Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-04
Bnlt Ssanrbrt yonrnaI,
THE TRUE STORY OF THE FIRST
TELEGRAM.

The bill met with sneers and opposition
in the Senate, but the business OF that
house went on with discouraging slow
ness. At twilight on the last evening OF
tho session (Mareh 8, 1e43) there were
10 bills before it. As 1t seemed impossi-
BILE for it 10 be reached in regular course
before the hour of adjournment should
arrive, the Professor, who had anxiously
watched the tardy movements Of business
all day from the gallery of the Senate
chamber. went with q sad heart to his
hotel and prepared to leave for New York
NJ Al, early hour the next morning. While
at breakfast. q servant Informed, him that
a Young lad desired to see him In the par
lor.
There he met Miss Annie Ellsworth,
then young school girl-the daughter of
his intimate friend, Hon. Henry L. Els
sworth, the First Commissioner of Patents
who said, as she extended her hand to
him: 81 have come to congratulate YOU"
Upon what ?" inquired the Professor.
Upon the passage of your BILL" she
replied.
impossible! Its fate was sealed at
dusk last evening. You must be mis-
taken"
mot at ALL" she responded Father
sent me to tell you that your bill was
passed. He remained until the session
closed, and yours was the last bill but one
acted upon, and it was passed just five
minutes before the adjournment; and
am 90 glad to be the first one to tell YOU
Mother says, too. that You must come with
me TO breakfast
The invitation was readily accepted,
and the Joy in the household was unbound
ed. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Ellsworth had
fully believed in the project. and the for
mer. in his confidence in it and in his warm
friendship for Professor Morse, had spent
all the closing hours of the session in the
Senate Chamber, doing what he could te
help the bill along. aud giving it all The
influence Of his high personal and oficia
position.
Grasplng the hand of his young friend
the professor thanked her again and again
for bearing him such pleas ant tidings, an,
assured her that she should send over thu
wires the first message, as her reward
The matter was talked over in the family
and Mrs Ellsworth suggested messag,
which Professor Morse referred to thu
daughter for approval: and this was thu
one which was subsequently sent.
A little more than year after that time
the line between Washington and Balti
more was completed. Professor Morse
was in the former city, and Mr.. Alder Vail
his assistant, In the latter; the first in tn,
chamber of the Supreme Court, the las
Ia the Mount Clare depot, when the cir
cult being perfect, Professor Morse sen
30 Miss Ellsworth for her message. and i
came: ''What hath God wrought"
1t was sent in triplicate in the dot-and
line language of the instrument TO Balti
more. and was the first message ever
nansmitted BY e recording telegraph. A
fac simiie of that message. with Professor
Morse's Endorsement, is here given.
The story of this first message has been
often told with many exaggeraiions. Ii
has roamed abou, Europe with various ro-
mantle material attached to it. originating
mainly in the French imagination, and
has started up anew from time to time in
our own country under fresh forms. but
the ADORE story is simply and literally
true. An inventor in despair receives the
news of his unexpected success from his
friends daughter. and he makes her q
promise which he keeps, and thus links
her name with his own, and with an in
vention which becomes one of the con-
trolling instruments Of civilization for al
iime.-From Scr.5ners Monthly fg'
March.