The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-03-05
r..r n.na,es Mr,.. Up s,oir..

.Readlng about electricity, lightning
and the telegraph, the other day salt
Uncle Peter. reminded me Of curious
story once heard, when I was In Eng
land
1t seems there was newspaper In the
city of Glasgow, In Scotland, which EN-
ployed London correspondent. This
correspondent made 1t his duty to gather
the news every day, and send 1t to Glas-
gov every night BY telegraph.
He had made an agreement with an
operator at a certain Office, by which his
news was sent to Glasgow at reduction.
by the year.
One night he arrived at the lower door.
at the foot of the stairs leading up Into
the telegraph Office. The door was lock-
ed. aud he could not open 1t.
The telegraph Office was way up at the
top of the building, In the sixth story.
The operator had bed there, to which he
retired promptly at 3 o'clock; and 1t was
now half-past two.
The operator, upstairs, yawncd and
looked at his watch. jenkins won't come
tonight said he, 4 may us well 90 t.
bed.'
And there was poor jenkins all th'
time pounding away OIL the door ut thu
foot of the long stairs, unable to get In.
'Hillo! up thcrer he cried, looking NJ
ut the window of the little telegraph Office
that glowed with light. 'lIillo, Jones
Somebody has locked the outside door
and can't get In
Whats the row?' said policeman
coming along.
I'm locked out said jenkins.
Here I've got batch of the most Inn
portant news for my paper.-a murder,
three fires, and riot-and the door Is
locked in my face, and l can't get in.-
What will doT
SO the policeman began banging the
door, bnt Jones, the operator, up In his
Office was as unconscious Of the tumult
as II he had been In the moon. He was
whlstling to himself and yawning prodig-
iously.
why don't yer 20 to some hother hof'
flceT asked the policeman.
No authority to, use any>othcr line
said the correspondent. 'Ah! I've got
1t. he added, and before the policeman
could ask what it was, the excited Jcn-
kins had dashed of down street rs II u
mad dog was aftcr him.
jenkins rushed brcathlessly into another
telegraph Office, six blocks of.
Il say!' said nc to the operator; Pm
In fix. Got news to go of inside Of half
an-liour, and the stupid operator at my
Office has gone to sleep, and can't get In,
and-and-'
well, that Is fix
TELL you what want said Jenkins; (;
cndcayoring to catch his breath. i want
you to telegraph down to Glasgow, and
ask the operator there to telegraph up
here to Joncs, and bid him come down
stairs and let me In"
The operator roared with laughter at
this. but went ut once To his Instrument
and began rattling away Mt great rate.
This is the message he sent:
Glasgow. Wake up Jones, Station X;
tell him jenkins ut the foot of stairs can't
get in.'
Jones was looking ut his watch again,
and concluding that he had better put
out the lights and go to his little bedroom
across the hallway, when clatter! clatter!
went his instrument.
There's Glasgow calling me- said
Jones; and hurried to his instrument and
ticked OF:
What's wantings'
Back came the answer:
jenkins down stairs-doOr fast-go let
him In
on went Jones with rush down stairs
threw Opcr.thc door-and ut last the
anxious jenkins got up and sent OF his
news.
So you sec how man sent message
throu ii a solid door, and up four pair Of
stairs,-four hundred miles around, by
way of Glasgow-and all within twenty
minutes.
Wasn't that four hundred miles up
Youihs CompdnioH.