Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-05-14
PHILADELPHIA Times,

communication with Richmond, which
had not been known since the begin
ming of the war, Notwithstanding the
frequent success of the Union army OF
late, was entirely out of the question in
everybody's mind. Richmond, the
great stronghold of the south! Could it
be ajoke? 'e-
There was great alacrity in turning
down the adjustment. There were trem-
bling fingers while it was being done,
and there was a gathering around of
many operators with curiosity, suspense
and Impotence combined, to see what
it meant. Sure enough! the signals of
the operator in Richmond to the .oper-
ator in Washington were bounding along
the line. No signal was ever answered
more promptly. Then came the ques-
ton: -nr. ...- $50 .,-H-.3y ~. .
"Do you get me well?" Fl. a..
81 do; go ahead" t '.-g' .." 1.-
"All right. Here's the first message
for four years, ... geo." f.
RICHMOND, Va, April 8, 1865 Hon.
E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War: We
entered Richmond at 8 O'Clock this
morning. G. WETTzEL,
Brigadier General Commanding"
Mr.. Kettles concludes that he copied
the message, but he could never tell
| how. He remembers of starting up
from his chair and .upsetting inkstand
and instrument, of kicking over a tin
that sat at the fireplace, in order to
make a noise; of rushing for General
| Eckerts room, where sat President Lin
coin and Mr.. Tinker; the President
caught sight of the body words, and
with one motion and two strides, mes
sage and President were out Of sight on
the way to Secretary Stanton's room.
Mr.. Tinker and everybody else were
dumbfounded. Kettles quietly return
ed to his instrument, walking like one
in dream; proceeded mechanically to
turn the inkstand right side up, and to
straighten up his overturned machine.
Then he sat down in his chair and stared
straight before him in blank amaze
ment. Around him were the other op-
orators, every man alike flustered and
| unable to get their minds back to their
work or to utter connected words. 1t
was time, great time, but mighty
good time.
In less than One-quarter Of the time
it takes to write this, the operating
room was filled with officials and sub
officials. President Lincoln and Secre-
tarv Stanton came in and shook hands
with every one in the room, and then
every one in the room shook hands with
each other and then with the President
and Secretary again. Then they all
crowded around the Fortress Monroe
instrument, hungry for more news.
Kettles sat at his instrum ent, while
questions were showered in on him
from every mouth. He was asked more
questions in those ten minutes than he
will be likely to be ever asked again in
that space of time. At last the inform
alton came that Richmond had discon-
nected itself for the present. All retired
to General Eckert's room except Mr..
Tinker and Kettles, who stood by the
window endeavoring to hear themselves
think. Neither had drawn a percepti-
BILE breath for ten minutes. Outside
were the broad grounds of the depart
ment buildings. Looking from the op-
erating-room window, the prospect was
clear; not a single person was to be
seen. Suddenly Georgetown horse
car appeared in the distance. On it
came at the usual rate. Near the build
ing it stopped. A man got off and start
ed with slow, leisurely steps up the CEN
ter walk to the door, Inside the oper-
ating- room the thrilled operators looked
out on his slow, steady pace, and could
scarcely contain themselves at his un-
concern. He was NEGOTIATING, actually
meditating- as though there was moth
ing to throw off his hat for and cheer till
he was hoarse. Keeping on, he present
lv lifted his headand looked at the VIM
dow. Tinker was there, and knew him.
"Any news" he casually inquired.
Tinker leaned far out Of the window,
"Richmond's fallen!" he said.
No tongue can describe the features
of that man while he was coming to
himself He turned red and white by
turns, till, suddenly realizing the mean
ing of the words, he waved his arms,
then turned and ran. Down the street
he ran, spreading the news to every
one he met. Soon there was a great
crowd The excitement rose. The
people seemed almost wild. The war
department. was soon besieged. Out
side was a multitude. Inside were ex-
cited officials, clerks, operators, and an
excited president. The outsiders looked
in at the insiders, and the insiders
looked out at the outsiders. Questions
came hot and fast from the multitude,
and answers were shouted back from
every man who could get his head to one
of the two windows. The crowd got
the news fairly in its mind. and then
seemed to want three cheers. The
three became four. Then they wanted
speeches. They got them. Half a
dozen speeches were under way in less
than that number of minutes. Some
were good ones. Andrew johnson was
there. He was saying:
"God bless the old flag! If 1 was
president of the United States"
At this point something exciting oc-
Cured. Secretary Stanton entered the
operating-room, leaning on General
Eckert's arm. General Eckert pointed
out to him the boy who had received
the messages. They were formally in
trOduced. The next moment Kettles