The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-04-04
Edison, the Inventor.


Edison, the Inventor.
The marvellous discoveries Of Prof,
Thomas A. Edison, of Menlo Park, N. j..
have excited universal interest. His
stock Indicator, automatic and duplex in.
telephone, electromagnetic,
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
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:
II first knew Tom Elison," said Mr..
Stewart" Tin 1866. At that time was en-
ploycd by Col. Coleman, the Supe:intcnd-
ent Of the Western Union office in
Memphis. He was 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 tor some time, but at
last began to growl. He allowed that Tom
was crazy, and said that ANY .ool ought
to know that wire can't be worked both
ways at the same time lie 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
Michigan, and lost track OF him.
"Some time afterwar.l was transferred
to the Boston office. At that time wire
No. 1, 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. It
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 man in the office named
Adams. He thought the world of Tom
Edison, and recommended him for the
place, vouching for him as tirst-class
operator. G. F. N1illikcn, the manager,
telcgraphcd 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
twcnty-four hours, cold and hungry with
out bed. AS usual,he owned but one suit
of clothes, and that was on his back. I'm
fortunately, it was summer suit. He
might have frozen to death had he not got
an old rough roundabout overcoat from a
Canuck railroad laborer. BIT he finally
got through all right.
IL vas in the Boston office when. lie
arrived, and l must say" continued Mr.
Stewart, bringing his fist down upon the
table, he WAS the worst loOksng speci
men of humanity ever saw. The mod.
ern telegraph tramp isn't marker. He
wore pair of jean brooches six inches
too short for him, pair of low shoes, the
Canuck jacket, and a broad brimme,1
buttcrnut hat, a relic Of his life in Mem
phis. The vide rim was badlyEtorn, and
hung 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 mustachc. His hair hadn't been
combcd 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 tho manager, and was
sent to Millikcn.
"'Arc you the boss Tom asked. Mil
likcn smiled and said he was manager
Tom then introduced himself and asked
when they wanted him to go to work
Millikcn stared at him as though he
coulln': believe his ears, and said: al
half-past five 1t was then we'll along in
the afternoon. Tom began to look around
the office for a clock, and Milliken said
Young man, you have to work a pretty
heavy wire Tom gave what he called
his m,stache all extra twist, and with oil
the assurance in the world blurted out
'.All right, boss. IN be here ut half past
five lie slopcd so quick that it made
Milliken's head swim.
"Thc operators burst into peal o.
laughter. They have seen and heard every
thing, and their remarks were anything
but CONF limentary to Tom. "Oh," sale
one Of them, he won't last as long a!
that Jerseyman that tackled the wire thu
other day. why, that fellow can't reat
by paper, let alone by sound shouted an
ntlor third .3,,l,ro,1 %1,,,+ vr,,, ,,,,,
the worst he ever saw and when ,
fourth one wondered weather the walk
ing between Michigan and Boston wa
very good there was a general roar.
SWELL" continued Stewart, "half-p pas
five came, and SO did Tom. Everybody
was on The qui viue. Nillikcn was jus
taking from the vault the supply o
blanks for the night operators. As Ton
came up he poi-tcd to a pile of them
saving: Take what blanks you want ant
III show you your table, Tom innocent
ly picked up the whole bundle, and fol
lowed Milliken to his table. The opcr
ators began to grin and smoker. The,
all thought that he would get bounced
after trying to catch one message. II
was the No. wire to New York. .Jerr,
Borst, then considered one of the fastest
sendcrs i'll the country, worked the New
York end. AS Tom seated himself liz
heard the call 3D. and turning to MiIlikcr
asked il that was the call for Boston.
Yes, replied the manager, watching
Toms movements with intense curiosity
Thcreupon Tom opened his key and tick.
cd the answer: i, II Jerry began tc
'whoop 'em up in his best style, and ev.
cry eye was turned on Tom. He DIS
played no anxiety, but kept right along
at his work as though he had been taking
Jerry all his life For four mortal i,uurs
did Tom take it down in handwriting
as neat and plain as reprint. Fol
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, anyhow?
From Tom.
sim the new man. My name is Tom
Edison