
get to their destination.
whoever pinched the wires would
leave Just enough of the metal wire
hanging from the pole to reach the
ground. thereby making a circuit. and
the wire would work all right between
Eastchester and the end of the line.
but the next morning we would get
postal card from the summer resort
saying they lost the wire at such and
such a place. The wire thieves were
literally running the business of the
company into the ground.
so the management stationed q
night Waterman up near the old GENE
terry 70 nab the marauders and teach
EN- to keep their hands on the COM
pany's property, FoF the first three or
on wire thieves.
"One night. about eight O'Clock. as
we regulars were sitting around the
big stove In Dun Masten's grocery
store. talking over the general condi-
ton OF ths onion crop. the Waterman
stumbled into the front door. almost
frightened to destA, He allowed that
It was ghosts from the cemetery who
were swipins the Lehigh wires,
Res Conkling and all Of US pooh,
poohed the idea of ghosts. There were
= good many operator buried up in the
old cemetery. but they had had enough
trouble with wires during their lives
without trying to cabbage any after
death.
Barney Smith and three or four
more Of US framed up an expedition to
ind out the why's and wherefores of
this ghost business. We journey up
there by Sugar Loaf mountain several
nights without any results.
About IL o'clock on the fourth night
we were about leaving In disgust when
there was whirring sound up behind
one of the large tombstones in the
graveyard and a large objtct went ny-
ing over to one Of the telegraph poles
! and began pecking at the wire there.
by gosh. 1t is spirits" cried Charley
Crist. one Of the exploring band.
Change your brand said l. I'll
tell you what 1t Is. It's an eagle
I'D heard only a week or two be-
fore about pair Of bald headed eagles
which had been seen up on Sugar Loaf
mountain. Barney Smith agreed with
me that the wire pirate was the male
eagle stealing wire to build q nest fos
his mate.
Yes. sir, sure's your born. OF
| course, the wire wasn't as heavy az
the modern telegraph wires and could
coil nicely into 4 fine nest for the lady
eaSie. The warm messages which had
| circulated through the wires to the
summer Gin would aid materially In
Matching the eagles eggs.
1T wasn't very hard for the big
l - - - To-
Of wire aud ny on with q coil Of II
around his neck. OF course. 1t wal
Just by accident he left enough Of 1,
flying to stick into the ground.
| well. sir. the company tried IT.
best to kill that eagle, placing a boun
ty of $50 on his head. But no one
seemed to shoot straight enough II
kill him. or else he was so tough tht
bullets took no effect Even 80 sure {
shot as Barney Smith failed to brint
him down. The big bird was . pest
too. for every time he wanted to adj
an L to his nest or build a new apart
msnk he'd Just draw on the telegraph
line.
The supe was at a loss as to wha
to do. Finally ] hit upon a scheme
| why uOI put IN Special pr1nu o
barbed wire? 1t was obvious that II I
lady eagle was preparing to lay an egl
and sat down on a piece Of barbst
wire, shed change her mind about lay
ing the egg and say 'Prunes.' or word
to that effect in eagle language.
NY scheme worked all right AMI
after the barbed wire was installed tn,
depredations ceased. although man,
sharp messages were sent over tn,
line"
Say" observed the tall. cynical con
ductor. you've got those nature fakerl
spiked to the switch"