The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-07-04
MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH

"A dramatic scene. such, as never had IL paraJ
! lei on ms earth, occurred at Washington. and
was the legitimate "ff spring of that STRANGE in
ven,lon. The magnetic telegraph. an inveoiion To
when me Pnh'ic attention is at this time mi
Sersaily attracted. Professor Morse. the inventor
ana superintendent ct The magnetic telegraph, and
his assistant. MIR. Vail. in their office AT WasI,
| ingion, wished To iesl the integrity Of the ,ele
graph line The whole distance THROUGH fr,m
Washington To New York, distance of mn l.ss
man 2bO miles. The better To understand tho
slngularity at the scene am abnut To record. the
reader must Imagine fnnr individuals, one at the
ONCE IN washington, one at Baltimore, 40 miles
distant. one at Philadelphia. F08 miles farther.
one at New York. ("r rather Jersey City, oppn.
sl'e New York; III farther. The telepraphic
line passes through the instruments al the ,ff;co
al each OF these places. and communication DIES
patched from any one is written an, understood
Instantly at all The others I shall DESIGNATE the
operators ny the names If the places at which
they are stationed ,
Washington. Baltimore, are Won in connection
with Philadelphia?
Baltimore. Yes.
Washington. Pu, me in connection with Phil.
adelphia
Baltimore. Aye. aye. sir! Wait minnie
tAne, Panse) u" ahsad, you can now talk
with Philadelphia.
Washington. How do you do Phiadclphia
Philadelphia Pretty well. Is that you, Wash
inginn2
Washington, Aye, aye, are you connected
with New York =?
Phlladel phia. Yes.
Washington. Pu, me in connection with New
York
Philadelphia Aye. aye; wait minute. tAf
ter pause.) Go ahpad-nuw for il.
Washington. New York. how are vo,,7
(New York does mot answer)
Philadelphia Halo. New York Washington
is talking toyou, hear him? Why don't YOU
answer?
New York. don't get any thing from him.
Washington. get that from New York.
Philadelphia. New York Washington say
he gets thai from you
Baltimore. How is it that Washington hears
from New York. and New York does no, hear
from Washington?
Phiadel phia. There's where Pun floored.
Baltimore. What is the reason. washington 2
Washington. Because New York has no,
properly adjusted his magnet
Philadelphia. have been hard at work all
day feel like bricks-had no SUPPER have
had stiff evenings work, there has been en-
many messages to wrie-one alone that gave us
Sl7 want TO go
Washington. Wait little
Baltimore. Go it ye cripples
Philadelphia VIM is writing?
Washington. Don't talk all at once.
Baltimore. Mary Rogers are a case.
So are Sally Thompsinn,
Gen. Jackson are a hoss
And so are Col Juhnsiuu
Philadelphia Who is that7 [ will discuss
that point
Washington. Baltimore. keep quiet. Pbila.
depha, tell New York to ask me o write in dots
-Ghat is. to adjust his magnet)
Philadelphia. Aye, aye, sir; wait little
| New York, ask Washington TO write dots
New York. Aye. aye; Washington, write
! dots. washington begins To write dots) That's
ii. D. K. Now have got you. Go ahead.
Washington. Do You get what send You
New York. Aye, aye
| Washington. Did you get Professor Morse's
message for his daughter?
| New York. Yes, from Philadelphia but il is
too late to send it over the river tonight I am
all alone. The two boys are gone.
| Washington Very well, no matter.
! Baltimore. Good night, am going.
! Washington. Good night all
| Philadelphia. Good night.
! New York. Good night.
! And so ends this curious scene; mi An imaci-
nary one, but Une Of actual occurrence. Let apv
one reflect upon the fact, that all these ouestons
and answers occurred in space Of time BIO,
very liule longer than that in which the unrnna
drama has been Ielsted