Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, September 15, 1892, Page 10

10 TH E OMAHA DAILY BEE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1892 1 WELVE ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ——————————————— e e . . $ A e————————————————— 18 the story of how he telegraphed one on oc- casion withont instruments, In July, 1802, he became _serisusiy sick as the result of exposures. In October, 1563 o was made superintendent of the Depart- ment of Tennessee with the rank of captain and nssistant quariermaster. Later his jurisdiction was extended to New Orieans and alone the gulf, At thu close of the war he assisied 1n repairing damages to southern lines, He and his sovecessor in the Dep. partment of the Guif alone thus restored 3,400 miles of southern telegraphs. Capt Fuller is safd to have constructed as many miles of telegraph duriug tho war as any man engaced in the work, and his ses hias received the most flittering encomiums. MAKING HISTORY, Tnvaluable Service of the Corps in Saving OMeinl Records, No war in history left such an abundance of authentic record of 1te operations as the Amerizan rebeliion, and this was largely the work of the military telegraph corps. Karly i the conflict operators and managers re ceived an order that “the origioal copy of every telogram sent by anv military of other government officor must be retained and carefully filad undat the end of the month be mailed to the War department at Wash- 1ngton.” Cieneral Grant objected to giving originals of his dispatches, and the rule waus not en- forced ngainst departwent commanders, "The operaiors retainod copies, however, and and it is by virtue of that ovder that the War department has been able 1o publish volume after volume of ofticial telegrams covering every important movement in the war with a fuilness never before possibic UNDER DIFFICULTIES, Example of the Adaptability of the Eraph to Clreumstanoes W. H. Wilson was one of the first op- erators in tho telegraohic service of the army, laving been detailed frowm #o Ohio regiment for that purpose. He was assigned to var vus posts in Virginia, and was ut Bermuda Hundred for some time, Luter ho wus ut- tuched to General Hancock’s headquarters. While fn this position he was oruercd one evening to open an office at a pontoon bridge across the James river, aud he established himself at s o'clock at night. His offico was an eaipty cracker box stand- inw on end. His instrument and paper wero inside, and to use either he bhad to lie flat on the ground and reach faside the box to do his work. His ground wire was inseried in a hole made with his pocket kuife. In this manner Grant, who had directed the opening of tho office, was advised for hours of thy movements of the army 1 that vicinity This is but a mild sample of the difficultias der which the operators labored, to suv nothineg about the dungar. Wilson was with Cenoral Wrizht of the Sixth corps when the nows of Lincoln’s nssussination was flas over the wire, BULL RUN. Daring Operntors Guther the Fiest Authen- tie Rteport Sent to Washington, Operators J. H. Nichouls and Ed Conway hed a magnificent view of the second buttie of Bull Run for a couple of hours and sent the first connectod report received in Wasn- Iugton for a day or tvo, receiving a well d served compliment from the secrotarcy of war. After watching the fizht long enongh to eet a tolerably clear idea of the situation they rode back to Pairfax station, where 5. Rose- water was working the wire with the War department. Ao account of the battle and the disposition of the union troops as seen by Nicholls and Conwav was at once tele- graphed to Washington, greatly relieving the anxlety of the government ofticials. Tho during operators ugain started for the battie- tield to gather more infornation. Darkness overtook them, and they wan- dered about all night, avoiding camp fires and pickets a8 best they could, but having frequent collisions with trees and stumps, Early in the morning they neared Fairfax courthouse and were errested by a German picket, but were released a federal officer 'who was satisfled r character. They gathered such in fosmation as they could and started again for Kosewater's oftice at Fairfux station. They hud barely reachea that point in the evening and wired their report when the confederate wWere seen gotting uncomforuubly near. Then the depot was fired and the operators, who hud been ordered to remain as long as possible, pulled out on the lust tran. The purty iucluded Nicholls, Conway, Rosewater und Flagg, the latter from Burkes station An urmy teiegranber in_rolating the circun stance says: *Rosewater had left his bag wage 10 the watchful caro of the enemv nbout Manassas. That enemy, clad in car- petings, quiltings, blankev cloth, anythin, overything, well knew the utidty of suc slothing n% Rosewater was uccustomea adorn his person with,”" B OF CIVIL SECOND to AVANT-COURI ZATION, An Omaha Boy ut the Front in Crossin Continent. the Mr. Frank Leh- mer, secretary and treasurer of the Morse Dry Goods company of Omaha, was living in Omat in 1860, and in tho fall of that year eutered the oftice of the Missourt & Western T ol e- graph company ns n mosseager boy. This compuny had a line from St. Louis to Omaba and emvloyed one aperator at this end, Business was uot very brisk and early iu the winter the mossenger boy was let out ou tho plea that 1vwas uecessary to economize, ‘Tho operator then delivered the wessages himself. Lo the summor of 1561 the Creighton line reached bort Kearney by “an overland route along the Platte river, and in the following winter young Lehmer went out as assistant nperator. That was the jumping-off place. 'rom Kearney westward telegrams were sout by the famous pony express to Marys ville, Cal. A distances of ten miles across the plains were stations with rolays of borses. A rider started out from Kearney at u pace of ten miles an hour, At the next station he threw bis saddlebigs over a fresh horse und started out on anotuer ten milo race against time. This he kept up for ten hours, Curing which he used ten horses ana covered 100 miles. 1t now seoms almost incredible that this could have been done day after day, but so weil hud the speed and endurance of man and beast been teste m\.:z the pony express had a regular time tabie. Whon the war broke out all tho ofticers at Fort Kearaey with butone exception sym- pathized with the south aud throatened Lo decamp with the muuitions and other gov- sroment proporty, which happeged to boe of extraordivary value at that time. There were rumors of the approach of a body of Toxan rangers, aud the settlers about tha tort flocked 1o 1t for protection armed wiih auch guns us they coula pick up and organ. Jzed & volunteer comy Among thoso who enrolled themselves in this unyromptu nome guard was the bovish assistaut vpera- tor, who shouldered & musket to fight tho expeeted invaders. One any Judge Walsh, a prominent man in the little seltioment of Kearnoy City, two miles West of tho fort, came 16 bost busto with the report that thedohnnics were sur:iy poming. Some distance bebind the judge rose & cloud of dust, evidently mado by u mounted party of considerable size. It was assumed, of coursc, that the mpurouching parly was a troop of rebel cuvales, and the disloyal officers spikea the euny with rat wil fites, The loyal officer, bavked by tho soldfers and tho settlers, took command and determined that the supposed confed- erates sbould not op allowed in tho fort without a fight. Oue of the offivers who had turned trator was compelied at the polot of w revolver to vo outside, meet the troop and wien it off. He did as oraerea und renorted 100 strangers o bave been a body of Todian It was not known where they had como from or why, and there &ro peovle wno still believe the strangers were rebels, who loft Quietly for fear of putting the disloyal oficers’ necks iu jeopsrdy. At auy rate, tho 00ion people MAAS 1L50 WATM for Lhe traitors that they deserted the fort thut night and Hod to the south, tuking a namber of awbu- Isuces und & quantity of other property. As the telograph lue was exicnded ‘west- | ward across the Groat American desert, tho Kearnay operators wers sent out to take the stations at the front, Young Lehner thus beoame an avant-conrier of civiifzation, aid he went as far west as Horseshoe creck, forty seven miles bevona Laramie. In the spring of 1862, at the age of 16, ho went to St. Louls and enlisted in the military corps under Col onel R. C. Clowry., He served in Missouri for two vears, veing shirted about atfre quent intervals as necded, The plucky Ind was in a cou with guerrillas and d daugerous mission to times he was sent out to rey many unother telegrapher b taking bis life in bis bavds. by sneaking bushwhackers just in {ront of bim and just behind him, nd ono time he puiled into a station to find nine dead seetion men Iving on a hand car. They were pieked off by gaerrillns, and had just boen brought 1n by A squad of federals, Many little squads f union soldiers were located in dirt forts uloug tho lir to guard them from raiders, and these northeraers, know- | ing the woods alo tho track to be infested with rebels, often urged Lehmoer to come into their defenses, but ho had & duty to per- form and trudeed on. His heart was in lis mou'h, but there was only ono thing for him to do and he gid it as bravely as many an- other Americap boy did his daty, o was never molested, and Le accounts for it on the theory that the bushwhackers were ashamed to fire on & mere bov Anxious relatives finally fer to Atchisun, and shortly Julv, 1864, he came to Omaha as operator for the Pacific Telegraph company, After serv ing two years in thit capacity ho was made manager of the office, which position lo r tained until | whoa he avandoned the business. infested | any a Some. | iriines,and like | know he was Men were shot 1‘ | cured bis trans afterwards, in f the Disteict Teld With Omahin Remini L. M. Rheam of O raha, rager f the Americon D strict telegranh, 0 his U caveer with the Chicago, raplic | them t 1o wirad two | enabling belore it of rabol raiders approsching. unfon trains down the eatirond cross n bridge to safety burned Oun his way through the woods he met a uable wagon train and found the negra drivers about to de<ert it for the woc Putting his ha wto his brewst po tough 1o draw a revolver, he comvelled o darkies to hitch up thewr back 1o Fairfax Courthouse, v stores, Flugg was by this long Jin aticmpiing his own was too late. Ho was can dors and sent to Libby was tous saving et Jelayed seapo That he by the THE FIRST, Nuclens from \Wh h Corps Grew Richard O'Brien was a telegraphor in the employ of the Pennsylvania whon the war broke out and was one or the ficst four ope- rators ealled into tho seevice of the govern- ment by the War department, that quoartet being the germ from which the military tele- sraph corps grew Ho reported o Washington April , 1861, and was stationed at_ the depot of the Balti- more & Ohio rail, rond, which was alao' for a time L rmy headquirters He was soon given of the ofMce ress Mouroe, anced post proat import- and was an eve witoess of tho ¥ fight between the Monitor and 1ne Merrimac, Subscauently e became ¢ oparator for General Buatier and put up a number of field lines in use ubout Bermuda f ONE O Inthe the Telegraph tiudred, for which service bo was complimented oy his superiors ot Washiagton, ~ Whon Schofiald went 1o Butler's aid in the operatious aocut Wilmington, N. C., O'Brien sccompanied him 10 take churge of the telegraphs i that new fieid. While Johnston was nozotiating with Sher- man for terms of surrender the telenraph 1ino was being pushed forward, aud by the NBurlington § Quiney raiirond at Chariton, la., in 1867, Ho picked up his first knowl- edgo of the busi- ness whilo acting ‘as @ railroad clovk. In 1870 hie wont 1o Council Blufls to take the Associated Press report, and th yoars later he wus made manager of the'office. In 1874 b2 came to Omana, and after a few months iu J. J. Dickey's offica be was ap pointed manager for the Atlante & Pi- cific. V/ith the excontion of a fow months in Denver in 1876, bo remaned hero until the company was absoroed by the Western Union in 1877, After a year in _the hotel business he brcime manueer of tho Ame can Union office. He trans red his ser- vices 10 the Western Union in 1851, romain- iugits manager unui 1885, when' bhe em- barked_in tho American District Tele In 1870, according to Mr. Rheem’s e tion, thera wera fifteen operators in Or and they were paid §100 & month and 40 cents an hour for extra time, Everything went by singlo wire, there beiny uo duplex or quad- ruplex. There were only three wireg to Chi azo, and the Western Union fad threo west on the Creighton lin Oneof the peculiar phenomens of that Lime was an clectrieal storm accompanied by afine dry snow, which came without wvorn- ingand rendered the wires uscless for the time being. ‘I'hero was superabundance of ciectricity, for the switeh boards were afire, but thero was no evidence of lighining and the electricians were puzzied. Tu 1853 this disturbance lasted four days, 1t came cach season u few days later than in the precediug year until it ran into the springtime and dis- appeared. It has since een declurod that the phenomenon was simply tha manifesta- tion of a urora borealis. Duting one of these seasons Chief Onerator Curry telegraphed (o Chicago without using a battery. RAPHERS AS PRISO ristic Examples of the Risks of ture They Freely Too Frank Drammond was m the Winchester oftice when Jacksoon undertook to drive the federals out of the place aud bresk thewr communication with Harper's ferry. He was nearly exhausted from a rush of work for several days and nights, but re mained at bis key an hour after the union retreat had begun. Hesaw that his horse was ready to mount, and sent bis orderlies to join their regiments. X tke crack of the ‘ musketry were coming 1w at the e window. His dis- 4w BOYE vatches were on his person. His hand was on his instruwment resdy 1o tear it from its bold. A moment more and he would be off. That instast an orderiv rushed in with a telecram for Harper's Ferry about reinforcements. With one haud Drummond burned his dispatehes, and with the other called for Harper's Fercy The operator at that point happened to be talking with Washington, and of course was blissfully unconscious of 'that ominous yell at Wincnester, Drummond started out to tno door ready for~a dash. Some soldier had stolen it. He rushed bick and called SHL 107 several times without iesponse. Ho snatched up his instrument and staried after the fleeing army with the dohuny Rebs firing down the street in hot pursuit. He dashed down a side streetonly to run into atroov of confederate cavalry, and bavely had time to smash his instrument on the stoue pavement before he was captured. Ho was sont to Labby with Kerner and after- wards varoled. M. H. herner was stationed at Martins- burg, W. Va., wheo the war broke out. He was urged 1o join a rebel compaay orgunized at that voint, but, being, a unionist, rofused and was made a prisouor. Through the in terceselon of Belio Boyd, afterwards a noted coufederate spy, and another pretty young woman, he was released ou condition that be should return to his office and telegraph for the confederates, The length of such ser- vice was not stipu'ated, and Le soon escapod 1o the federal army across the Potomac Tho rovels offerea $1.000 reward for his capture, but he subseqaently returned to the oftice at Summerville, A party of confederate cavalry made a dusb jnto Summervilie and cuptured the federal force, including the operator. The Wire was cut on both sides of the office and a soldier wus stationed at the door to keep Kerner a prisoner. During the excitement, nowever, Kerner wrapped his instrument in u blanket and passed the guard with the statement that the Yankeos had kept bim u prisoner with Naucy Hart, o givl who haa kuised rebel guerrilla bands through the ountains at the risk of being not. The operator made a dash down the road, toping to attach his instrument 10 the severed wirs and sond the uews of the situation to the Union ofi- cers, but bis trick was discovered too soen, Four mounted men sturted after him with arbines and persuaded hit (6 retiurn Kerner was sent 1o Bello islaud and thon 10 Libby prison, and several months later he ana other operators were oxchauged ‘They sached Washiogton at uight and were re- fused lodgiug at the St. Jamos hotel because looked so shabby, Those men never eived a cout for the time thoy wer in the ids of the enemy becauso (hore was no law providing for such paymeat. Tune first claim of that kind which tne government paid was that of George M. Bush, who was captured in the west in tho fall of 503 About one hunared of the union vperators were Laken prisoners and sent to rebel pens. Most of them were paroled or exchanged, but some suffered frow hunger and diseuso and bave never recovered from he terrible hardships of their prison lifo. Noie of these has recoived o pension or beer, permitted to enter one of the homes provided by the nation for 1ts disabled solaiers ana sailors, who were no wore patriotie, no braver, uo grander in sachievement than the keepers of the mystic, omnipresent electric curreut. J. A, Flage was in charge of au office at Burke's, in Virglois; got uews of u party to get his horse up e AL i b time the surrender was made wires were ut the headquarters in Goldsboro, where the paroles wero being made out, and th suthorities at Washington had prompt votice of what was bemg douc Mr. O'Brien was again officially compli- mented for “his energy and persevarence in establishing prompt communication,” an honor not often shown ihe members of the telezraph corps. At the close of the war he was instructed to repair tho lines about Raleign, N. C., and put ihem in condition for the uses of peace ful pursuits, Ho was ono ot tho ten ope ators to whom tne secretary of war pre sented silver watches, which were accom- paoied by a gratoful letter from their chiof, Major Eckert. MEDDLESOME Their Unwarranted Interference Pro Resented by the Operators. Military operators sometimes suffered {rom the interference of medalesome avmy ofi- cers, but the humble telezraphers generally evened tho score. During the operations about Donelson, General Sherman was st Paduocsh and anx- ious about the loca tion of Nelson, who had started to rein- force Grant. There waus a telegraph of- fice at Smithland the river, but the colorel com. manding, imagin ing that there might be a rebel opera or on the line between the two WILLIAM L. IVES. vlaces, ordered his telegrapher nov to talk over the wire, and stationed a guard over him toenforco the order. It was a stupid perform- ance, because the young man at the key, winle pretending to send a essage, talked to Operator Parker at Paducan and told him the situation. Parker prepared an order for the Smith- land man’s release and A ‘ked n ravking ofi- cer 10 sign it. e was about to do so when Sherman, who happened to hear 1t read, di- reeted him not to in erfero. Shortly after. t 1o the oftice at Paducah arn if Neison hud passed Smithland on his way up the river, when the’ followine ation over the wire passed between the twe operators : Parker to Simithland—Has the steamer Tarascon passed yetd Swmitnland—I am under suswer vou. Parker -General Sherman wants to know. Smithland—I don’t care if 1t's Halleck him self. 1'm under arrost and can’t tulk about such thing: Parker— on arrest and can’t herman asks, Do you know ! Smithland—Of course I kuow, Parker—Sherman wants to Know oral Nelson bus passed up. Smitbland —Tell Snerman to send a mes- sage then. Parker—Do you know ! Smitbland—Certainly 1 do. Parker —How far is' the colonel’s uarters f Smitbland—A mile and a h Sherman 1o Parker— W hat is that operator? Parker—He soems to be zond at obeying orders. It was a foolish thing for the colonel Lo put soldiers over an operator to keep him Irom tulking by telegraph. berman—Well, that’s so. of that. General Sherman then wrote an order re- leasing the Smithland operator, and was iu- formed that Nelson had safely passed up tho river to Grant's uid Duucan T, Bacon entered Memphis with the federal troops, and among bis first duties was the forwarding to Halleck at Coriuth of messages brought 1 by courters. General Hovey. who was+in command at Memphis, claimed the right to read these messages, ouc Bacon refused to give them up. He was ordered under arrest, but in his absence from the office the orderly took his assistant. Bacon at ouce laid the matter before Halleck by wire and he promptly ordered Hovey: teloaso the operator atonce. He did per- fectly right in disobering your oraers.” ‘I'bese are obaracteristic examples of & number of cases in which militury officers tried to exercise unwarranted authority over the telegraphers. It was to prevent this kind of interference that Secretary of War Stauton refused 10 organize the corps on military basis, an act that wrought the he- roic telegraphers u great wrong. it Gen- heaa- ndof a fellow 1 didn’t think Ingenions ftuse of the Telegraphers to Got One of the Good Things of Life, The military telegraphers were only human after all, ana bad sows of the desires for tho good things of life the same as other Waile in front of Corinth Hallock's p marshal issued un order closing the bars on the Tennesseo river steamers and forbinding the landing of iquor. The operators wero puzzled bow Lo overcome this dificulty, but finally ove of them mado & social call on the provost und incidentally droppad o remark { about the fiold lines working sadly. Tbo marshal naturally askd the re son, and vas told that it was for waot of acid, The marshul rogrocted that he bad no acid, aud the elegraphier, in 4 casual way, said if ho bad u barrel of alcohol it coula bo made to auswer us & substitute until supplies arrived. | The marshul wus sorry he had no alcohol, but, huving the good of the service at heart, he added that he had several barrels of con- | tiscated whisky, aud be would dona‘e one of | thew, if it could be usea, in replonishing the batteries. I'he operator confessed that whisky would not do as well as aleohol, but ho thought it could be mude Lo answer until supplies arrived, The barrel Was telegraph ofice, and @ darkey sank it in the earth in the tent, A smail elder stick with the pith removed pro- truded from the barrel an inch above ground. The ‘“battery matwerial” proved very sutisfuctory. Iu the afternoon Halleck dropped in while 006 of the operators was lying on the ground testing tho battery. The general’s curiosity was excited by the man’s pecullsr position, and be asked ‘questions until he learoed the secret, He laughed beartily at the joke and | said be would bave 1o give the marshal a les- son lu telegrupby. The story soon leaked men. VoSt sent to the out, and for monthy labeldd *battery ha marshal's docanter, material,’ was tha solace of friends who cajied to condole with him Contraband liquors wers quite frequently pussed throuh tha flines as “‘acia” needod for the batteries, anil many Amusing adven tures did this “secrel service” have AD AND DYING, AMID D1 Trying Cire stances Under W tors Often Had to Work, L. D, Parker joined the corps in October, 1861, and was aSsfgned to Paducab, Ky. Whau thobattle of Pivsbure Landing be- came immioent holjofned General Grant by boat aod was 4 to remain on the Tho nearest office was at Sa nine miles distant, and after the battle, Parker and Wayne M. Pavsons opened un oftice in the front window of a deep store filied with wounded and dying soldiors, Messazes concerning the dead, the living and the wounded, telling of victory and defeat, came pouring 'into that office by the hun- dre¢ for transmission north, and the clickin of tho telegraph Kkoys was drowned by the groans ot the injured wen. All mghtlong Parker and Parsons, aided somewhat by George A. Purdy, man: wpulated those little picket instruments, sending north tidings of jov to some and of sorrow 1o others, aud this wearisome duty continned for several days. A fow days later the line was extended to the river at P ttsburg Landing and a cable laid across the stream. Unfortuuately the cable was not guite long enough to rencu the opposite snore, and one end was carried to o failen tree that nrojected out lnto the stream. Here Parker opened an office, sitting astride a log, one foot in the warcr, the other leg bewg too short to reach 1t. His instrument was placed on the trunk and his _copy paper and clip were bung on a limb, With one hand fighting torturing osquitoes, the other for hours reccived and sent messages of the ut- most importance. sreamer, vannah, there, BELLIGERANT OPERATORS, ting Angry Over th Wires, Sought Satistaction in Person. Nothing was so trving as the position of the operator who had imporcant dispatches to send, and who ¢ould easily hear the oftice be wanted, but could not make himself un- derstood because (as a rule) the operator at the distant office did not adjust his instru- ment so delicately as to catch the faintest change in the electric charge of the lines. When, however, he did respond, the fault W apparent, and 1t not 1nfrequently hap- pened that Daate's inferno was telezraphi- cally portrayea in language fraught with blisters and somebody consigued where time was not the essenceof the contract. It was aftor an_occasion of this kina that Patrick Mullarkey, then working ut Memphis, took a trip all the way to Louisville to see the oper- ator who spoke ovgr the wire inelegantly but forcefully of him and s, In another case /“Hanw’ Cowan, while working at Bealeton, Va., was convinced that A, B. Bhiss, operator at Ranpahaunock station, deserved a whipping for teiegraphic inuenaoces which reflectec on Cow- an’'s past ana present and as- sumed+to foreshadow ms future, “Hauk" pronourced it a casus belli and started for Rappanannock, but betore he arrived his ire had cooled. Bliss reigned supreme in u box car and announced himself in readiuess for the cnemy, but Cowan daclared a truce, and, nov to lose bis journoy entirely, suggested a game of euchre. When Bliss charged him with cheating u new casus was established, and Cowan’s optics turned color; but, bent on rewarding metit, he baa his photograph taken ana presented a copy to Bliss witn suitavle resolutions. Some WORKING UNDER FIRE, Field Wires Successtully Erceted and Op- erated Huring Batties. During the war about 1,000 miles of field wires were crected. They were of untold valua to Grant in the Wilderness, to Sher- man in Georgia, to | Thomas in Tennessee, to Canby at Mobile and in most all of the cam- paigns in the latter balf of the war. In one campaign, during Grant's ad vance upon Peters- burg, 150 miles of field" wire were used, and it was oflicially orted that they were worked many times © the face of the iemy, exposed tu five, without shelter aay or mght.” Not culy were Generals 3 nt and Meado and mapy brigade commanders thus con- nected, bt communication Was even main- tained while the avmy was actually on the move. Some forcign military doubted the assertion ihat American tors worked while under fire, stances ure 0o well authenticated. tho testimony of General Wurren GranUs telegraphers : *1often talk of those who were with mo of the operator, who, in the first of our attacks on Potersbe:g, brought his wire to the front urder musket range of the enemy aud over- ated it behind @ tree that proved to be hol- low and which any one of the canuon shot, which were at close range flving fast, would huve gone clear through with Dittle loss of force; and again, of tho one on tho Weldon railroad on' the Sunday morning wo were shellea out of it, both from the north and waost, and who worked his recorder in the south east angle and oatside under the mus- ketry fire that, by 1ts sound so near, and the pattering of the balls around, confused the racoras of his soupder, and many others on many other occasfony.” When Cieneral Spmner retreated from Seven Pines toi Harrison's Lavding he wanted 1o tatk to MeCleliana, but Operator 4. H. Nicholls objected to grounding the main line wiro, which would hava cut off MoCiol lund from ansther distant command, Nichols hud only three fect of wire with bim, out “with the assistance of a goneral he piled up hard-tack boxes to the too of a telegraph vole, and thers opencd an office without broaking the circbit. This was kept open several hours alter dark, and to so0 to write Nichols bad to use a lautern. The light made an excollent Laxget for tho encmy, Who oponed up on it with bis cuns. The boxes woro peppered, but the ofice was not _closod until ordered by Sumner. At the battle of Mechaniesville Nicno'ls went to division headquarters and worked ac instrument in the rear of the federal artillery, wiich was recelving the enemy’s fire, 16 was & most dangorous position,” and the operator was v 15 years old. authorities have opera- but such in- Here 1s about FOUND AN AGMY BY WIRE, 1o of the Rapldity of Telogr nder Groat Difioul In September, 1861, General Baoks began falliog back from Harper's Ferry, and no one at Washingtou kuew where be was, On Sunday, the 7th, J. R. Gilmore, the superin- tendent of telegraph in that department, was ordered to bulld u line to Bank's army ‘There was not & wile of wire or u spare iu- sulutor in the department, sud the disioyal people along the proposod royte refused to turnish timver except as forced lo. Sup- plies were ordered 1rom Philudelphia, Bulu: more and Now York. Monday morning Gil- more stariod out on the route on horseback and arrangoa for the secting of the poles. Lino buiidine began Tuesduy morning, sud ou Thursduy Banks was met thirty miles | H | | | | siblo to from Washington. (ilmore was a minor at the time, and co<i 1iring the eircumstances this was a notable achiovement The operators at tho front with the build- ers were Will'am J. Dealey and A, P Pritcn- ard. One rainy night after they were fairly asleep courlers cams from Banks and oraered them to open an oftice at the end of the line, Groping their way about through the rain and ! tho best they They covered 1t shivered through darkuess for a suitable play could find was a pig stye. with their blankets and the balance of the night. I'is feat of building s mors notable, be- cavse it occured early iu the war when the corps had the most vaguo organization. Later 10 Was 1o uncommon thing for the wire to go up as fastas the army moved on. Never during the war did the corps find it impos rect u wire ovorany route traversed by an army, and 1t often constructed lines of communication over routes impassable to largo commands, WITHOUY IN MENTS, & Messnges by the Length of the Shocks sent Through the Tongue. Tn January, 1862, W. G. Fuller, a suverin- tendent of telegraph, was ordered to build a line south from Lobaion, Ky, Some dis- tance oata rebel troop raided his camp and carried off everything but the clothing worn- oy tho party. Ful- ler was unable to open the Columbia office immediately on reaching that point, because he had noinstrument. Genoral J 1 Boyle, who was in command, wa ereatly provoked und threatened to shoot Fuller, but thatexpert, great- TRANSOM PHELDPS, ly to Boyle's astonishment, sent his im- portant messages by using \he wire ends as n key aud his tongue ns a sounder for re- ving. For the uninitiated it may be ox plained that Fuller held the ground end of the wire in one hand and the main line 1 the other. Iivery timo ho touched the two together he completed the eireuit, which was indicated on the istramentat Lebauon precisely the same as it the wprk had boen done with n key. It was compapacatively easy to send a message in this manner, but the dificulty was tolearn if it nad been recoived. lote- eraphic signals are combinatious of long and short clicks, which ars ordinarily read by sound. Fullor, having no instrumeat, cou ld only read the mossages by the eclec- tric shocks which pussed through his tongue. As he touched a wire to either side of s tongue that mem- ber, beiug moist, vermitted the _electric cur- rent to pass through it, wnd Fuller dis tinguished the loug and short clicks by the length of tho shocks Several months later H. W. Plum started to reintorce tho operators at Nashville, but was cornered at an out-of-the-way place with a small party of federals, He had run wwire from the main_line to the stockade in nticipation of getting an instrument, bat it aid not come in time. He sent a message by touching the end of the wire to a crowbar stuck in the carth fora ground conmection. He received the ackuowledgment by placing one hand on the var &nd putting the wire in his mouth, reading the message by the dura- tion of tho electric shocks which passed through nis bodv. This passed in front of the stockade in full view of the whole com- pany of federals. Instances of receiving telegramns in this manner ara rare, but these cases were oo well suthenticated to be doubted. Ren ECHOES OF THE WAR, Characteristic Servi In General Morgau’s campaign about Cum- beriana Gap the telegraph party was organ- ized into a corps of mimers and sappers, who aided materially 1 opening roads, removing obstructions and building bridges. For days they hved ex- clusively on corn grated on a tin plate, through which rougn-edged nail boles bad been made. Solomon Pal- mer eutercd the rvice in Decom- ber, 1561, and was assigned | to take charge of the con- struction of tele- grapus in tho de- partment of Hal- leck east of the SOLOMON PALMER, Mississippi. To his energy and fertility of resources was largely due the eficiency of the telezraph service 1n Tennessee and Mississippi, His ability as a ouilder and repairer under the most adverse circumstances and cven in the face of the enemy won tne admiration of the corps in the west. Down 1n Tennessce Kit Dougherty, hap- pening 1o have some big copper penntes and considerable leisure, amalgamated the coins in his battery, d thev readily passed among the illiterate natives as silver hall dollars in_ exchange for wutermeions and other vegetables. And Kit was only 16, The office at Manassas was at one time operated by ‘Thomas . Waterhouse and Charles W. Moore. ‘'he building was a one- room shanty. A box on which tho instru ment rested also One nall keg au swered for cnairs, und somo broken vieces of iron, held togother with ' tele- craph wire, was called o cooking stove. They slapt in a coflin for a bed, ana the ouly ooje tion they hud was in < tho fact that the sleoper had to get out 1u order to turn over. Working al- ternately, one bianket served both, They had to make a liely vetreat subse- TS, Q. WATERNOUSE quently and narrowly escaped capture. During the siege of Vicksburg the opsr- ators wers wora out by a long term of duty, and they finally got snatches of sloep by . ing down at the sido of their instruments aod making the couriers wake them when- ever the soundors began clicking. Probably 1ho youngest man in the service was John O'Brien, who was not 14 when made assistant opérator at Fortress Monroe. In IPev)uary, 1862, he had had three years experience and was rated an expert. Gon- oral Wool was greatly surprised to sco this stripling receiving by sound Edward P. Waitford, when a mere lad oc- cupied the responsible 'position 1 Nashville of cipherer and assistaut clerk ol the bead- 5 quarters of Colonel Van Duser, super intendent of tel eraph, where most of the'telegrams of Governor Johnson ana General Web ster were put into cipher. When Sherman started on his famous march from At lanta to the sea nine oporators were detailed to accompany him, EDWARD #, WitteFoun, und Whitford wus sent with funds to pay them ofl. lu the closiug days of the war Whitfora was sta- tloned at San Antonions cipherer, When MceClelland moved into D. 8, Lathrop hurried 1o tuo confedorate tolegraph office to test for a cireuit with Ricbmoud, buv the wires had been cut and loft Langlog 1o the poles. In atarting to re pair it Lathrop stepped on ouo of the " torpe does buried by the revels. A leg was torn off and he diod in great agony & fow hours afterwards. Incidents of the Telograph old Brietly Yorktown BACIN 1THE ARNY. wi taeTeial Flest Oficiad Ariny Frioter Wus & Telegrapher, Early m July, 1561, McClelland started south from Clurksburg, Va., and General itager made bis first attompt to follow an army with tho telegraph. He easily kept up Successtul at ¥ PAGES, with the troops until they reached Rich | drugs. mountain, a dis tance of over thirty miles, when the bat- tie of that name was fouaht, and the clectric spark sent to the north the news of its first victory, almost be- fore the fight was finished. Operator David tad barely opened an office at JOSEPI KNITTLY, the fortifieations oceuniea by the enemy the day before, when a Coufederate prisoner marching by ex- claimed in wondering astonishment to a com- panion: “My God, Jim, bere's the tele- kraph With McCielland was J. L. Cherry, who had worked nights 11 a railroad office At Cloveland, ana beguiled bis unoccupied hours with a little printing outfit. He had been recommended to McClolland because of his industry and knowledge of printing, and the general bad secured an outfit of press and type, He issued an address congratulat- | ing his army on the vietory at Rich moun- taiu, aod that orobably was the first order | ever printed in a portable printing oftice | regularly connectea with an army while on | a campaign, FEATS WITHOUT PARALLEL g the Glorious N Eall co's Sur When the federal army entered Richmond at 8 o'clock on the morning of April 8, 1565, General Wetzel propared a dispateh un- nouncing the fuct to the military governor at Norfolk. For four yvears the confederate city had been cat off from the north, and tho nearest oftice with a connection was tive miles out 1 a union camp. W. B. Wood, the oporator, was just atout Lo closo the ofice and move into the city, when he espled @ courier riding toward him ata furious gait. Suspecting an important mes- sage, bo waited for the horseman. Ho auickly catled Fortress Monroo, ana Opera- tors Willlam J, Dealy and C. A. Homan at that point put the War department ofiice at Washington in connection that it might re ceive the news atthe same time, * At the latter was little Willie 13, Kittles, a precocious boy but an expert operator, who had wireacy dons distingmished service, “Sharpen your wire for Richmond,” said Dealy. Then Wood called and Kittles answered. The boy took the message with tremuious excitement and then, upsetting | inkstand and instrument, rushed into Major ISokert’s room with the glorious news, War Sceretary Stauton was noufied at once, and, rushing into the oftice, he snatcued up | Kittles aud held him ut arm’s length out of the window to the view of the gathering crowd, which ud heard the news from so overator who could not contain him solf. Stauton was in hbis snirt sleeves and tears of Joy were coursing down his checks. iefore he retired hie suid to the operators: *Boys, | consider the telegraph my rigot arm, avd if ever 1 can do anything for you don’t hesitate to ask for it Unfortunately he never riguted the sno great wrong hoe did the telographers in his desire to promote the eficiency of Lbe ser- vice, At 4:30 . m. of April General Grant wrote a telegram to Stauntou annouuc- ing the surrenaer of Lee. Calling up two op- erators, . C. Laverly ana Baward Scher- merborn, he gave them Lhe dispaten with or- ders 10 ¢o in search of a wire. ‘I'hey found at Appomattox station a wire that had been put in order to that point aud made their offico in a box car loaded wich | bags of sand iutended for breastworks. After putting in a ground wire they succeeded in raising the operator at Petersburg, who con- nected them with the War department at Washington. So quickly haa the work been dono that Grant reccived congratulations from President Lincoln within an bour. Within two nours of the surrender the lLine had been oxtended to Grant’s beadquarters aud he was in_direct communication with Washington. By that time, toc, the news was knowu in all parts of the land. Tuese feats, like many others of the American tete- graph corps, were without parailel in the history ol the world previous to this wa ews of Richmond's nde EDISON'S BOYHOOD, Incidents of s Told by Iy The bustling little city of Fort Gratiot, Mich., snugly resting at the foot of Lake Huron, is a place of some distinction, from the fact that it was thoro that Thomas A. Ldison passed muny vears of his youth. The old home where ho lived with his parents 15 an object of curiosity to the thousands of porsons who daily travel on the electric rallway that runs from Fort Gratiot to the noted summer ort some distunce above tho town on the shore of Lake Huron, pas- sing within a few feet of the fence inclosiug the old Edison homestead. From the rail- way track a fair view of tho old houso is afforded through the mammoth (rees that surrouna it The dwelling stands back sowme distance from the foot of the lake, aud a short way northwest of the lizhthonso that guides the lake boats into the St. Ciair river. Itis quitoa large structure, but it is beginning to show signs of decay. In the dwelling yot resides Samuol Edi the futbier of the noted mventor. He s a well-presorved old gentleman of 88, having been born 1 Bigby, Nova Scotin, 1n 1504 Ho is tall of stature, aud remarkably robust for ove of uis vears. Added tothi is a wemory of uuexcelled clearness. A briel history of the oid gentieman and bis recol- lections of his son who has since risen to such prominence will be of wterest, In I511, when bul 7 years of agy, Samucl moved with bis pareats to New York city. Iemaining thore but a shory timo, the fam- ily traveled through upper Canada. Samuel pissed nis vouth in Viennw, Canada,and thero met the girl, Nancy Eiliowt, who afterwards bucame the mother of tho inventor, In 1857 Sumuel, bis wife and the three children who bad arrived Lo bless them, moved to Dotroit and two years later to Milan, O, Thomas A. was born in Milan, Fevruary 11, 1547 In 1853 his parents moved to Fort Gratiot, whore tho inventor passed his yourh and whore ho received but & meager schooling, not having in all gone to school for more than one year. He was distinctively 8 boy without boyish days. Ab ubis early age began tho dovelop- went of the rare gift with which he was pos sessed, and he was almost continually en- gaged 1o endeavoring to figure out somo dif- ficul: mechanical problen. His bruin, ap- parently, was never permitted to rest, and ho had goue to school but & short imo be- fore bis teacher 1'oticed this fact, and boing alarmed by 1t advised the lad’s parents to keep bim from school if they did not wish im 10 lose s reason. Ho was indeod u pe- culiar boy, and never plaged with other bovs for more. than a few minutes at u time, seomingly proferring o be alone so that bo son | of 1on He would work until late at night endeavoring to study out various questions and bring his experiments to & successful issue. So interesied would he become that ha failed to notice the passing away of the hours, and tis father had frequently to arise at2 or So'clock in the morning and compel the ind to go to bed, So proficient bad he become in theart of telegraphing by constant practice during the threo years spent by hiw A8 newsboy on the train thatat tho end of that time he was offered a position as tele #raph operator. Ho (eft tho cars and imme dintely took charge of the Port Huron teis graph office Ho had r when the ( ford, On smained thoro for some little time and Trank sont him to Strat ario. Ho weut thence to Iorl Wayne, [nd.,and then successively to fndian anolis, Cincinnati and Louisville. Duriug the war he entered B0 servico of the gov ernment as an operator in Tenaossoe. Aftor the war, having been offered a position abroad, it becamo necessary for him to mas. tor the Spanish language, which bhe did 1w the remariably brief period of four moaths thout losing an hour of his titae as operator for the government. Lator in lifo he con cluded toaccept a position in Central Amcrica, buton his way down was taken 8011l with sea sickness that the physicians on tho boat sent him back. He lavded at New York city and went to his home for several weeks. He then went to Boston where he compioted hig first invention and received his first patent: His career sinco then is familiar histor) The father is naturally very proud of his son, and rendily tells what he can_regarding him, When sowe funny ineident in his son's life flashes upon the old man's mind he slaps Lis knee and exclaims: *On, ho was the darnadest kid I ever saw,” | and then the old gentleman chuckles quictiy o himself, man is quite wealthy, ow large amount of proverty i the very heart of Fort Gratiot, but notwithstanding this the inventor annually gives him a lareo sum with which to travel wbroad and see the worid, I'he old gentleman is still “'one of the boys" to a grest extent, and has { an wtimate friend nam d Symington, a muu abont his 0wn Ao, whom he takes with him on s annunl trips, The last trip they took was to old Mexien, and there 1s no reason to believe that they did not have as good o tima &S though they were twenty or thirty years younwer. IF YOU EVER SUFFERED FROM Indian Depredations If you are in nesition to take advantage of the laws re- tating to PENSIONS you have taken up a piece o' Public Land. - If you have made an invention on which you desire to securea Patent, You should communicate with the Bee Burean of Claims The object of this bureau is (o give every person ho ding a legitimato claim nst the government tho adviantagoe ou residence in Washington, whether he live in Texas or Alaska 1t does more than that Nine-tenths of the popuiation of Washington would ba helpless if asked how to go to to secure their vights throngh the depart- ments. Tie Bes Burwau of Caims gives the advantage, not only of per- sonal residence, but of thoroagh fumils iarity witn a | the machinery of the government. It offers Absolute Security. You do not iknow whether th Waushingtonelaim agzentwill ehea or not, aithough on general prin you would naturally supposo that would. But you know that the Sar IPrancisco Examiner, the St. Paul Pio neer press and the Omaha BEe cannot afford to cheat you. They guirantes this Bureau, una their reputation is staked upon the honesty and ability of its managoment. The bureau employos attornoys whao 4 YA b l t Expert Specialists for ouch of its departmonts, Its Indian depredation cases aro care- ully worked up, with all ths ovidencs required by law, and argued before the court of elaims in such & manner s work T you os he te | bring out most favoranly all thy essen tiul points. Its land cordance with the rules of s are handled in striet the 1 Gouor il Could £ive bis wholo attention Lo studyiug the solution of some problem. Ho was al- | Ways of #n oldor disposition than his) age | would indicate. When about midway bo tweon the age of 12and 13 he surprised his | nts one evening by bursting in upoo | 1 and gleefully shouting: | Ma, ' o bushel of wheat—1 weigh jost | sixty pounds.’ Thoe duy following this joyful statement voung Kdison made bis Hrsttrip as o uow boy on the Grand Tronk railrosa botwecn fort Gratiot wnd Detroit. It was at about this time, as neav as bis fatber can recollect, that young Edison first took an interest in telegraph operating. His Hrst experiments i this line were made with a small table and a pieco of whalebone, There was i crack in the tuble, and i this by placed oue end of the whaleborie, 8 string belng 80 arrangsd thit bu could with case cuuse the whalebone to be swiftly drawn down to tue table, and, with a sheet of papor lail on the table witt which tue whaleboue could come 1o coutact, a fuir substitute for the clicking ot u regular telegrapb iustrument was socured. He then | spoat houss clicking off the telegraph alphu- ber, | T'ne facts of the printing by him of a small new-paper calied the Grana Trunk Horald whilo newsuoy o Lhe train are well known . IBefore accepling the position as newsboy on tho railroud the youug tad read u ¥reat deal on the subject of drugs, eto, and in & short twe ho bud a small sizéd drug store iu Lhe basement of his futher's Louse. Hero he passed wauy BOurs MIXiug wud CopouLding | Lund Office, 50 thut no deluys or com plications ensue in tho orderly settlo- ment of the eluims. Its patent ¢1ses wre 50 minngzolis o insure tho utmost possibls benelit to’the n by giving him the protection his ideas will justify. Lts pansion cases ave disposed of with the least possible deluy and exponss to the veterans bon't om busenu beeause you ar Its Ask s muny and thoy cheerfully churge. e TMAE v Bee Bureau of Claims Room 220, Bee Building, Omaha, Neb. 2nto! brouadest the coat, consulting fraid of th nothing get informution questions as you plouse, wngworal promptly aecurately, without rvefeain cost [ will bo und