Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1873-06-26
Samuel B. Morse.

ers honor on his country, and who
was one of the greatest benefactors of
his race, died of paralysis of the
brain, at his residence in New York
City, in the eighty first year of his
age.
Professor Morse was the son of
New England clergyman. He gradu-
ated at Yale College in 1910, and at
once devoted himself with assiduitv
to painting, in which he acquired
some distinction, but which never
proved remunerative He twice visit
ed England in the prosecution of his
art. In returning to the United
States, after his second visit, in 1882,
| the conversation of a fellow passen-
ger, Professor jackson, in refare ce
To the experiments that had just been
made in Paris with the electro magnet,
suggested to him the idea of tue cleo.
tric telegraph. The subject seemed at
once to take full possession of his
soul, and before the voyage was ended
he had drawn out the general plan of
the system known by his name On his
arrival at New York, his friends and
family were on the pier to receive
| him, but was he SO fully absorbed
with his great discovery, that he ac-
cepted their warm reception with
marked Indifference, made no inqui-
ries, and seemed morose and insensi
! bic.
He now devoted all his energies,
and all the means he could comm aud,
to developing and perfecting his in
yention. Men were incredulous, but
little assistance could be obtained, and
poverty and want stared him in the
face. For twelve years he toiled on,
in the midst of the greatest discour
agements and ridicule, before he gain
ed his final success. Near the close of
the session Of 1874, Congress made
an appropriation of thirty thousand
dollars to assist him to erect a line of
| telegraph between Washington City
and Baltimore. This enabled him to
demonstrate the practibiIity Of his in
vention, and to introduce it into gen
eral use, with results that have aston
ished the world.
Some of the incidents connected
with the passage Of the bill by Con
gress, and the transmission of the first
Hl6SSdS6 ONGl lhS VII CO al z vi NNCCJ III
terest. The House of Representa-
tives had passed the bill by a large
majority, and it only awaited the ac-
ton of the Senate. OuIy two days
remained before the close Of the ses
sion On examination of the calend
er, it was found that no less than one
hundred and forty three bills had pre-
cedence of it. Professor Morse, who
had been in Washington pressing the
subject on the attention Of Congress,
had expended nearly all his means,
and it is not to be wondered at, that
he was discouraged On the last
night of the session he remained till
time o'clock. and then left without the
slightest hope that his bill would pass.
On returning to his hotel, he counted
his money, and found that after paying
his expenses to New York, he would
have only seventy five cents left
He retired to bed sad and disheart-
ened The next morning as he was
going to breakfast he was informed
that a lady was waiting to see him in
the parlor He went in Immediately
and found that the young lady was
Miss Ellsworth, daughter Of the Com
missioner Of Patents, who had been
one of the most steadfast friends
while in Washington
Il come,'' said she, ''to congratu
late you
For v hat ?'' said Professor Morse.
"On the passage of your bill,'' she
replied,
''Oh, no; you must be mis- taken, -
Il
till late hour last night, and there
was no prospect ofits being reached u
Am the first, them she exclaimed
joyfulIy, ito tell you?'
Yes said he, ''if it is really so.''
"Well," she continued, ''father re
NAMED till the adjournment, and heard
: it passed, and asked him if l might
not run over and tell you"
"Annie," said the Professor, his
emotion almost choking his utterance
"Annie, the first message that is sent
from Washington to Baltimore shall
be sent from YOU
"Well," she replied, II will keer
you to your word"
The line between Washington and
Baltimore was at length completed
) and Professor Morse informed Miss
Ellsworth that he was now ready tc
fulfill his promise, and asked her what
message she would send. To this he
received the following reply:
"WHAT HATH GOD wRoUGHr!"
Words the most appropriate of any
that could have been chosen. The
message was twice repeated. and with
the greatest success. Governor Sey
mour, Of Connecticut, being informed
of the fact, called upon Professor
Morse and claimed the first messag,
for his State, because Miss Ellsworth
was a native of Hartford. His reques
was granted, and Miss Ellsworth!
dispatch, engraved in letters of gold
, is now displayed conspicuously in th,
archives of the Historical Society o
Connecticut.
Professor Morse lived to see a net
a work of telegraph wires enCircling thu
f globe, and the most distant countrie
o brought into almost immediate com
n munication. He was man of unblem
I ished integrity, Christian uprightnes
y of character, and died in good ole
! age, renowned and honored through
e out the civilized world
8 Arguments for Free Liquor.
It CurcAGo, June 11.-At Decatur, Ill
f o. Thursday night, a young ma
y named Bicks, while intoxicated, bega
o to abuse his mother, and when remor
: strated with by his father drew re
e volver, and reaching across the tabl
! ylto. hoT ciffinO. of cL
S his father in the head. Then turnin