Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, September 15, 1892, Page 9

== ECOND YEAR. TWENTY WIRES AND WORKERS ftory of the Invention of the Magnetic Telegaph Ericfl; Told, AMERICAN GENIUS WON LASTING GLORY Early Fxpariences and Rapid Exieasion of the Telegraph Lines, PIONEERS OF THE NEW ART IN REUN!ON 0!d Timers and furviving Army Teleg- raphers Meet in Omaha, THEY MADE A NEW EPOCH IN HISTORY Omahn Greets Them with Open A rms— Sketehes of Noted Telographors —ites minlscences of O1d Times and the Army Service. ited the The members of the Socioty of the U States Military Telograph Coros and of Old Time Telographers association « holding their annual reunions in These gentlemen are the pioneers in the most wonderful inventions of tho ages. oy are epoch makers, and Omaba bas now Omaba, cne ol oponed its neart and 1ts arms in a warm wel- come befitting the honor of entertaiming o remarkable and distinguished a body of mou. Yosterdny the visitors were shown many uttentions, conciuding with a banguet at tho Millard last night, and tho survivors of the nrmy telograph sorvice held their business moeting. A report of these pro- ceedings will be found elsswhere iu this Issue, annual INVENTION OF TELEGRAP criments of Karly Iave Crowned by American Genlas The various steps by which the maznetic teiesraph was evolved forms one of the most fnteresting chaptevs in the history of scien- tihe rosearch and acnievement, aud the date of its saccsssful operation marks an epoch 1n the progross of the world. Like all groat achievements, it was not compassed in a duy Gienerations wera bora and pass away after its tirst ucapion, each adding its mite o the already existing kuowiedze of tne electrical seience, before the iuitial discov eries of Gaivani and Voits, of Oorsted aud of Ampere wero morged luto that miraclo of numan ingenuity, the telegraph o today. The mstory of the electric teiezraph may be said to have had its beginning a little over & century ago. That electricity existed as an element had been known many years before, hot the aiscoveries of Galvaniin 1740 and of Volta in 1830 first brought to light tho prinei- plo from which subsequent ingenuity has ovolved the telegraph of today. Galvam demonstrated that slectricity could bo pro- duced by the chiemical action of acids upon metals, and the galvanic battery still exists to immortalize his achievement. With the discovery of walvanism the scicace of cleotrology emerged from the shadows of ovscurity and incredulity and came to be regarded as an element of practical utility in the scivntific world. Buat its subscquent development was slow and laborious. Ta 1800 the discovery of Galvani was confirmed and brought into more promi Deat notice by the researches of Volta, and tho discovery of electro-magnetism by Prof. Ocrsted in 1519 was a step of no little im- portance toward the utilization of the elec- tric current as a vehicle for human thougnt. An Early Att The discovery of Prof. Oorsted was practi- cally demoustrated by M. Ampere, an ewi- neut French physicist, who invented an elecrro-magnetic tolegraph in whicn he used as many wires as there were lotters in the Riphabot and broke and rostored the circuit by keys arranged much the same as tho key board of a piano, But M. Ampere's inven- tion was purely experimental and was never brought to practical uses. 'Lhe power to em- ploy 8 single wire by using the carth 1o complets tho ~circuit and of muking the magnetic current record its utterancos in distmct charactors was left to o future generation to discover. “I'he possibility of transmitting the electric curreat over long distances was demoustrated by I’rof. Joseph Ieary of Princeton colloge 01831, wud two yeass later Weber, o Gor- mun_electrician, founa thut a copper wire strung from steeplo to steeple over the city of Gottingen rcquired no wsulation. In 1837 the first attempts were made to apply clectrical science to practicul pur. poses. 1o July of tnat year registering electro-magnetic telegraph was constructed between Munich and Bogenhauser by which a paper ribbon was passed under a defiected necdle by clockwork and recoived the im- press of dots and dashes which represented ho letters of the aiphabot. About the samo time a opatent was granted to Cocke und Wheatstoue in England for a similar inven- tion. But it was reserved for Amexican in- Renuity and enterpriso to merge the discov- ries of the past into the most sublime achievement of modern scienco and to give to the world an invention that would chango the entiro social, commercial aud scientitic com- pleaion of the age. The Work of Morse. ‘The name which moro than all others is in- thwately associated with the history of the telegraph s that of Sauvel Findlay Breeso Morse of New York. Prof. Morse war born at Charlesiown, Mass.,, April 19, 1391, He wus educated at Yale college and took Lis degree in 1810, His first ambition was to become an artist, and the yoar after bis graduation he went 0 Londoo to stuay under Bovjamin West. He returned 10 Auierica in 1515 and 1ollowed his profession for some yeurs, at the same titie developing an ardent passion for scientiic studies. During this period he founded the Nptional Academy of Dosign in New York nod was its president for & number of years, 1n 1829 he again visited urope, and it was on his voyage homo three years later on tho packelsbip that he conceivea the idea of tho recording telegraph which beurs bis uame, “rom the woweul that that idea bad been successfully carriod out his triumph was complete. Ho went frequently abrond and was received like prince instead of u plain Awerican citizen. He was made n member of most of the learned societies of both cou Linents and was presented with tho decora- tions of numerous orders Prof. Morse is described as a man in whom simplictty and energy were tho predominant traits. (1o was generous iu his alsposition and loyal in ts friendships. Ou Juse 10, 1871, he was preseotat the uuveling of & bronzp statue of nimself at Contral Park, New Yorlk, aud bis Iast appearance in pubiie was abthe unveiling of e sta'uo of Hen- fruty Fraoklin in New York in the follow- ug January. Ho died in New York city, Aprik2, 1872, and was followed 10 bis grave by wany of the most ilustrious personages of thé age. Bogiunings of the Morse Syst The first attempt of Prof. Morse to prac- tcally demonxtrato his idew was in the uni- versity of New York in 183 Seventeen bundred feet of wire were strung around the room and connected with s rudely cou- structed recording mucnino. — The experi- Woul proved the praclicavility of the tele- Wt OMAHA, THUR DAY MORNING, Slfl"h‘l)l BER ! graph, and the noxt fow vours were spant in | cioher operator, being one of the most val- | was a wonder. Any of the man could have perfecting the invention. Tt was not until 1544 toat the first magnetic telogaphi line was established in the Unitod States. 1t was forty miles in longth, extenaing from Baltimore to Wash- ington, and was built by government aid, OUn May 27, 1844, the words, *'What hath God wrought,” wers flashed’ over the wire, oud tho first ‘telegraph message had been successfully transmitted. A stock company was then formed, of which Amos Koudail was president. Otber inventors, among whom were Bain, Houso and Hughes, pat ented telograph systems, which = dif- fored in someé respects from that of Prof. Morse, and subsequent im- provements 1n electrical applivicos havo brought the telesrapt 0 its present. porfec tion. ‘'wo days after the opening of the line be- tween Wasbington and Baltimore, when the democratic national conveution at Baitimore nominated James K. Polk and Silas Wright for prosident and vies president, Vail, the operator and electrician at_ Ballimore, sent tho news of the nomination to Prof. Morse, who was holding down the Washington end of tho wire in the capitol. Prof. Marse promptly carriod tho dispatch to Silas Wright. then o Unitod States senator from New York, Senator Wright lator in tho v sent tolegram to Baltimore, or ratber Morse sent it for him, doclining tho nomina- tion, but tuo intelligent damocratic conven- tion, thoroughly imbued with the doabts and skeptictsm ot that dav about thoa fact of teluerapliy, was too incredulous to credit the truth of the dispatch, and appointed 4 com- mitteo to g0 to Wushinzton and vority it. They returned tho next day with M Wright's written and formal declination, and the convention subsequently nominatad Mr. Dallas for the vice presidency. Rapid Growth of the Telegraph. In 1545 a line was complated between New York and Wilminzton, Del, but the gap be. uween Wilmington and Baitimore was not flled in until late in 1546, and for some time news of vattles in Mexico was wired from Waskington to Baltimcrs, then taken by mail to Wilmington ana thence wired to Ne York, or rather to Jersey City, for thero was no wire communication between Jersey Cit and the metropolis of the new world until late in 1845, In 1845 lines from New York to Boston and from Albany to Buffalo wore built and it was not until 1847 that New York and Albany and Philadolphia and Pittsourg were connected, Washington had extended 1S wires south only as far as Petersburg, lato in 1847 and New Orleans was A by the coast lino in 1850 Barly in 1848 Cnicago, then u burg with only 20,000 inbabitants, was first favored with telo- graphic communication with the faraway st. Cincinnati renched out to St. Louis in 1845, and fnthe winter of 154510 a line was completed from Lowsville to New Orleans. Boston shook iands with Portland, Me., St. Johns and Halifax in 1851, his epitome ofearly provress carries the alectric telegranh over its first six years of oxist 1 this country, nnd two year later, in 1852, when thers was quite &n ex tensive network of wires extendiog from Halifax to New Oricans and from New York 10 St. Louis, tho wildest dream of wnii eugineers and electricians was only to estab lish _coms votween the Atlantic and Pac Heury O'Rouliy, one of the most energetic and perseveriug of tele graph projectors in those early days, urged cougress by memorinls in 1552 to establish telegraphic and letter mail communication with tho Pacific coaat. As late as 1852 the idea of connecting America with Europe by ocean cablas was rogardod us utterly absard, but ths Bering sea route was talked of by electricians as feasible. What was then considerea as ab- surd is now An accompli hed, casy, cheap fact, und what was thought feasible—tho Beriug sea or land route—has boen aban- doned after a costly but unsuccessful al- tempt to reach Europs via Alaska and Siberia Iu 1830 thero wera more than fifty different companies in oporation in the United States, and_competition vas so sharp between New York and Boston that messages of ten words were sent for 20 cenls, wnile st ihe same dato the rates from Now York to New Or ienns were £2.40 for ten words for both com al business rnd press dispatches. The ass, after the first telograph lines were put in operation, soon began 1o use them for the transmission of news. The expenses were neavy, and the blunders of the telegraph wany, consequently the dispatches wero brief aud frequent!y unintelligivle. Press Dispatches, Tbe Baltimoro Patriot twas the first newspaper to use tho telegraph, the Morse line between Washington and Baitimore, to obtaia news in the winter of 1344-15, In the fall of 145 nows dispatches were sent to nowspupers_between New York and Wast- ington, but it was an irrogular, uncartain and slow servico, and continued $0 for five or six years, An amusinz incident, illustrative of the enterorise and of the difliculties pross men had to eontend with, nappaned in 18(S. T whig convention met at Philadelphia that year, and the New Yorkers deter- mined to get the news of the nowi- nations at the earliest possivle mo- mept. Jersey Cily was the northern end of the live, tnd dispatches had to be curried over the ferry to New York city. But the New York pross mon, in order to goin time, devised o plan to flag the name of the presidential nowineo across the river. There wero two leading candid: General ‘Taylor and Henry Clay—ona of whom was sure to got the nomination. The display of a white flag on the Jersoy City sido meant Taylor's nomination, or a rea flag, Clay’s. ‘i reporters who dovised this schome knew nothing about a similur system of flag- gng stock exchange news from Now York to Jersey City, add 50 it happened that wher the press reporter who wus stationed on Cortlundt strset pier saw a white flag way- ing 10 tue hands of a brokor man on the Jor- soy City dook he hastened to the telograph ofiices ~ and rnominated General Tayior throughout the north and east, and hundreds of guas were fired that night' by whigs to celebrato the event. As @ matter of fact, however, General Taylor was not nominated by the convention until tho next day, and so it turned out thut this wos ot what news- paper men would call a fake It was a scoop, tuough, and a quoer one, too. Tho Now York ' reporters had only scouped themselves, for they had to re peat tue same news the next day. electro teleg WAR OFFICE CIPHERER, Busy and Successful Career of au Old Time 3 Telegrapner, Mr. George C. Maynard, now an clectrical engineer of Washineton, D. C., commencod telegraphing on the Speed Jineat Aur Arbor, MK, GEOIGE COLTON MAYNAD when bo was fifien years old. He sorved ms operaior. messenger, batteryma uud live ropairer while tho one, rusty, No. wire of the Erie & Michigan company devel- oped 1nto the extensive and substantial sys- tem of the Western Union, and took & band 80 rallrosa tolekrapbiug on the Michigen Central. The war called bim into the il tary telegraph corps where he served as uible men in the War dspartmeat office Sub:equently he becamo chief oporator of the Western Union at Washingtsn, and 1n 1870 he went to the signal office to organize the weather reportiog ser: T'wo yoirs later he resigucd from government empioy to eugngo fn business as constructor of tele- graph lines and in genorai electrical businoss, which he still continues. Ha assisted Gra- hum Bell in bis carly telephonic work and sinco that tims has boen largoly iaterested in the telaphone business, a3 weil as eleotrio light and Kindrad enterprise He is a prominent writer on telegraphic subjects and reprosents the Klectrical R view in Washinzton. Last yeac ho was pros- ident of the Old Time Telezraph association and is now the secretary of the American Association of Inventorsof whioh the in- ventor of the Gatling gun is president. THEY ARE VETERANS, Two Plonoers in t! Revotation of George M. Dugan of Jackson, Tenn., super intendent of telegraph for tha Iihnois Centra railroad, 1s one of the oldest telegraphers in continuans service inthe world, He iearned GEORGE M. DUGAN, the art In 1850, almost at the very boginuine of the business, and isor.e of the best known CHARLES TAYLOR Charies Taylor, manager for the Western Union at Franifort, KKv., is an old timer with a very wide nequamtance. Ho has bad an extensive experience in various important positions and is very popular amony mewm- bers of the service, FIRST IN DENVER. A Veteran in Both the E Service, B. F. Woodward {of Denver entered the Philadelphia office of the Atlantic & Olio Telegraph company 1n 183, when there was 1o railroad in Pennsylvania west of Hunt wgton. In 1551 he was sent to Pittsburg. The Western Unton line was extended to that city from Cleveland in and six months later Mr. \Woodward was made manager for that company. Ho volunteered 1 1562 for service in the military telegraph, snd after a month at Washington was commissioned cipherer at General Peck’s neadquarters at Suffolk, Va., the advanced post of the Army of the Poto- wac. In the following spring he resigned with the 1tontion of going to California, but Hiboard at Omah parsuaded bim 1o go to Denver to take charga of an ofiice for u line about to be built to tha place. The metropolis of the new e'dorado was 200 miles from tho telegraph and clamored foraline. 15 lward Creighton raised u sub- scription of over £20,000, and the lme was opened October 10, 1363, The tatiff on ten words was # 50 1o Chicago, §.10 to Now York and $).25 to Boston In n short time Mr. Woodward was given an assistant in the per son of Samuel Keynolds, afterward of the fiem of Rey ds B3ros., shoe manufacturers at Utiea, N. Y., now wealthy und retired. In 1867 Mr. Woodward retired from the Western Urion und organized the United States & Mexico Telegraph ecompany, which built lines from Danver to Caeyonne and Sants e, It was subsequently absorbed by the Western Union, and Mr, Woodward be- came superintendent of the latter for Colo rado and New Mexico. [n 1875 he was up- pointed telcgraphic superintendent of the Denver & Rio Grande railvoad and con- structed the most perfect system of railroad wires then in tho country. He retired from this position in 1854, and since then has given his whole time to private interosts, having beea idontifiod with many of the notable enterprises of Dauver, stern and Western IN DAYS OF OLD, The Cockles of Thelr Hearts are Warmed by Reminiscences. One of the most ploasant featuves of the reunion of the old time tolegraphors is tbe revival of old memories that have slumbersd since days long gor.e by, Sjmaof the old twers have been participants in mauy scenes, stirring, humorous and pathetic, and many are the experiences called to mind by the signtof the old familiar faces. Among the mea who arrived yesterday was Colouel W. B. Wilson of Philade!phia; superintendent of telegraphs fov tae Penn- sylvamia road, and W. J. Daaly of New Yori. Colonel Wiison taught Mr. Dealy the Morse alphaber thirty-five years ago. Mr. Dealy thought he was not cut out for an operator, but his tuwor was convinced that he was ond flually saw bim begin at the bottom of the ladder. M. Dealy is now the W York manager of the Western Union, William Wiley Smith, now manager of the telephoue company at 'Kansas City, began 1ife as a telegraph operator in 1 Among his early experiences was the following, which he related to a groun of his old com- rades: “In the '50's I was employed by the New Orleans & Obio Talegraph company at Louis- viile, und was assigned to the Now Orleans wire. On Tnanksgiving day 1 was left alone in the ofice, tne other operators baving cleared their "sires of business and gone. ‘The moraing being cool I had pulled my chair up Lo the stove, and with my clip of paper on my knee was recelving from New Orleans, my instrument being some ten feet away. A gentleman, & straoger to me, found his way iuto 'the roum, and stood wateblog we. Pretty soou I had finisned, and going to my tavle gave New Orleans the sign 0. K." and ‘Good Moruing.) ~ Then the wentlamau asked me what I bad been aoing while siiting at the stove. I repiied: ‘I was rocelviug from New Orleans.,’ Said he: ‘Can you 6o that 8o far away 1 answered ‘Certaluly, the room is quiet.’ Then he asked: ‘Are you our new operator!’ I said: ‘I am new here, but bardly koow whom I beloug to.' After a fow more quostions he lefv without telliog me wbo he was, | learned afterwards that it was Dr, orvin Green, president of the compauy 1 was then working for, and now presidsut of the West- orn Union. I had made bit. The doctor bad uot seen it aone before, wad thought 1 | doae as 1 did, but he did not apnrdeiate 1. Among the characters who ate known to every oid-time operator 1s Boeardus, or “Bogy" ns he is mofe commonly known ““Bozy is a tyoteal specimen of the genu | tramp. nnd thore is scarcely a telozrapher | i1 tne United Stotes who has | timre cocountered bim, “Bogy’’ has stolen more | formed more ubiquitous faats than any man not at some rides, tramped mors miles and per- in the country, His acquaintance is unlim- ited, and his oheek is ulways on draft. While Jesse Bunnellof Now York was dining al the Mercer last evening, a porter entered and haoded him a soiled and crumpled bit of the vaper. Ho unfolded it and deciphored following: 73~ [in broke, sond me §1, Booy." Tho request was tonored wt once, and & quartet of veterans who liad beun waiting outsiae the docr roceived the simoleon, and went outside to have n drink and a laugh on Bunnelle. J. H. Bunnell, who is at the head of a big electrical supply houss in New York, was found by a reporter in_company with J Dickey and Caprain Palmer at the Omaha club. During \ne Jat: war, Mr. Bun- cell was stationed as operator at the headquarters of Generals MeClellan. and Burn ides un- til 1863, when he. was ordered. west and served respec- tively ab the head- quarters of Rose- cranz, Thomas and Sherman. “The old war telegraph- ors now in your) aty,” said “Mr. Bunvell, “are men) . i age’ 4 I BUNNELL, 1S years. In those stircing days yery youug men, from “1 can understand fiow, at this late day, why the commanding generals, kraybairéd men, as many of them were, exercised such a peculiar interest in us, * We were all boy: were lads, as were the bone and sinew of tho great army that put down the rebellion and preserved tho union. Why, I have boys of my own now, older than we wero when doing our perilous workiu tha field. I have only o closo my eyes and look back through e dim vista of all these intervening years and live over those old days, 1 canuot re- frain from adding that itis a source of un- alloved gratification to kuow today that a fair number of those youthful war teleg- raphers have becomg more or less promi nentn this busy comtercial world of /our They are to be found it the railroads, finance journalisms and manufacture aud have gotten along well, Mr, Rosewater of vour city bemng a bright #nd shining example. When 1 remember Mt. Rosewater he,wus ou duty in the secretafy of war's ofice.” KEPAIRER. VETERAN When Wires Were Stretched Missouri on Musts It is possible that' Gaorge Gardiuer ot Omaba, lins repairas fog the Western Union, is the old:st man in, America in length of continuous service in Bis-department of the business. On Novefider 11333, he was employed oy Managsér k. Rsawater of thy Atlantic & Paoific Telefraph company, and he nas continuad with thas company and its successor till the present. For two years Mr. (iardings; then a young may, cleaned batteries pnd carricd massages as weli as repaired licos! and when ho was out of town another boy ywas vogaged 1o uct as messonger, which quite foreibly indicates the change in the telezeaph business of Omaba, ‘Chere was only ona line west, and he voung repairer hau: Jarisdiction as far as Coli:mbus. There being o railroad, ho had to mako his trips by wagoo or on horseoack, and the insulators of those davs were so un- wieldly that ho could cacry but two on one side of nis saddlebags, From the east came one wire, which crossed the Missourl at u narrow point abouta mile and o half north of Farcam streor. On either side of the rivor wasa mast 100 feat high, and the siugle wire was stretehed from ono to the other. Several vears later masts 125 feet bigh were substi- tuted, and they carried ten wires. At one time it was intended to. use a cabie and one was bought and brought to Owmuha. It was never laid becausn the chazinel of the river snifted so often it was thought 1t would be of only temporary service. TheGreat West- ern company sunk 8 cable in the river about 1863, but it never worked. Whon the firs Uvion Pacific bridge was compleled the telegraph company sought to string its wires ueross the river o8 that structure, but it only succeeded after a year's fight. To the south thera was one viro along the highway known as the ‘St. Jfoo road. This was maintained until two or three years ago, although it was necessary 1o nse teams in keeping it inrepair. The office, when Mr, Gardier cntered the service, wns on the second Hoor of the building at' Fourteenth and Farnam streets, now occupied by Vau Cott's juwelry store, and later 1t was moved to the rear of the secoud floor of the Hellman block at Thirteenth and Farnam. The busi- ness has increased so greatly that Gardiner's work is now zimost wholly in the city, ana lie has to have 8ssisiants to keep the Omnah lines 1 order, FRON THE Across th DRAWN Office Made Too Warm By An U come Shell, Mr. Willlam H. Woodring, genoral manager of the Kunsas City Flee- trical works, was vorn in 1841, in Penusylvania. Ho begun telegraphy in Freeport, 111, in 1855, first as a messenger, but was soon promoted U ! toan operatorship, He was manager of the pfiice at Rock lsland, at breaking out of the wjr, but resizned and enlisted as a privawe soidier in tha Tair- teeuth Illinois tufuntry, He served with the regiment in the flald| until March, 1562, when he was detailed onf the order of Mujor General Halleck with orflers to report for duty to the superintenddnt of military tele- grapb, Major George H. Smitb, at St, Louis, Wooaring was sent to Liebanon, Mo., but in three months was ordered to Springficla, Mo, where he remained two years av wili- tary headquarters. In January, 1503, the town was attacked by a large force of the enamy under General Marmaduke, lato governor of Missouri. Mr. Woodring aud his assistants armed them selves aud assisied in repulsing the encmy, doiug duty in the forts, itle pits, and behind the sheltering shade trees, sket range of the otlacking parly cugagement lasted seven hours. One of the ussistauts, Henvy J. Briges, was kilied whilo in the act of firing his last cartridee at the rebels, who had reachedia point witbin 500 yards of toe beadquarters bullding. Woodring returned to the office every hour Auring the battle ta report by telograph to depurtinent beadquarters at St Lous. joing to the officoat duak, he had quite a lively experience, Shells were flving iu close proxiwity to headquarters when he got thero. He was in the act of lighting a et oil lamp when s sbell crashed through the side of the builaing, passing within a few feei of his head, 1t struck ihe brick fireplace, boundod back aud rolled be- tween bis feet and the wall. He burriedly discounected bis instruments and took them to the quartermastér's supply bullding, four blocks away, and there opened # Lowpo- rary office. The eucwy soon after cut and destroyed the wires for wany wiles,thus rra'enllnglurlhur communication with St wel- Louis, The next day the general in command gave Woodring an escort of twenty-one m3u and instructed him o proceed eastward along the telegrap ) road until be could open commwuni- ation with St. Louis. The encmy had re- Lreated uver Lhls roud and lu order toob- 15, 1IS52-TWELVE PAGES, Struct the wi and trees on cither side. The party only traveled ten miles that evening. Camping at noon the vext day, twenty-five miles 0.t, tha escort, composed of state militia, held a consultation and all but return to Springfield. Woodring callod for volunteers to accompany him. Bob Bates, s repairer, and ono soldier responaed. They reachod the picket lino at Lebanon aftor dark and at hendquarters werecordially received. After ahasty supper Woodring sent his disputohes and recoived the hearty congratulations of ail the operators along thie line, they haviug heara that Springfield had surrendered. ‘Tho sergeant in command of the escort on returning to Springteld was arrosted, courtmartialed for cowardice and reduced to the ranks. Tu June, 153, Woodring revisited Tilinos on a furlough of thirty davs nud roturned to Sprinefield with a charming young bride. Tuo following year he was seat to Fort Smith, Ark., where he remained until Sep. tember. In Octover, in company with threo other good operators, he was sént to the De- partmonts of Wasnington and tte Potomac, which were 1n great need of operators dur- ing tho siege of Petersburg and Richmond Woodring served in the War department office at Washington a short time and was sent chonce to Fortrass Monroe, the main ro- peating station betwoen Graut's hoadguarters and Washington. He returncd to St. Louis in November, 1564, ana went at o-ce to Springteld, Ill, where he was mustered out, having been in the government service threoand one-half years, In January, 1565, he was appoiuted muanager of the telegraph office at St. Joseph, and was chief operator of tha Kansas City ofico from 1875 to 1886, He thon left the telegraph service to eagage in other pursuits Mr. Woodring has several war relios,among thew the unexploded shell which was thrown into the ofice ut Springfield. He had several narrow escapes from being captured by bushwhackers in his travels turongh the southwestern part of Missouri unattended by armed escorts. These outlaws were very thick and frequently ecaptured wagon trains and travelers, burning the former and ruth- lessly murdering the lattor. SAVED AN ARMY. Sent the News of the Battle Clouds, Jesse H. Bunnoil volunteered for the tele- graphic servico early in 1501, aud one of his first stations was at Annapolis, but he was soon sent to Hampton, Va. When McClel- lan concentrated his army at York- town and proposed moviog on to Rich- mond by water Buonell~ was tho overator at his headquarters, which had been es- tablished on voard the steamer Com In yester- _day's Bee appearea the story of the ¥qung operator’s infolligent and he. roic service at the J. BUNNELL, 186 battle of Gaines’ Mills, by which tue federal army was saved from defeat. Ho was attached to McClellan’s command until the sumwer of 1863, when he was transferred 1o the headquarters of Rosocrans ot Tennessce, whero his *active, intolli- went nna fearless” work under fire was officiully commended by Colonel Van Duser,” superintendent ~ of telegraph. He was at Coattanooga when the battles of Lookout mountain and _Missivnary Ridge were fought, and he bad the satisfac- tiou of sending-out the news even if he did have to work day and night. He accompan- fed Thomas in his campaign against J. K. Johnston, avd throughout his service was considered one of the best meu in the cOrps. Above the Important Part of an Omuha Man in West- ern Construction. Mr. J. J. Dickey of Omaha, distriot super- intendent for the Western Union, has had an active career covering more than one-half the telegraphic period. Helived at Ottawa, 10, fn 1859, and the family ‘residence was uext door to that of Judge Caton, who was tho builder and owner of the Illinois & Miss- issippi company’s lines. Tho judge lived a_mile or two out of ‘town and had an instrument at his home, on which Lo called up the me one tte lwe 8s occasion demauded, or ordered s groceries from downtown. Young Dickey, frequeutly dropping into the neigh- bor's bouse, learned the artof sending and reading messages, and the judge got into the habit of using bim for_emergencios, sending him out to fill vacancies temporarily. The youat man was studsing law at the time, but he got married aud found the law a poor’ support. ‘Thereupon, in 1%), he took up telography as 8 business sad was given the ofMco at Blue Island, now a Chicago suburb. His salary was tbe munificent sum of &5 @ month, but when he was promotel to the Peru office it was increased to &35, which was considered @ groat advance, For u year bo usea the Morso reister, which all oper tors employed in those days, It was thought bevond buman skill to read messazes by sound, and the raiivond officials particularly objected to any exveriments of that kind on the ground thatit wus not saie or reliabie Mr. Dickey not only acted as day ana night operator, but Licket and express agent, sud Le also handled freigntand kept his o i revair half way to the next oftics ou eitbor side of him. Later he was transferred to Otawa, whers be became auditor ud goneral bookkecper for the Uaton lines besides running the loval oftice, In those days there were a number of telo graph companies, aud those enst of tho Mis- sourl entered iutoa compact kuown as the “six-party contract,” by which they divided the territory to prevent competition. The Now Kngland operated east of New York, the Awerican in New York, the W stern Union in _Oblo and lodiana, the Ilnois & Mussissippi in lllinois, lowa aud & part of Missours, ihe Soulh western in the south and the Northwestern in Wisconsin and Minnesota, West of Omaha were the lines of Edward Creighton of this city and out on the coust wis still auother compuay, but the latter two were not in tho compact. 1n sending & message from Boston 10 San Francisco it was carried by the Now Ingland to New York, by the American to Cleveland, by the Western Union to Chi cago. by the Caton liue to Owaha, by tbe Creighton line to Salt Lake sud thence by the,coust company 10 its destination. Each company bad a local tarif aad bad to traus- fer the messuge Lo Lho next in line. As a con- sequence il & telecram was sent to Califor. nia and an auswer received iusido of i week it was considered pretty good time. The cost of ten words from New York to San Francisco was five or eix dollars, M-~ Dickey remalued at Ottuwa until 1867, when toe Western Unlon hud absorbed wli the eastern lines aud secured a perpotual lease of the Caton property. He was trans- ferred to Chicago as cblef clerk for the Western Union superintendent, and in August, 186, no was appointed superiutend- eut of the Union Facific telegraph systom, which at thut Ume bandled commercial busi one man decided to | as much as possiblo stretehed | ness, Subsequently the Union Pacific formed | thocut wires across it, fastening them to feuces analliance with the Atlantic & Pacitic, anow line that had reactied Chicago, and for a con- nection between that city ana Omaba they used another line known as the Great West- ern. This arrangement coatinued for several vears, and Mr. Dickey bocame superintend- nt of construction for the Atlantic & Pa cificin the west, in addition to his other duties. Butin 1875 the Western Union ab- sorbed the Atlautic & Pacific. Jay Gould and bis friends began the con- struction of the American Union 48 a rival of the Western Union, and Mr. Dickoy had charge of its construciion west of Chicago. About 1881 the Union Pacific oroke its frienaly alliance with the Western Union and threw out the latter's wires. It formed a new compact with the American Union, aud a vitter war followed for a year. Gould quietly bought up a controlling interest in the Westorn Unfon, when the rival commer cinl companies were consolidated. Mr. Dicikoy was made superintendent of the con solidated lines, and also continued his posi- tion with the Unioa Pacifie until 1885, since which time he hus given his whole imé to the Western Union. When he camo to Omaha in 1500 tho Wost ern Union employed six operators and hed soven or cight wires. Now there are over 100 oporators and more than 100 wires. There aro moro clerks in the suporintendent's office today tnan the entire force in thoso duys, and the business offico wlone has twice as many employes, In 1860, the tariff on ten words from Omaha was & to San Francisco, §2.50 to New York, §1.23 to Chicago, and §1.95 to North Platte] Today itis 75, 50, 8 nud 40 conts respectivelv. Now it costs §1 for ten words sent across the contineut as against $5 50 thirty-three years ago. At that time vilt one through wire to Sun Erar Tox there are twenty-five from different points on the Miesouri. In 18 wagos of operators 5 1o £0 6 mouth, The higher fiyure was aid 1o the agonts of tho chief stations, and thoy wore expected to turn switches, baudle frelght and_repair telegraph lines, ‘The in- crease in the busiess advaaced tho szlaries of the operators, and west of Omaha in ), where the men had_to live on sage brush, they ranged from §00 to §140. These were probably the highest salarica men of those days, and there were uot mauy of thom. The men in tho Westera Uniou's Omaha office today receive from 50 to $0. It will be seen from this sketen that Mr. Dickey has beeu n most important factor in the development of the telegraph system in the west. Ho has constructed or rocou- structed most of the lines of the great Union Pacific_system. and ho built many huu- dred miles vetwaon Chicago and tho Mis- souri. Sinco becoming 1dentified with the Wostern Union he has constructed a vast network west of the Missouri. He 1s now superintendent of an empire extending from the river to the graat Salt Lake, and from the Rio Grande to South Dakota. His dis trict takes in thirteen states and territories 1 whole or in part ROSE FROM THE RANKS, Career of o Gre, rond Mannger Who Began ns an Operator. Mr. Marvin Hughitt, presidont of the Cticago & Northwestern railway system, 7 1s an oldtimo telegrapher. He began at the age of 1410 the servica of the New York, Alvany & Buffalo Telegraph cowpany at Auburn and Albany, N. Y. lu 1854 ho went to Chicazo and took a key in tho oftice of tho Iiinois & Mississippi Telegraph company. Two years later he was placed in chiarge of the telegraph system of the St. Louis, Alton & Chicago railroad (now Chicago & Alton),with oftice at Bloom- ington, 1L, and 1n addition was made train- master. 0 1862 he took char,ce at Centralin, 111, of the southern cnd of thé linois Cen tral, but in \wo years he was cilled to Chicazo as geneval superintendent and he coutinued in that office until Fevruary, 1870, when he became assistant general manager of the Milwaukeo & St. Paul Al the time of the great Chicago firo he was goneral manager of the Pullmun Paluco Car company, but ummediately thoreafter was appototed eenoral superintendent of the Chicago & Northwestern railwav. He wus appointed gencral manager 1n 1876 and elect ed sccond vice president in 155). He was hosen president of the Chizago, St, Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railway in 1852, presi- dent of the Fremont, Eikborn & Missouri Valley in 1854, president. of the Cuicago & Northwestern in 1557, and president of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western in 1501, In 15%) ne was olected a director of the Union Pacific. He still fultills the auties of these tions. AINTED DRINKING WATER. Working Among Remulns of Smallpox and Yellow F o Viethms, D, W. Smith was at Generai Terry’s head- quarters on kolly Islana during the oper ations in front of Charleston in 1363, a hot, sandy and unbealthy locality. In order to got water for drinking purposes it was cus- ~ 5 tomary to sink » barrel in the sand aud use what oozed up through the sund, This soon became intoler -able, and on clean- ing the well out one day the elbows of a skeleton were discovered stick- ing up through the bottom It was then rememoered that the Charles- ton authorities had been in the habit of usiug Foily and Morris istauds for quar- antining smailpox and yellow fover patients, which accounted for a great many buwman bounes fourd thereabout. he federals had a web of wires and cablos counecting their works and the several islanas, a"d it was a part of Smith's duty Lo frequently inspect the line on Kolly and Morris islands, In doing this bo was ox- posed to the fire of the encmy's guns in Fort Sumter, and he was subjected to the sd- ditional misery of riaingun old crow bait that under no circumnstances would go faster tnan a decorus dress parade canter. 1f urged he took to xiving an exhibition of bucking and artisuio obstinacy, and it would bo ex- pecting too much of human nature not to hink that those rebels found him n mostinvit- Ing target undersuch eircumstances, Smith's ouly satisfaction was in th fact tnat ba might get some credit for bolng cool under five. Fortunately he escaped injury, but ouly to suceumb to malavial fover, from which he rallied aftor the surgeons had given him up for dead. Tu the fail of 1563 Mr. Smith was nvited to Wasnington by the chief of the signal corps, who way scheming 1o have the tele- gruphi coros absorbed by his owu. He pro. posed to commission Smith if bo passed the examiontion, have Lim select 8 num- ber of expert operators and o Runize o telegraph depurimeunt in ihe sizual corps. Smith had begun tole- Rraphivg as far hack as 1850, had been u sup- crintendent for several years, had con- structed lines, bad & wide wscquaintance TWELVE PAGES. NUMBER 88 Among oparators and was well quaiified for tho trust, but the gead of the wilitary tele graph corps nipped the scheme in the bud. Smith continued to ao vallant service tili tho close of the war And was at Webster, W Va., when the news of the president’s assas aination passed over his wire, A Veteran Among Veterans. €. W. Hammond of St. Louis, supscinten- dont of telegraph for tho \Wabash Railroad, egan U's telegraphio careerearly in th '50's, making him one of the oldast veterans, Ho was for yoars superintondent of the St. Louis fire ularm system, being the first man in e ¢o of a system of that rved with aistinctionin the mill- telogravh corps, FROM LOWEST ROUN. Omaha Rallroad Muanager Who Ha Climbed Steadily Upward Edward Dickinson of Omalis, assistant general manager of the Usion Pacific rail- rod, is anothier gentloman of hizh position who has risen from tho ranks by forco of morit. He was born at Cumberland, Md,, in An 1550 and at 1he age of 13 be:an his caresr at Cleveland, O., as o mos onzer bov in the freignt office of the O eveland & Toledo rail- way. After two vy s of this work he be- came an operator and went into the employ of the Atiantic & Great Westefn for six years, threc as telegrapher and clevk, one ay Assistant train dispateter and two as train baggage mustor und expross messengor. Mr. Dickinson came west in 1571, when he was culled to Omaha as train dispatcber of the Union Pucific. At tho end of two years be was wmade chief train dispatcher of the Wyoming division with headquarters ot Laramie. His masterful quahties recoived deserved recognition, and in 1573 he was ap- voiuted superintendent of tho Luramie divi- sion. Iive yoars later be was avain pro- moted, belng appointed general su- vintendent of the Wyoming divi- sous. lu 1885 ho took another step upwards, becoming assistaut geaneral eu- perintendent for tho whole system, and two years later he was advancod to tho general Superintendency. In 1889 be was made gen- eral manager of the Misouri division, com- prising the lines is Nevraska and Kansa: By one of the numerous changes of man- ageinent 1 the Union Pacific Mr. Dickinson was retired in 1800, but before it was gener- ally known he had been tendered and had ucceptea the vosition of general superintend: entof tho transobio divisions of the Balti- mora & Otio with beadquarters at Chicago, A year later ho was called back 1o the Union Pacific aud made assistant general mauager. THE RIGNT HAD 1 . Proposed a Telegraph Corps with a Mili- ry Orgnubzation, Major George H. Smith was borr wien, N. Y., in 1833, He prepared at tre local neademy for a college course, but eirs cumstances took him at 17 int> a drur store In 1852 the Utica & Oxford teleer ph reac \8d the town and the young man was persunded to go to Utica and learn to operate. After get- ting some Knowl- edge of the mnew art he returned 1o Norwich to attend o small book store he had there, but bo put an instru ment at his store in connection with the telegraph line and soon learned 10 operate and o read by sound. 1n 1857 he construcied a line from ierre Haute to St. Louis and ho became ihe m ava- cer of the consoliaated office in the Iatt er city. He had had four ycars experionce in that position when " the war broke out and was well acquainted with the Missouri ficld. Ho early forosuw the value of the telograpn to tho army and pro. posed to General Frewont the organization of a telograph corps on military busis. This was partially carried out, us explained olse- where, when the authorities at Washington disbanded the battallion and Smith was apnointed captain and assistant quartermaster to act as supor- intendent of telegraphs it the Department of Missouri under General Stazer, Later ho was given charge of Hallock's great depart- ment west of tho Mississippi. Major Smith resigned aftor two years of service, during which he rende al arms ines- tmable assistance, at Nor- IN THE MEXICAN WAR, Became n Great Telegraph Builder in th Rebellio William G. Fulier was born in South Carolina of New Euglund parents in 1527. He entered a factory o Lowell, Mass., at 19, but soou after shipped oun the United States steamer Mississippi and tuok pary in the naval operg tions during the war with Mexico. On bis return home Lie began the study of telography. and in 1848 he got s first position as operator at Cincionati on the Now Orloans & Obio line. Six years la,or the com pany faled and when reorganized Fuller was mad¢ suparintendent of the division b tweon Clociunati and Wheeling, Ho o constructed several lines of tolegraph I the succeeding years, and at the open- ing of the war was superintendent o independent systom alonz the Marioita & Circluuati and the Baltimore & Obio rail- rouas, In May, 1801, bo volunteered for the mili- tary Lelegraph service aud was made maua- gor of ho goverumeut telegraphs on the Baltimore & Obio botweon Urafton and Parkershurg. After coustructing & number of lines throughout that wnfested country, ho was lu December transferred to Kentucky, where be foilowed the armies with new llues sud reudered lnvaluable service. Klsewlore Captain