Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-09-05
ON TIC.
How Tim O'Neille Learned to Tele.
glagh as Fast as a Man Could
Speak,
from the New Orleans Picayune.l


Those who have visited the gas works
at Fort Wayne lad and particularly
Col. Edgerton laboratory, need not be
told, of his accomplishments in various
branch of arts and science. One day
he said to O'Neille:
Now you want telegraph from the
Office to the works 1t will save you a
man who must constantly be running
back and forth"
This, be it remembered, was before the
THANKSGIVING, telephone had been perfect
ed.
Eyes" said Tim, we have been think
ing of pu tting up a ribbon printing
machine -
Hang the printing machine" said the
| Colonel, who scorned rhs use of such
childish things. sect yourself regular
| M orse instrument and learn to send your
| own messages and read by sound" 3
Three months had elapsed when Edger-
ton returned to the city on business, and
he took occasion to see how Kings were
| getting on at the gas works After
looking about he said, in his quick way:
"O'Neille how are you progressing with
the telegraph 3
: Oh, very we'll f" said Tim, trembling
as in the presence OF master; we can
communicate slowly
Let me try you said Edgerton look
ing about him as II for some printed mat
ter as an expert will when about to send
messages on trial.
"Hold on, l will get you the morning
Picayune +" timidly suggested Tim, shak
ing al over, and moving toward another
room. -sgg-eg2r'> 81 - 40 ~
"Never mind, this, will do" said Ed
ton as he picked up volume Of Shaks
peare whiched happened to be lying near
I tssit over there and take what send
Tim, with paper and pencil, obeyed
g By a remarkable chance, wich can never
? be explained, Edgerton opened thu
! book at the play of Hamlet, and hi
ewes fell on the first speech of the
| 'tGhost.''
l1''Are you ready over there" asked tn
. Colonel
"All ready" said Tim.
q And then the Colonel commenced t
It sound:
Ga m-t-h-y-'
nj This came very slow, according to til
supposed capacity of the listener to read
Is Tim had it down, and then came:
Fa her's-spirit
> Doomed -fOr-a-cer"
! care you taking me?" asked the Colo
y mel, looking anxi0usly in Tim 8 direction
n = am" said Tim To- ,.ssI
E. And he was, for every line of th
n Ghost speech was alive in Tins mem
ory He has PLAYED the part doze
:. times when Judge & FL Braughu, G.. ]
IS Buck ESQ.,, and others had appeared :
q Hamlet at amateur entertainments b
of this Edgerton knew nothing. He W;
~ only sending words for 1 i'm to read, and ;
. Tim KEEP OH writing Edgerton inct ease
n his speed Tim had los: all connectiC
NJ | with the sound of the instrument; bl
ii he knew what to write and he kept @
writing Edgerton grew more astonishe
a as he sent faster and faster until
IN reached speed seldom excelled by Il
re most expert operators
o. my Godr' exclaimed Edgerton as
% finished the speech, let me see what "
ar have written -
He looked from the book to the pape
and from the paper to the book, as II
could not believe his eyes: but there
ce was on Tins sheet word Tor word. {
III speech written as he had sent 1t
or This is something wonderful" SAID {
astonished Colonel You must ha
re given your whole time to this =
ne Eyes, sir" said Tim, Il have udl
W hard "
81 Studied hard! should say so. WI
IF sir don't know of batter operator
ID. the United States than you are to Gay
AT that stage of proceeding Tim did n
as have the face to confess how shametully
l had imposed upon the Colonel After !
ceiving such compliments for expert wo
mp he could not give himself away and
aw knowledge that he knew next to nothi
!. about telegraphlng He has never t
,hs Edgerton to his day, and never will
Nd the ghostly trick played OH him.