Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-07-24
SeleEted agiseellally.
A TUNNEL ADVENTURE.

SOME years ago, was stationed in one
Of our chief manufacturing towns as SUI
perintendent in the Office of a certain
telegraph company. This Office contained
the smallest amount of space in which it
was possible to carry on the work. The
greater portion Of it was dedicated to the
public; and all that remained for an in
strument-room was little slice cut off
from the main office by wooden parti-
ton. In this den, about dozen of us
were doomed to spend the best part of
every day in an atmosphere vitiated by
the gas which was kept continually burn
ing. Underneath this Office was q sort of
Internal region into which our messengers
descended. These batteries were under
the charge of our linesman--a man who
deserves a special word of description.
Jacob Voosh was his name, and he was
tall, broad -shouldered fellow, with a
hook head of red hair, and a closely-cut
nd fiery beard. Judging from long in
ercOurse with him, | should say that his
chief characteristics were love of his
trade, detestation of telegraph clerks in
general, and an inordinate fondness for
bitter ale. OF these peculiarities, the last
was decidedly the most prominent, and
When, after long sitting-and it took a
great deal to affect him-his favorite
liquor reached his head, it effectually
banished all considerations of work until
sober moments should arrive, and reused
his rancour against the office clerks until
it found ventin the most uncomplimentary
terms. He had originally been carpen-
ter, but had by some means picked up o
store of information about telegraph in
struments, and had drifted into the post of
linesman in our company. His duties
were multifarious, for he was considered
responsible for the efficient working of all
the apparatus. But upon the whole, the
job was an easy one, and frequently a
slight inspection in the morning, and an
evening call to see that all was right, con-
stituted his entire days work. The
lengthy interval between morning and
evening Jacob religiously spent in dingy
little public house near the office, where.
he was within reach in case of an emer-
gency, and where the tap was exceptional
ly good Occasional emergencies did oc-
cur. Lightning magnetised all the instrr-
ments and made them for the time useless,
or a storm blew down a score of posts,
and broke the wires. Then Jacob Voosh
showed himself equal to the catastrophe.
lie hired subordlnates, he slaved day and
light, he toiled like Hercules, and then,
Ehen he had set everything right, he re-
1rned to his corner in the public house
compensate his eXertions by increased
'aughts OF foaming ale | have said that
was fond of his work; but there was
part of it he did not like. One of the
rthern railway companies allowed us to
ry our wires q certain distance along
Ar posts, and we, in return, agreed to
ep their telegraphic communications
rfect. This duty Of course, fell to the
OF Jacob, but his experience of rail
~ officials was such that he would
ther do anything than encounter them,
d invariably returned with brighter
&c than he had worn when he started on
me OF his expeditions along the line.
ailway men, from porters to managers,
Jared his vocabulary of yituperation
lth telegraph clerks; and silver-laced
litorms of the Northshire Railway Com
any reused him as red rag does mad
all. can ill-conditioned, drunken fell
w" you say. Exactly so; but q good
'orkman, and that suited u.s.
One August evening, this worthy pre-
mted himself before me in a state of
eery excitement and having been in
rmed that there was no need for his
rvices, departed evidently bent on de-
aueh. He had scarcely gone when one
our wires ceased working; but as the
ly's business was done, and we had an
her wire communicating with the same
alton, did not think it worth while
nding after him, but left him to find out
le fault in the morning. One by one, the
erks took down their hats and departed,
ld the men on night duty having come,
cked my desk, and was preparing to go
ome, when one of the counter clerks in
rmed me that gentleman wanted me.
ms gentleman was clerk from the office
the railway company, to inform me that
'eir tunnel wire had ceased working; that
he traffic was in consequence stopped, and
10 matter must be seen to at once. |
somised to attend to it Immediately, and
event away, saying as he left the office
Don't lose a minute, for the six o'clock
mth mail is waiting in the station, and
nnot get away"
Snatchlng up my hat, ran with all
>eed to the dingy public-house which
acob Voosh made his headquarters and
iere sure enough | found him in the
,iddle of group of his cronies, baWling
nth drinking-song, and waving pint
otabove his head, in tipsy illustration OF
is lay.
"Come, come" l said, this won't do,
acob. The railway tunnel wire has
roken, and you must go at once and
lend it."
Jacob voosh put down his pewter,
iretched out his legs, thrust his hands
eep into his pockets, and with great de
beration answered: "Blest if | do
han't stir this night"
Nonsense" l replied crustily and au-
lOritatively. "It must be done, and you
lust do it. So come along"
~ tell yoN, getoTted jacob With greater