The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-31
Outxages On the Tslsgraph-Ths Perps-
traitor Arrested.

V010Kx0Rm-V20
TRAITOR Arrested.
We published in our columns yesterday an &C.
count of the arrest of man, named James Ander-
son, at St. John, New Brunswick, who was caught
In the act of cutting the telegraph wires in that
place, in order to prevent the foreign news re-
ceived BY one of the steamers from beng trans
mitted to the United States press until his employ
ers had first accomplished their private purposes.
1t will be recollected that the press OF the Allan
tic cities, for the .urpose Of guarding the CONNER
cial community from the frauds of designing specu-
lators, have had for long time past in operation,
arrangements for placing before them, in advance
of all other sources, the foreign news of each
steamer. Before the telegraph was constructed
between Halifax and St. John, special horse and
steamboat express was undertaken and run regu-
larly between those two cities, and from ST. John,
the news was teegraphed to Boston and New
York, and thence southwark and westward
throughout the whole country. Those arrange
ments, we need hardly say, were attended with
considerable expense and outlay, but they were
cheerfuly borne by the press, because, in carrying
them out, they were confident of discharging their
duty, and legitimatey devoting their energies, as
well as their money, to the protection and advan-
tage of the whole community, and especially the
mercantile interest. The expense frequently
amounted to one thousand dollars per week, and
every paper in any city through which the tele-
graph passed, invited to, and had the privilege
ofjoining this association, by contributing Its share
OF the expenses. AS soon as the telegraph be-
tween Halifax and st. John was constructed, the
association of course availed themselves of the
benefits which it oflered and from that time to the
present the European news has been transmitted
direct from Halifax to New York, by electricity,
whenever the telegraph wires have been IN order.
No sooner, however, were those expensive ar
rangements entered into, than a few papers
endeavored to throw discredit on the enter
prise, and on the papers connected with it, In
nuendos and limitations, hints and petty suspicious,
were continually and necessarily thrown out, but
disregarded, because the committee of the associ-
ated press, to whom the details of the arrangement
were Entrusted, had taken every precaution to pre-
vent any abuse and to place the intelligence be-
fore the public the earliest moment possible and
in advance of all other sources. But notwithstand-
Ing all those precautions, and notwithstanding the
great care that was taken to prevent abuse, the
associated press knew that on one or two occasions
the foreign intelligence reached New York before
their despatch arrived, and was In the hands of
spectators, IN one instance several hours in adj
vance. No sooner would the foreign steamer ar
rive at Halifax, than the wires, which had been in
good order previously, would mysterously get out
of repair, and all communication would eonse-
quentlv he suspended. The agents and operators
throughout Me line would Immediately despatch
persons to ascertain where the wires were dlscon-
nected, but finding none, would return and report
to that effect At the end of five or six hours, the
wires would, just as mystenously as they were
derapged, get in order again and so it was from
time to time since the wires were finished to Hall
fax. All endeavors of the associated press to
discover the party or parties engaged In this I'M
lawful and high-handed proceeding, were frultless,
except IN one instance, which occurred in August
last, and the particulars Of which are as follows,
from the pen of Mr. barrow, the superintendent at
St. John =
At five o'clock, fifteen minutes, on the 3Oth day Of
August, while the terminus OF the line In Saint
John the following message to tae opera
tor and by him forwarded without second Thought
Boarss "dranseS one or,lh penny sninsEs 70 sSnss
per quarter Iower qualities Fash pence i,per."
BY frustrating Cotton for Boards, Indian Corn for
Shingles mot usually quoted by the quarter), ana
Flour for Fish, they give the exact quotations Of the
Foreign despstch for tho sssoo'sted press The day
was most intensely orgy go much So that all had dss
paired Of the express steamer maing her appearances
but about rye minutes before six o'clock about one
hour after the despatch had been rent she sud
denly to the wharf to the surprise Of all parties The
OPERATOR ned tit the once Tor tea before her arrival
put vas lmneaistey no,ined ana oeneve, lett ms
yes uh.as'eu 10 attend 70 ms DUTY he had oeen com
mubioauIg WIN Caisis up 10 the moment De lett Tor
zee, Win good circuit but ioupd NJ current on ms
return ana supporing that the operator at Calais bad
eie ps Key open WINE De was Tea ne waited Tor MS
return Afsr waiting the usual time for tea one hour,
be stu found no current and sent out to the
rais VINO soon retufned anu reported thst wnst with
eIog anu we uasnese, ne eouiu nov see the wire.
re ,h.teiore Obliged 10 Wall until morning wnen
v VIZ Nas i,unu se'ereu witnin lew rous OF the
run sPfhenty oy some ouii hatcnet or ola pair OF
neh sneeis az ,ne cuts were very Irregular ana the
. r spfestsu 70 nave SUFFERED some wrsnchng How
s.,s news vac r'ce,,edi IN 81 'onn ana placed In TOE
oss htany one hour before tne arriva OF the 1850
re, IS no,s ana sApsess, su.
~ ~ 80, ~, nv SUI uppose, 70 'e pao'S