The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-21
raE wHEEN0 DANNY NHEIlGENoFB MONDAY MORNING. MAYa 1871

TnErnoMc ExrKR1atEsrs.-it is we'll
known that Prof.. Dwight and Dr.. WOr-
then have been for some time past exper.
imenting with a telephone apparatus,
similar 10 that used BY Prof. A. Graham
Bell. The result OF these experiments
have been duly chronicled by the press,
and have had the effect Of developing con.
siderable interest in the subject, Accord.
ing 10 arrangements previous
" made through the kindness Of
Mr.. Tracy, manager Of the At
lantic and Pacific Telegraph Company's
Offices in this city, an experiment was
yesterday afternoon made with this city
and MoundsylllR, twelve miles south, as
the objective points. The apparatus has
been described 10 often that Il is not worth
while for us 10 attempt il, and we will
notdo 90. At this end Of the line the ap.
paratus, enclosed in a box which resCm.
bles a sewing machine more than any
thing We can think OF, was placed on 10.
bic In the h. 4 o. railroad Offices, and
connected with manager Tracy's switch
board by plain copper wire. DR., Wor.
then remained in the city and arranged
everything here, while Prof, Dwight went
down to Moundsvills and made tho prop
er connections there.
Everything was in readiness by p. NJ,
and DR., Worthen produced n tin horn,
and placing the mouth Of the instrument
in the opening OF the box blew q terrific
blast, which almost deaiened those in
waiting, He then applied his ear to the
box, and waited patiently for some
time for response, but in vain.
A monolonous tick, tick, was heard, but
that was all. Several equally futile at
tempts followed, and the Doctor began TO
get discouraged. lie was at a loss to
understand the failure Of the experiment.
In reply TO some questions propounded
by reporter, he said that the instru-
ment had worked most satisfactorily at
his residence, at a distance Of some nine.
~ feet. Not only could the human
voice be heard distinctly, but conversa.
ton could be carried on at that dis.
lance in whispers. His children had
amused themselves during his ab.
sence in carrying on conversation by
means Of the telephone. The Doctor fur.
Their stated that their recent experiments
al Washington and Benwood had been in.
terrupted in the same mysterious man
ner, although at times a horn and a
cornet were used with success at both
points, Mr.. Tracy thought the failure OF
the experiment was owing 10 the conncc.
ton with the wires ordinarily used in
j, telegraphing, which in his opinion was
caused by electricity. He believed the
thing would not work unless separate
wire was used the entire distance.
Some Geographic correspondence en-.
sued, IN relation TO the proper connec.
lions at each end Of the line, and finally
a request came from Prof. Dwight to
blow once or twice on the horn. Dr.
Worthen signiiled his assent to this prop
oSition, when the words came from
Moundsville, "all attention" The Doc
tor again applied his lips TO the horn
and blew blast which, like Roderick
Dhua famous solo, was worth a thousad
men," After this all was quiet for some
time; nothing could be heard at the
box, but presently the operator in the
next room sang out "they say they hear
you and want you to talk for few mo
ments.' Placing his mouth at the
opening, the Doctor called "Hello why
don't you say something YOURSELF" I'res
emily an answer came, by telegraph and moi
by the telephone, that the Doctor had mol
been heard.
Doctor Worthen by this time had be.
come heartily tired Of making all the
noise himself, and telegraphed to Dwight
10 blow his own horn for awhile
Dwight promptly replied that they
had Just sent out for a horn, when a way
in the office at this end suggested that in
all probability they had had too many
already. A horn having been procured,
the Moundsville men telegraphed, "all
ready; listen" Almost instantly the
Doctor and reporter, who had their
ears Mt the box, heard the sound Of 4
horn, but very family. This experiment
was repeated several times, and each
time quite satisfactorily.
Several attempts were then made 10
carry on conversation between the
two points, but TO no purpose. There
WIS hardly half minute that some OF
the clerks did not waltz across the room
squeaky shoes, and doors were slam.
med open and shut without regard to
consequences, 30 that unless the man at
MOundsville had Bill Aliens lungs he
had but slight chance OF being beard at
this end Of the connection. Not sound
Could be heard, not even humping on
the plate, which, the Doctor informs us,
is generally heard quite distinctly. So,
alter several hours OF most fruitless work,
the experiment was given up for the
time being as a bad job. We understand,
however, that Messrs. Dwight and Wor.
then propose to continue the expert.
menis, and fight it out on the same line il
it takes all summer. There is some talk
Of putting up single wire from one end
OF the city to the other.