Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-14
Pepper!
california story of a Telegraph
Operator.

california story OF a IeieGraph
Operator.
Fhe following story originated,
believe, with the San Fran
70 Post. We give it in the
rds of the California writer:
MANY amusing stories have
In told of the festive freaks of
ecraph operators who, when
RI afforded an opportunity for
display of their penchant for
ood Joke rarely fail to improve
Almost everybody has heard
the operator in an Eastern city,
10. on a hot summer day, desir-
TO borrow a chew of tobacco
m one of his fellows in the
he room, instead of making
own his request by WORDS of
butb. chose what he deemed the
IS exhausting measure of indit-
a dispatch. which, travelling
r a circuit of upward of a thou
bd miles, in about two minutes
ched the identical office whence
started, much to the surprise of
other chap, who blandly SHE'D
tobacco box at the head of the
epressible jokist.
It often happens that telegraph
are called into service at the
presentation Of Il stage play, in
itch occurs what is known as a
elegraph srene," such as the one
bwn in Byron's Across the
ntinent," or Boucicault's Long
like and it is then that the OPP
btor behind the scene manages
amuse himself hy talking to
E fraternity in the audience, un-
Town Of course to the most of
ose present, who find no mean
& in the click of the instru-
|ent.
IAN evidence that the operators
our city are not behind hand
the matter of having their fun,
lie following is related of jim,
well-known attache of the
estern Union:
During the theatrical season Of
Et year, the drama Of the Long
frike" WAS produced at one Of
pr theaters, and for the manipu-
|tion of the telegraph instru-
TENT, which plays an important
ert in the most important act of
pc play, Jim was engaged.
His position was such that he
build see the audience without be-
g seen. and when upon taking
IS position, discovering in the
ldltorlum a brother Operat r
ON Memphis by name Pepper
no had that day arrived in
determined to have a
tile sport on his own account.
Accordingly, when the time
ame for the sounding of the first
lspatch. Jim loudly sounded on
le machine the words. "How are
GU, Pepper ?"
The quick professional ear of
epper caught the words instant
. and wondering who the deuce
was, straighteneh up and stared
the stage as if he would have
wen two dollars and a half to
now something more. pepper,
your mother ?" came from
10 instrument. and Pepper
ioroughly mystified. turned to
partner to express his utter
.tonishment at the most singular
rcumstance.
AS luck would have it, the audi
rum held quite a delegation Of
ieeraphers, who by this time
that Jim was up to one of his
u tricks, and with one accord
icy oagan to look about the thea
e for Pepper.
inn saw the effect Of his en-
,r.meht, and enjoyed himself
repper hadn't got through tell
: MS girl all about it. when
. ..,rt came another message.
rnat won't do, old Pepper, l
low you well. and you hadn't
wei be fooling tn It contiding
with any soft nonsense"
ms reused the telegraph boys
'ne very pith of curiosity,
many of them stood up. gaz-
< iongingly about them as if
v a, only object in life was to dis
upper felt that they knew him,
luz confusion which had been
auuallY COYpri nn hia Lanisonaa