INTRODUCTION
Henry Van Hoevenbergh was a practicing telegraph engineer who was employed at the Elizabeth, NJ branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Telegraph company, where he held more than twenty patents related to telegraph inventions. This story appeared in the 1877 telegraph fiction anthology "Lightning Flashes and Electric Dashes". The typos in this story, of which there are more than a few, have been preserved.
References/further reading:
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, Volume 31, 1885: https://books.google.com/books?id=4NM1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA520-IA17&lpg=PA520-IA17&dq=%22h.+Van+Hoevenbergh+%22&source=bl&ots=1mXm7xbLDA&sig=ACfU3U3fvhwPo34cEj5AVA2LXuXbJSu25w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjt9ojD8Z3zAhXgGFkFHXHPA8gQ6AF6BAgbEAM#v=onepage&q=%22h.%20Van%20Hoevenbergh%20%22&f=false
Electrical Review, May 8, 1885: https://books.google.com/books?id=vhcGFWwvvAIC&pg=RA9-PA10&lpg=RA9-PA10&dq=%22H.+Van+Hoevenbergh%22&source=bl&ots=IHSGP9Odg4&sig=ACfU3U0SJRCwBiXxSGX6AosPvf-3LWmpvw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSp47C653zAhWVEVkFHZOzCzYQ6AF6BAgWEAM#v=onepage&q=%22H.%20Van%20Hoevenbergh%22&f=false
INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH, A TELEGRAPH OPERATOR'S STORY
"Want a yarn, eh?" said my friend, Erhardt, as he tipped his chair back and deposited his number sixes upon my operating table. " Well, I am afraid you have applied at the wrong window, young man. There never was a much worse hand at telling stories. I have had in my life but one experience which was at all remarkable, and I think I have told you of that."
"Your adventure with the highwaymen in the depot here? No, you have never told me about it I have heard the station agent speak of the affair once, but that is all. Tell me the whole story." Erhardt was an ex-operator and the cashier of the H— bank, a solid, substantial institution, the repository of the savings of the farmers for miles around, and which, in its way, transacted more business than many of its more pretentious city prototypes.
He was waiting at the depot to meet a friend expected on the milk train, which, as usual, was a trifle over four hours late. He had expressed a proper amount of disgust on the receipt of this information, and finally took a chair in my office to wait. It was a cold, blustering night; the wind howled without, and my fire (of old railroad ties) roared and leaped in its cast-iron prison.
"If I must wait here for that confounded slow coach, I might as well spend the time in that way as any. I like to hear myself talk pretty well." And he settled himself in his chair and lighted a cigar.
"It was some seven or eight years ago, 1867, I think, that I was sent to open the office here. I remember a little interview I had with the superintendent just before l started. I was a little wild in those days, and had just returned from a week's fun.
"'Erhardt,' he said, 'I will give you just one more chance. I am going to send you down to H—. It you behave yourself there, and show that you have any of the true stuff in you, I will give you a better position in time. If not, I shall wash my hands of you, and you will receive no more employment from this company.'
"He looked after me somewhat regretfully, I imagined, as I went out I think he was inclined to like me, but my conduct made it impossible for him to show me much favor.
"Well, I came down here and opened this office. Telegraphing was more of a curiosity then than it is now, and I found myself regarded as a sort of lion by the people here. I was then a first-classer, and could take my forty words a minute as easily as any one. Had it not been for my frisky habits I would probably at that time have graced some large
office.
I now tried hard to be steady and sober, and really succeeded very well. I struck up an acquaintance with the station agent here, who was a steady, thorough-going young fellow and an excellent companion. He was greatly taken with the mysteries of telegraphy. Very much to his delight, I offered to teach him, and had soon transformed him into a very tolerable plug. He read very well—much better than he could write. I very quickly saw that Mason had in him the material for an excellent operator. He had a keen sense of humor, and we were eternally playing jokes on each other, which were always taken in good part.
"About fifty miles further down the road was a small office in charge of a Miss Annie L—. I introduced Mason to her over the wire, and they practiced together a great deal. Mason was a little the best receiver, and somehow managed to spend very much of his time retailing to her that ineffable nonsense which is so interesting to the participants, and such idiotic bosh to outsiders.
"I looked upon all this with considerable amusement, not, perhaps, unmixed with a spice of envy. They took so much pleasure in conversing with each other that I felt called upon to interfere. But how?
"One day I fell into a brown study—determined to do something. The result of my cogitations was that I rummaged in my 'local' closet and produced an old antiquated Morse key which I had brought to H— with me, thinking, perhaps, it might be of use. This I proceeded to fix up in a corner under my table, connecting it to the main line precisely as my other key was connected. My table stood against the wall, directly under a window, and it was so dark underneath that there was absolutely no danger of discovery. Then, at odd times, when Mason was not around, I practiced sending with my foot. I found the process of writing in that manner not half so difficult as one would suppose. I had bent the circuit closer so that I could move it easily, and the rest was merely a matter of practice. I persevered until I grew quite proficient in this novel method of transmission. My foot-writing, so to speak, sounded remarkably like Miss L—'s style!
"It was not more than a day or two after I had decided that my foot was sufficiently versed in the new art to commence business, that an opportunity presented itself. It was after supper. The last train but one had passed. There were in those days very few passengers by the milk train, and H— was not a milk station, so Mason did not wait for it. He slammed his ticket window down, shut up his safe, and then came to my desk, leaned over, saw that the wire was quiet, opened the key, and commenced calling 'Ax, Ax, Ax—M.' Her private call. Now was my chance!
"'I, I, Ax,' answered my pedal extremity.
"'G. E. Isn't it a beautiful evening ?—M.'
"'Good eve. Yes, delightful. I am going to take a walk after I have closed up the office.—Ax,' I answered.
"'What are you doing this evening?—M.'
"'I have just finished my book, and have nothing to do until I close.—Ax.'
"It must be remembered that my mishievous foot took the part of ' Ax ' in this conversation.
"'Good.' (Draws up a chair.) ' Then we will have a little chat. "What have you been reading today?—M.'
"'The Moonstone. Do you know, I believe I have the gift of second sight ! I fancy I see you. Yes, I can see you ! You are leaning upon a table; now you have arisen. You have on a blue suit, with a black necktie, and gold watch chain. You had a straw hat on your head, but have just taken it off.'
"At these details, which were, of course, exactly correct, Mason's face assumed a look of extreme astonishment, mouth and eyes wide open, resembling nothing so much as an exaggerated exclamation point.
"'Now you have taken out your handkerchief and wiped your forehead. Your personal appearance -would be much improved by closing your mouth.'
"Mason shut it with a snap, then tried to say something and failed.
"'Yes, that is better. If you only would not stare so —'
"Mason siezed his hat and dashed out of the office as if the evil one were after him, not even bidding me good night.
"I laid back in my chair and laughed until I was weak. My attention was attracted to the sounder by hearing 'R' (the largest city on the line, thirty miles above H—), calling furiously. I answered and was rewarded by—
"'I wish to Heaven you would stop that nonsense and attend to business. Ahr, 21.— R.
'To J. R. C.—, PRES. H— Bank:
'The bullion has arrived. Do you wish it sent by milk train to-night ? I shall not send it unless I receive direct orders at once. Wm. K—,
'25 paid, 95. Cashier R— Bank.'
"I copied the message, inclosed it in an envelope, directed it, and called the freight-house porter who was in the outer room.
"'Be sure and get an answer, William,' I said.
"'Faith, I will,' he replied.
"I followed him to the door. The moon had gone down, and it had grown very dark. The station was about half a mile from the village, and I could just see the lights of the nearest house nearly that distance away. It was not built up then as it is now. The situation was certainly a very lone some one, but I did not feel at all afraid though now alone in the station.
"In about half an hour William returned.
"'Rather a lonely walk, William,' I said.
"'Yis, sur,' he answered. ' I came back across the fields and so shortened it.'
"Which, in all human probability, saved his life!
"I tore the envelope containing the answer open and read it.
"'You can go home now, William,' I said. The message read :
'To Wm. K—, CASHIER R— Bank:
'No; do not send the bullion to-night. I will give you further orders to-morrow as to its disposition. J. R. C—, Pres.'
"I had checked the message, and, standing by the table, had stretched out my hand to the key to call 'R,' when an arm was roughly thrown around me, pinning my hands to my sides, and I felt the pressure of cold steel on my temple.
"'Move, shout, or speak but a single word and I will blow your brains out,' said a harsh, determined voice in a low tone.
"I am as brave, perhaps, as most men, yet I confess I was thoroughly frightened—scared almost to death.
"I could hear tho muffled tramp of men in the room. One of them blew out my kerozene lamp, and turned a dark lantern so that it shone in my eyes and almost blinded me. Another man, low in statue, but short and thick set, with a long beard, and a mask over the upper part of his face, placed himself directly in front of me and produced a pair of handcuffs which he secured upon my wrists. My arms were then released by the man who had held them. He with the beard, who seemed to be the leader of the gang, then, by the light of the lantern, hunted over the table until he found the message, which he read and carefully placed in his breast pocket.
"'You are sure this message has not been sent?' he said, addressing another of the gang.
"'I know it has not,' was the answer. ' He was just getting ready to send it when we entered.'
"'Very good. Now,' he said, turning to me, 'I want you to understand that we are going to secure the treasure which was to have been sent down from R— to-night, and you will help us. If you have any objections this little persuader will silence them.' As he spoke he tapped the butt of a revolver which projected from his pocket.
"He took up a pencil and proceeded to write a message on a soft sheet. While he was thus employed I took occasion to glance around. There were eight men in the room, all of whom wore masks similar to that worn by their leader. I could just make out their forms in the dim light. A hand dropped upon my shoulder showed me that even the turning of my head had been observed.
"'There,' the leader said, 'you will send that in stead of the other message.'
"He held the sheet up before me. It read :
'To W,. K—, Cash1er R— Bank:
'Yes, send the bullion by the milk train to-night without fail. My cashier with a guard will be at the station to receive it. J. R. C—, Pres.'
"I looked down at my manacled wrists. The irons were heavy, and the chain connecting the two rings not more than three inches long.
"'I can't send it with these on,' I muttered.
"'You must!' said the chief, grimly.
"I meekly resolved to try. Taking up a pencil I managed to count the words and scrawl the check on the message with some difficulty. I was going to remark, from force of habit, that it should be written on a message blank under the conditions, but bethought myself in time.
"'Stop—what is that ? ' said the chief, pointing to the check.
"'The number of words and the amount paid,' I answered.
"'Is this necessary? he asked of the man to whom he had spoken before.
"'Yes, sir. It is all right. They call it the check, and put it on every message.'
"'Very well then, go ahead. This man is an operator; he will watch you closely, and at the first sign of treachery I will put a bullet through your head. Smith, stand out of range, or you may get a taste of it, too.'
"I sat down at the table—he pushing the chair closer. Opening the key I commenced calling 4 R.' I again felt the cold barrel o{ the revolver on my forehead, and it made me so nervous that I could hardly manipulate the key. 'R' answered.
"'That is good,' said the man addressed as Smith, who was the operator.
"'Send slow. I can't read fast writing,' he added. I proceeded very slowly, and Smith pronounced each word as I made it. The leader glanced alter nately at Smith and myself uneasily. It was evident that this was the crisis of their bold conspiracy. 'R' broke me in the middle of the message, wanting to know why the deuce I sent so slowly. I closed the key and took my hand away nervously.
"'What did he say,' demanded the leader.
"'He wanted to know why I did not send faster,' I said.
"'Tell him you have a sore finger,' said Smith. I spelt this lie out slowly, Smith reading it aloud, then went on and finished the message. 'R' gave a sharp and distinct 'O K,' which the renegade operator read aloud. The leader gave a sigh of relief, which I promptly echoed as he removed the pistol barrel from my head. He then unlocked one of the handcuffs, removed it, placed my hands behind my back and reclasped the ring around my wrist, thus rendering me perfectly helpless.
"There was nothing to be done now except to wait. The men disposed themselves on the chairs around the room, the leader still guarding me, revolver in hand.
"As I thought over the events of the last half hour I was filled with rage at the dastardly deed I had been compelled to commit. This money, which would now fall into the hands of these miscreants, was the property of honest farmers, widows, and orphans. And I had assisted to rob them! Better far to have sacrificed my life, if unharmed, how could I ever hold up my head again? Oh, that I had refused to be their tool! Was there no way to undo what I had done?
"Stop! The key under the table! Why had I not thought of it before? I opened it with my foot and made a few dots.
"'What is that?' said the leader.
"'Only some one practicing,' I answered, readily. He looked at Smith, who nodded.
"I called 'R' rapidly.
"'What did he say then?'
"'Pacticing the letter ' C,' sir,' I answered, glibly. 'Do you wish me to read aloud all that passes over the wire?'
"'No, it is not necessary,' said the chief.
"'I can read most of it,' said Smith, giving me a penetrative glance.
"I had my own reasons for doubting this statement. 'R' answered. I said, writing as rapidly as I could under the circumstances;
"'Has that message been delivered yet?'
"'Yes—long ago.'
"'Then go after it and stop it. That bullion must not be sent to-night.'
"His key opened and remained so for nearly five minutes; then it closed, and he said:
"'All right—the bullion will not go. What is the matter?'
"'The matter is that this office is full of armed highwaymen. I was forced to send that message with a loaded revolver at my forehead.'
"'Good Heavens! Wait a minute.'
"I turned and met the eye of the robber chief. I could not help smiling sarcastically.
"He was on his feet in an instant.
"'By G—d,' he said, 'if you have played us any trick, young fellow, you will pay for it with your life.'
"'He has not said a word,' remarked Smith.
"'It is well for him,' said the leader. ' It that bullion arrives all right you will be released uninjured. If it fails to come, or if there is a sign of treachery, your corpse will be found on the floor to-morrow morning with your brains spattered on that wall.' I shudered at this picture, which was beginning to loom up ai a black reality before me.
"'The chief of police is here,' ticked out the sounder, 'and wants to know how you are situated.'
"'My hands are handcuffed behind me, and a man sits at my side with a loaded and cocked revolver,' I answered.
"'Thunder! Then how can you send?'
"'I am sending with my foot on a concealed key under the table, which was rigged up to play a joke on Mason.'
"'What can be done to save you?'
"'Nothing; but capture these robbers if possible. When does the train leave?'
"'In ten minutes.'
"'Then hold it. There are eight heavily armed burglars here. Better have twenty-five or thirty well armed men on the train. Let it stop just above, on the curve, and have them walk down and surround the station.'
"'R's' key opened a moment, then he said: 'It will be done. What will they do to you?'
"'I am doomed—will probably be shot the very first thing. But some one will swing for it.'
"'Good God!' said 'R.' 'Is there no help?'
"'No—none. I would like to have you bid Mr. (the Superintendent) good-by for me. Tell him I had resolved to live a better life. And tell Mason in the morning of the trick I played on him.'
"'I will—I will. Is there nothing else?'
"'No. I had better stop now or I may arouse
suspicion. Good-bye.'
"'What is all this about?' demanded the leader of the highwaymen.
"'A couple of students practicing,' I said wearily.
"A deep silence followed, broken at last by the sounder ticking out: ' The train has just left with twenty-eight policemen and citizens aboard.'
"'O K,' I answered.
"It would make the run in forty or forty-five minutes.
"A distant church bell chimed out eleven o'clock. Where would I be at twelve ?
"The time wore heavily away. I reviewed my past life. So far as I knew I had never harmed any one. Surely the manner of my death would atone for some at least of my sins. Whatever was before me I was prepared for.
"I had not a relative living. No one, excepting, perhaps, Mason, would mourn me. Well perhaps it was best so.
"'The train is due in ten minutes,' said Smith.
"Just at that moment I caught a sound which escaped the less practiced ears of my companions. The train had arrived and stopped at the curve!
"My blood coursed like wild-fire through my veins ; my heart thumped against my side as though it would force its way out. Every nerve was alive with anticipation.
"It came at last. Both doors of the station were burst in with a tremendous crash—a wild rush was made for the inside office—a loud voice exclaimed:
"'Surrender, in the name of the law!'
"'Betrayed ! ' shouted the leader. He placed the barrel of the revolver to my ear—the hammer fell with a dull thud. It had missed fire! With a curse he raised it in the air and brought it down upon my head—a bright flash passed before my eyes, the room sank away from me, and all was oblivion.
* * * * * * * *
'"I think he looks a little better, Dr. Thorne,' said a sweet voice. I opened my eyes.
"'Where am I?' I said. My voice was feeble and weak.
"'You mnst not talk. You are in the hands of friends, and all is well.'
"I soon found that I was in the house of the president of the bank, and that the young lady was his daughter, Miss Marion C—.
"Nursed by such hands my recovery was rapid. When able to get around I was provided with a clerkship in the bank, whence I have risen to my present position.
"The eight highwaymen were all captured, tried, and sentenced to various terms in the State prison. The ringleader received a life sentence, and is there still. We never found out how they obtained intelligence of the proposed shipment of the bullion.
"I do not consider that I did anything extraordinary, and I think almost any other operator would have done the same.
"Miss C— ? Oh, she is Mrs. Erhardt now.
"Well, there comes the train, and I must bid you good-night."
I clasped his hand with a firm grip. He was the first HERO I had ever met.
"That was a noble deed of Erhardt's," I observed to Mason, now a railroad superintendent, as I met him the next morning.
"Yes; did you get him to tell you about it? He does not usually like to speak of it. I consider him the bravest man I ever heard of."
Which were my own sentiments exactly.
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