#!/bin/bash

admin="foo@bar.com"
of=messages-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).tgz

cd /var/log/

tar -czvf $of messages

if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
  mail -s "Backup of /var/log/messages was successful!" $admin
  exit 0
else
  mail -s "Backup of /var/log/messages has failed!" $admin
  exit 1
fi

cp $of /home/user/
rm -rf $of

[root@nidesant2 Scripts]# ./backup.sh
messages
^C
(Interrupt -- one more to kill letter)