The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-13
EDISON AS AN OPERATOR.
HOW HE TOOK THE CINCINNATI REPORT AND
AsroNIsHED THE TELEGRAPHERs-oNE OF
THE INvENToRs LITTLE INVENTIONS HE ASKED

HOW HE TOOK THE CINCINNATI REPORT AND
AsroNIsHED THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
THE INVENTORS LITTLE INVENTIONS HE ASKED
NO PATENT FOR
characteristic incident of the early Of the
"wzar Of Menlo Park" apty illustrating his ready
faculty for invention told the writer yesterday
by former collaboration of the great nventor:-"It
was said he. '.n the summer of 1866. was work
ing in the Western Union Office in Louisville
The Southern report wire through that Office
Edison was in Indianapolis The report was sent by
Cincinnati every night, commencing at six O'Clock
and lasting average until TWO A. NJ. The sender
at Cincinnati RATHER. I've forgotten now
whether it was Bob Ayres some other rapid sender
but remember distinctly that there scarcely
man in the country at the time that could handle
key with him. Lord, how he did to
whoop that report up" And the narrator,
stirred by the remembrance of Mr.. Ayres
rapidity, stopped to emit . prolonged whistle
"Wel, as 1 was saying" no continued Edison was
in indianapolis. At this time nobody had ever heard
of him. and he wasn't much at receiving. In fact, he
far from being what called first class opera
tor and when he sat down to take the Cincinnati re-
port-which. by the way. the crack work Of the
day-everybody predicted that he wouldn't last
long. 1t used to be sort of mutual
understanding in those days to salt every new man
that went the report wire. especially If he didn't
happen be well known For that it rarely
the that anybody except crack receiver under
took to tackle the wire. The first night that Edison
took hold the boys all looked for fun. The sender
gait-say twenty-five words minute. Breaking on
that line in those days was rare. II q man
got awful mad and swore at him like trooper
But outside of that hated to break it sort
frst class operator that he 8 plug you touch him
in tender spot Sometimes: though, the best man
that ever lived would have to break-when Ayres got
warmed up and sashed it along at forty-fve words a
well. on the night Edison took hold. Cincinnati
started the report moderately He hadn't sent more
than five minutes before Edison opened his key and
told him to go back half dozen words. Nothing
was said to this. At the end of about ten minutes
more Edison again broke Cincinnati complied the
second time, but rather snappishly. and the boys
could see he getting rled. A few minutes more.
the keyy snarled Cincinnati. Edison was the
timid reply from Indianapolis. Well. Mr.. Edison
said Cincinnati sarcastically, would be much
obliged if you would let an operator take your
place. Edison didn't say anything in reply. but all
along the line the operators chined in their appreci-
ooh. give the office boy Q chance Let up on
him. he's battery mani Where did you learn
said nothing Presently Cincinnati started In again.
and this time he gave his best ticks. The report
rushing along about forty words minute.
Edison was in hot water He broke and broke until
it became uncomfortable. and all the report men set
to abusing him roundly They called him plug Of
sweep the streets. to throw himself off the dock,
to hire an organ. to peddle peanuts and to
he stood it like major, never making reply Well,
to make long story short the report was nearly
breaking. and Cincinnati. when he gave good
night said, parting salute, that il that plug
Edison was going to take the report in Indianapolis
another night he he scnder) would resign his place.
WONDERFUL CHANGE.
'The next night at the usual time Cincinnati called
up for report and the operators all answered. When
Cincinnati
is at the keyY Edison, was the reply. That set
ties it. said Cincinnati be hanged il I'm going to
waste my time on you any more. Unless another
man takes the report in Indianapolis I'll switch You
off and not send you line It's downright shame
he added. TO put such plug" as you on first class
wire
'Oh, try him more said Terre Haute, 'pr'aps
natl. its only loss Of time After while how
ever and with much grumbling Cincinnati conde-
scended to give him just one more chance. adding
the first time he breaks off goes the switch
1.-THE boys all looked forward to q break from Edi-
son inside the first ten minutes continued the ope.
warmed mp, and she came whoopng along like wild
fire. Memphis had to scratch with all his might to
keep up. but nary break from Edison In a few
Tcrre Haute gave break. Then Memphis sue
S%meea s not n SO sound mad f from Edison Ssn
the crack operators were obliged to break and pres
emily Cincinnati sharing in the surprise stopped to
Ay. ay came from that station. is it Edison?' was
the next inquiry Of the sender Ay, ay Edison, was
the answer.
"'How does she Gomez continued Cincinnati, still
suspicious First rate responded Edison. Once
more the sender pitched in. and it was plain to be
seen that his mind was made up to compel Edison to
break. For an hour the report came like torrent;
the Precipitation poured down the nccks of the
u ups seemed ' as though e' oid Nick himself eR
at the other end Of the wire. The first
break was from Louisville. He was followed by
Terre Haute then Memphis had to cave under again.
and so it all the boys breaking but Edison. Not
whisper came from him. They were all
plussed. Such magnificent receiving had rarely been
seem When at length the report was ended Cincin-
natl held back good night few minutes to apologize
to Edison for HIS abuse Of the night previous the
rest joined in the apology. and the business of the
night ended with Misons reputation first class
operator firmly established.
HOW DONE.
But how happened the extraordinary changer
asked the writer
"Ha ha! hat" roared the telegrapher ut was
rich. What do you suppose the ingenious rascal
had done? 1t was week before he
found out Every night Cincinnati did his level best,
three to half dozen times each; but not dot
from Edison. On the sixth night one of
the operators smelled rat, and the next day
he called up chum in Indianapolis and said 4 wish
you would drop into your Office tonight and watch
that man Edison. There's screw loose somewhere
with him. He bas taken the report every night for
week without break and it's impossible to make
him break AN right responded the indianapolis
he dropped into the Office. Edison was all
alone. sitting with his chair balanced on its
hind legs his feet resting on the report table an old
the report was written In his lap. The report was
coming the wire, but not with the lightning
rapidity usual to 1t. 1t coming slowly and
leisurely. though time was object. Edison
'coolly jotting it down and taking things easy
you please. The entrance of the operator caused him
to start. He looked confused though he'd been
doing something wrong, and hurriedly began manipu-
lating the instrument Then the operator discovered
that Edison had rugged up two saunders, working
the other in such away that he could make the report
come fast or slow, he desired. that while
the Cincinnati man was sweating drops as big
Lima beans in his efforts to salt Edison
that worthy was coolly making the report come as
slow the fancy seized him. OF course it made the
report late for the printers, after Cincinnati had
given good night Edison had to remain an hour or
later 10 copy up, but long he could keep II to
himself there would be no fault found The next day
the story all tho South and the manager Of
the indianapolis Office quietly informed Edison that,
while he was ingenious young man, he would in
future please not make any more experiments with
the wires -
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