The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-04-11


fellows tried it, but found it too much
for them. One after another dropped 1t
like a hot potato, and sloped wiser than
when they came. There was a man III
the Office named NJ. f. Adams. He
thought the world of Tom Edison, and
recommended him for the place, vouch
ing for him as first-class operator. g.
F. Milliken, the manager, telegraphed
to the little town of Michigan, asking
Tom if he would come on and accept
the position. Tom answered yes, and
without further words started for Boston
via the Michigan Central and Grand
Trunk Railroads. In running through
Canada he got showed under, and was
kept on the track in one spot for twenty
four hours, cold and hungry, without "a
bed AS usual, he owned but one suit
of clothes, and that was on his back.
Unfortunately, it was summer suit
He might have frozen to death had he
not bought an old rough roundabout
overcoat from Canuck railroad labor
er. But he finally got through all right.
s' was in the Boston Office when he
arrived, and must say" continued Mr..
Stewart, bringing his fist down upon
the table, she. was the worst-looking
specimen of humanity ever saw. The
modern telegraph tramp isn'ta marker.
He wore pair of jean breaches six
inches too short for him, pair of very
low shoes, the Canuck jacket, and a
broad-brimmed butternut hat, relic o
his life in Memphis. The wide rim was
badly torn, and hung down SO that you
could see his ear through the opening.
There was the slightest trace of dirt on
his upper lip, that he called a NOUS
tache. His hair hadn't been combed for
a week, and he wore the blacklist white
shirt that was ever seen on the back of a
human being. Nervously pinching his
upper hp-a habit that he had-he in
quired for the manager, and was sent to
Milliken.
scare you the boss?' Tom asked
Millikin smiled and said he was man.
ager. Tom then introduced himself
and asked him when they wanted him
to go to work. Mi1fiken stared at him
as though he couldn't believe his ears,
and said AT half-past five.' 1t was
then well along in the afternoon. Tom
began to look around for clock, and
Milliken said: young man, you have
to work a pretty heavy wire Tom
gave what he called his moustache an
extra twist, and with all the assurance
in the world blurted out, All right,
boss. I'll be here at half past five ,
He sloped so quick that it made Milf
ken's head swim
The operators burst into a peal of
laughter. They had seen and heard
every thing, and their remarks were
any thing but complimentary to Tom.
'Oh,' said one of them, he won't last
as long as that Jerseyman that tackled
the wire the other day. why, that
fellow can't read by paper, let alone by
sound shouted another A third de-
clared that Tom was 8 the worst he ever
saw and when fourth wondered
whether the walking between Michi-
gan and Bosten was very good there
was general roar.
WE'LL" continued Stewart, half
past five came, and so did Tom. Every
body was on the qui Uiue Milliken was
just taking from the vault the supply of
blanks for the night operators. As
Tom came up he pointed to a pile OF
them, saying, take what blanks you
want and I'll show you your table
Tom innocently picked up the whole
bundle and followed Milliken to his ta-
BILE. The operators began to grin and
smoker. They all thought that he
would get bounced after trying to catch
one message. 1t was the No. 1 wire
to New York. Jerry Borst, then
considered one of the tastes,
senders in the country, worked the New
York end. As Tom seated himself he
heard the call 3D. and turning to Mill
ken asked if that was the call for Bos
ton. Eyes, replied the manager, watch
ing Toms movements with intense curl
osity. Thereupon Tom opened hissRey
and licked the answer, Il, II Jerry be
gan to 'whoop EN- up in his best style
and every eye was turned on Tom He
displayed no anxiety, but keeping righ
along as though he had been taking
Jerry all his life. For four mortal hours
did Jerry keep it up, a hundred pound.
to the square inch, and four morta
| hours did Tom take it down in a hand
writing as neat and plain as reprint
For the first time in his life Jerry hat
rushed it until he was tired without {
break from the receiver. He was as
founded. When he had finished, tht
following messages passed between
them:
From Jerry.-Who the devil are you, any
| how!
! From I'0m.-I'm the new man. Ny nam.
| is Tom Edison.
! From Jerry.-Well, by La ripper-REp. ]
/ you're the man I've been looking for for tn
| last ten years, and you're the only man
ever found that could take me without
/ break. Shake.
IS a nd fhpv ShnnE Tho actonic b N, a, y,