Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-15
BRAVE GIRL AT KEY.
Young Railroad TeIegraphef
Cows Midnight Intruder.
WIRES DISPATCHER FOR AID
Freight Train Crew Arrives in Time
to Save Plucky Defender Of
Way Station.

Way Station.
FITCHBURG, Mass, May 14.-W1th the
same GOODNESS that marked her conduct
last Thursday night when she summoned
assistance by telegraph while man
crazed by liquor was trying TO batter In
the doors and windows of the railroad
station at Westminster, Pearl Burns, a
mere slip Of a girl, today rehearsed in
the police court the exciting events OF
that night Miss Burns appeared as the
principal witness against Patrick OLeary,
the man who caused the trouble. O'Leary
was held In bail for further hearing.
Miss Burns, although fifteen years old,
locked more like child of thirteen.
Pearl Burns is the youngest operator on
the division. She was born fifteen years
ago in the room over the telegraph office.
At the age Of eleven she could send and
receive with the ease and rapidity OF
seasoned train dispatcher. Last Novem-
Der, when only fourteen, she was made
night operator at Westminster. Since
then her one thought has been to rise to
the top. Pearl Burns, dispatcher, Bos-
tom is her present goal.
She was alone Thursday night in the
isolated station except for her shepherd
dog Prince. AS she was studying she
heard some one walking down the con-
crete platform. Prince growled deep
down In his throat, but Pearl took no
notice Suddenly there was a sharp rap
on the window pane. The dog parked
and then Pearl looked up.
Framed in the WINDOW she saw the
Scowling face of a middle-aged man. She
jumped up terrified
What do you want?" she asked.
The mans only reply was to try the
window. 1t was locked. He turned away
and started down the station platform
Pearl tore open the door of the telegraph
Office ieaped into the waiting room of the
station and bolted the door. The man
reached it a moment later and wrenched
in vain at the knob
Who are you and what dO YOU want.
demanded the girl.
Wired for Aid.
The man made no answer and walked
away from the door. The girl ran back
to the telegraph Office and called Head
Dispatcher Woods In Boston. AS she did
so she heard the crash of falling glass.
Regardless of the terrifying sound. the
little operator continued to manipulate
her key. She was answered almost i'm
fHEQldtcly ny "OO0S, "hS1SuPOh SA~
clicked out to him:
"A man is trying to break into the
station. / am all alone. Are there any
trains coming east or west that can help
me?"
mo-" snapped back the instrument.
What shall / do if can't intercept a
train?" asked Pearl.
Have you got a gum asked Woods.
NO. said Pearl.
AT that moment there was another
crash of breaking glass in the waiting
room of the station. The girl thought
for a moment and then left her key. She
reached into a pigeOnhole of her fathers
desk and drew out little nickel-plated
monkey wrench. AS she did SO pane
Of glass crashed to the floor and the dog
through a hole in the window. The arm
was hurrtedly withdrawn, but a Scowling
face appeared in it's place. At the face
the girl leveled her monkey wrench.
Keep out" she cried. 'or I'll drill you
full of holes
The face dropped back and the monkey
wrench was hidden in the folds of PEARLS
dress. Meanwhile the key was keeping
I'D an incessant chatter, talking to Card
ner. Gardner is ten miles from West
minister In the opposite direction from
Boston.
Train Rushes Help.
Catch extra 1885, the key was saying,
'and rush full speed to Westminster,
where a man is breaking into station"
Fast freight 1913 was taking water at
Gardner when Train Dispatcher Conway
got that message OF the wire. He ran
with It to j. II. Miller, the conductor of
the train, who threw 1t to the engineer.
Lets CO." said Conductor Miller. And
they forthwith went. leaving the water
streaming from the tank and the station
employees gaping in amazement at the
manner in which the long freight train
disappeared into the night The running
time for fast passenger trains between
Gardner and Westminster is % minutes.
Ere ght 1873 did it In 20 minutes.
From the front car jumped husky Jack
Hanlon, brakeman. followed by six other
members of the train crew. all spelling
for immediate hostilities. Hanlon poked
MS head through the broken window.
where are they" he whispered.
"Out back said Pearl, and between
her laughing and her crying she man.
aged to say 1t twice
Around the station dashed Hanlon and
his men. just in time to see their quarry
disappearing through rear window. A
second later he was sprawling on the
station platform. with the train crew OF
No. 1873 piled upon him. He was dragged
into the Office. bound, and thrown aboard
the train. which then proceeded to ritch-
burg
Pedrl. In the meantme, mace telegraph
ic arrangements with Fitchburg to have
the man arrested when the train arrived
In that city. This was done. He said he
was Patrick O'Leary, forty-five years old,
Of South Ashburnham. but refused abso-
lutely TO state the reason for his actions
1t the station.
From engine cabs. car windows and
cabooses Of every train which passed
Westminster yesterday leaned engineers,
conductors and other trainmen anxious
to wave greeting to the courageous little
operator in the pink dress
WpicuT cnMcc phrH