River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-04-04
Edison, the inventor.


have excited universal interest. His
stock indicator, automatic and duplex in
struments, telephone, electro photograph
Autograph, electric pen, and, above ALL
his speaking machine, mark him as the
Napoleon Of inventors. As any particu-
lars concerning the history of this extra
ordinary young inventor must prove of
more than usual interest, the writer details
a conversation with Mr.. George s. Stew
art, an old telegraph operator, now en-
ployed in the office of the Associated
Press:
81 first knew Tom Edison" said Mr..
Stewart, lin 1866. At that time was en-
ployed by Col. Coleman, the Supe.intend
ent of the Western Union office in
Memphis. He was a gawky boy, about
eighteen or nineteen, and was reading
everything about electricity that he could
pick up. He had lean and hungry
look, and always seemed to be under the
influence of some secret excitement. He
had got in his head the idea of sending
duplex dispatches, and all his spare time
was devoted to experiments in the office.
Coleman stood it for some time, but at
last began to growl. He allowed that Tom
was crazy, and said that amy -ool ought
to know that wire can't be worked both
ways at the same time He declared
that he wouldn't have Tom puttering
around the office with such Stiffness, and
finally discharged him in disgust. The
boy went back home to some town in
Michioan, and lost track of him.
"Some time afterward was transferred
to the Boston office. At that time wire
No /, as it was then called, was consid
cred the crack wire of the country. The
fastest men were working it. For some
cause the operator in Boston resigned. 1t
was difficult to find man to take his
place. A half dozen fellows tried it, but
found it too much for them. One after
another they dropped it like hot potato,
and sloped wiser than when they came.
There was a man In the office named
Adams. He thought the world of Tom
Edison, and recommended him for the
place, vouching for him as first-class
operator. G. +. Milliken, the manager,
telegraphed TO the little town in Michi-
gan, 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 with
out bed. AS usual,h owned but one suit
of clothes, and that was on his back. I'M
fortunately, it was a summer suit. He
might have froZeR to death had he not got
an old rough roundabout overcoat from a
Canuck railroad laborer. But he finally
got through all right.
" / vas in the Boston office when he
arrived, and / must say" continued Mr..
Stewart, bringing his fist down upon the
table, she was the worst looksng speci-
men of humanity ever saw. The mod
ern telegraph tramp isn't marker. He
wore pair of jean breeches six inches
too short for him, pair of low shoes, the
Canuck jacket, and broad brimmed
butternut hat, relic of his life in Mem
phis. The wide rim was badly;torn, and
lung so that you could see his ear through
the opening. There was the slightest
trace of dirt on his upper lip, that he
called mustache. His hair hadn't been
combed for week, and he had the black
est white shirt that was ever seen on the
back of human being. Nervously pinch
ing his upper lip-a habit that he had
he inquired for the manager, and was
sent to Milliken.
"'Are you the boss!' Tom asked. Mill
liken smiled and said he was manager.
Tom then introduced himself and asked
when they wanted him TO go to work.
Miniken stared at him as though he
couldn', believe his ears, and said: AT
half-past five.' 1t was then we'll along In
the afternoon. Tom began to look around
the office for clock, and Milliken said +:
Young man, you have to work pretty
heavy wire Tom gave what he called
his mustache an extra twist, and with all
the assurance in the world blurted out
'All right, boss. IN be here at half past
five He sloped so quick that 1t made
Millikens head swim.
"The operators burst into peal OF
laughter. They have seen and heard every
thing, and their remarks were anything
but CONF limentary 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 an
other. A third declared that Tom was
the worst he ever saw" and when a
fourth one wondered weather the walk
ing between Michigan and Boston was
very good there was general roar.
"Well," continued Stewart, "half-past
five came. and SO did Tom. Everybody
was on the qus cjUe. Milliken was just
taking from the vault the supply OF
blanks for the night operators. As Tom
came up he poi-ted to a pile OF them,
saving Take what blanks you want and
Iii show you your table, Tom innocent
ly picked up the whole bundle, and fol-
lowed Milliken to his table. The eper-
ators began to grin and smoker. They
all thought that he would get bounced
after trying to catch one message. 1t
was the No. / wire to New York. Jerry
Borst, then considered one OF the fastest
senders in the country, worked the New
York end. As Tom seated himself ne
heard the call 3D. and turning to Milllken
asked if that was the call for Boston.
Yes, replied the manager, watching
Toms movements with intense curiosity.
Thersupon Tom opened his key and tick
ed the answer: i, II Jerry began to
swhoop 'em up in his best style, and ev-
ery eye was turned on Tom. lie DIS
played 30 anxiety, but kept right along
at his work as though he had been taking
Jerry all his life For four mortal hours
did Tom take it down in handwriting
as neat and plain as reprint. For
the first time in his life Jerry had rushed
it until he was tired without break from
the receiver. He was astounded. When
he had finished, The following messages
passed between them.
From Jerry.
"Who the deuce are you, anyhowF
From Tom.
SIN the new man. My name is Tom
Edison.
From Jerry
swell, YOU'RE the man I've been look
ing for the last ten years, and you re the
only man ever found that could take
me without break. Shake.
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