Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-14
NO. 11S.
miscellaneous.
TURN DOWN FOR RICHMOND"

'o" IliE TELEGRAPH BROUGHT THE
NEWS OF TIE FALL OF RICHMOND.
From he Phiiodelphm Times.
1t is safe to say that no message ever
sent by telegraph was OF such national in
terest as the one which Mr.. William +.
Kettles. then an operator in the servive of
the Government at the War Department in
Washington, received from Richmond on
the morning of the Sd of April. 1865. Mr..
Kettles, then mere boy of ID, but an ex-
pert telegraph operator, was working the
Fortress Monroe and City Point wire at
Wa>hin. ton and Cherrystone operators
were engaged on long message, when
suddenly both men were taken aback bv
what seemed to be most foolish demand
from Fortress Monroe: Turn down for
Richmond quick - Had flash of light
ming struck through the walls at that mo-
ment the shock could not have been great
er than it was on the part of every man in
| that room.
There was great alacrity in turning
down the adjustment. There were tremb-
ling fingers while it was being done, and
there was gathering around of many
operators with curiosity. suspense, and
impatience combined to see what it meant.
Sure enough the signals of the operator
| III hl'Hilipnu W olltIdtbI Ill W dSulit2tO1
were bounding along the line No signal
was ever answered more promptly. Then
came the question:
''Do you get me well"
Il do 90 ahead
"All right. Here's the first message
tor four years
'.RIcIMoNp, Va, April ;, 1868.
"Hon. T.. ". Staaton. Secretary Of Var:
I'VE entered Richmond at o'clock this
morning, &. WEITzEL,
Brigadier-General Commanding.
Mr.. Kettles comedies that he copied the
message, but he could never tell how.
He remembers starting up from his chair
and upsetting inkstand and instrument, of
kicking over Il tin that sat at the fire place,
in order To make II noise of rushing for
Gen. Eckert's room, where sat President
Lincoln and Mr.. Tinker, the cipher clerk,
talking in a low tone As Kettles was
about to hand the message to Mr Tinker,
the President caught sight of the body
words, and with one motion and two strides
message and President were out of sight
on the way to Secretary Stanton's room.
MIR. Tinker and everybody else were dumb
founded. Kettles quietly returned to his
instrument walking like one in dream;
proceeded mechanically to turn the ink
stand right side up, and to straighten up
his overturned machine. Then he sat
down in his chair and stared straight
before him in blank amazement. Around
him were the other operators, every man
alike tustered and unable to get their
minds back to their work or utter connect
ed words.
In less than one-quarter of the time it
takes to write this. the operating-room
was filled with officers and sub-officers.
President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton
came in and shook hands with every one
in the room, and then every one i'm the
room shook hands with one another 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 instrument
while questions We're showered in on him
from every mouth. He was asked more
questions in those IL minutes than he will
be likely to be ever asked again in that
space of time. At last the information
came that Richmond had disconnected it.
self for the present. All retired to Gen.
Eckerts room except Mr.. Tinker and ket-
ties, who stood by the window endeavor-
inc to hear themselves think. Neither of
them had drawn perceptible breath for
10 minutes. Outside were the broad
grounds of the department buildings.
Looking from the operating window
the prospect was clear; not a single per-
son was to be seen. Suddenly George
town horse-car appeared in the distance.
On it came ut the usual rate. Near the
building it stopped. 4 man got off and
started with slow, leiSurely steps up the
centre walk to the door. Inside the oper-
ating-room the thrilled operators looked
out on his slow, steady pace, and could
scarcely contain themselves ut his uncon-
cern. He was meditating actually medi-
tating--as though there was nothing to
throw off his hat for and cheer till he was
hoarse Keeping on he presently litedh his
head and looked at the window. Tinker
was there and knew him.
ANY news ?' he casually inquired
Tinker leaned far out of the window.
"Rchmond'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 meaning of the
words, he waved his arms, then turned
and ran. Down the street he ran, spread
/ ing the news to every one ne met. Soon
there was a great crowd. The excite
ment rose. The people seemed almost
wild. The War Department was soon be-
sieged Outside was a multitude Inside
were excited officers clerks, operators,
and an excited President. The outsiders
looked in at the insiders, and the insiders
looked ont 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
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 dozen speeches We're 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 | was President of the Unit
ed States
At this point something exciting oc-
CURED. Secretary Stanton entered the
operating room leaning on Gen. Eckerts
arm. Gen. Eckert pointed out to him the
boy who had received the messages. They
We're formally introduced. The next mo-