The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1879-05-17

From the Philadelphia Times:

From the Philadelphia Times:
II Il safe to say that no message
ever sent BY telegraph was Of such
national interest as the one which
Mr.. William E. Kettles, then an
operator in the service Of the Gov.
ernment at the War Department
at Warrington, received from Rich
mond on the morning Of the 81 Of
April, 1855. Mr.. Kettles, then u
mere boy Of Is, but an expert tele-
graph operator, was working the
Fortress Monroe and City Point
wire at Washington. Shortly after
ESQ the Washington and Cherry
stone operators were engaged on q
long message, when suddenly both
men were taken aback by what
seemed to be most foolish demand
from Fortress Monroe: "Turu
down for Richmond. quickl" Had
. dash Of Lightning struck through
the walls at that moment, the
shock could not have been greater
than II was on the part Of every
man IN the room.
There was great alacrity in turn
Ing down the adjustment. There
were trembling fingers whilst II
was being donc, and there was Q
gathering around of many opera
tors with curiosity, suspense aud
impatience combined to see whaI
Il meant. Sure enough! The sig
mails OF the operator in Richmond
to tho operator in Washington
were bounding along the line. NJ
sigpal was ever answered more
promptly. Then came the qucs
tiOn:
"Do you get me wells"
II do; g0 ahead"
"All right. Here's the 1rs
message for four years:
RICHMOND. Va, April 3, lS6J.
Hon. \. n. Stanton, Secretary OF Wa
We entcrsd Richmond ut eight O'Clock thl
morning. @. wEirzEL,
Drigaller- General Commanding
Mr.. Kettles comedies that h'
copied the message, but hc coult
never tell how. lie remembers
starting up from his chair and up
setting inkstand and lnstruments
Of kicking over tin that sat q
the fireplace, in order to make
noise ofrushing for General Eek
crt's room, where sat Presiden
Lincoln and MIR. Tinker, the cipheI
clerk, talking in u low tone. A
Kettles was about to hand th'
message TO Mr.. Tinker, the Presi
dent caught sight Of ths bod
words, aud with one motion an'
with one motion aud two stride
message and President were out o
sight Hm THE way to Secreiar,
| Stanton's room. MIR. Tinker nn'
everybody else were dumbfounded
Kettles quietly returned 10 his In
| strument, walking like one IN
dream proceeded mechanically Il
turn up the inkstand, and straight
ened up his overturned machine
Then he sat down Ia his chair AM
stared straight before him in blan|
amusement. Aronnd him wer
the other operators, every maj
alike flustered and unable to &c
| their minds back to their work o
| to utter connected words.
In less than one quarter OF th
lfme II takes to write this, the op
Grating room was filled with off
GERS and sub.oflicers. Preside''
Lincoln and Secretary Stanio
came IN and shook hands with ev
| cry Que In the room, mud then cs
cry one in tho room shook hand
with one another, and then wit
the President and Secretary agair
Then they oil crowded around tn
rortrees Monroe instrument. hur
ary for more news. Kettles sat q
his INSTRUMENT while question
were showered IN OH him from es
cry mouth. lie was asked NOR
uestious in those ten mil ute
than he will be likely to be eve
asked again in that space Of tim'
| At last the information came tha
Richmond had disconnected itse
| for the present. Kettles, who
now an operator IN Boston, say
| he can never forget how Fathe
| Abraham started for Secretar
| 6tarton's door after receiving II
| dispatch--hop, skip aud juml
| shouting Clear the track!"
i