The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-09-24
Rsw Tin O'Neille Learned 70 Telegraph
q Fast q . Han Could SPEAK.

Kew Tin O'Neille Learned 70 Tolegrapa
e Fast q Han Could SPEAK.
Those who have visited the Gas
Works at Fort Wayne, Ind, and par
ticularly Colonel EdgertOn's laboratory,
need not be told Of his accomplish
ments in various branches of arts and
science. One day before leaving New
Orleans for his home in the West. he
said to O. Nellie:
Now you want q telegraph from the
Office to the works. It will save you q
man who must constantly be running
back and forth"
This, be it remembered. was before
the tramp-saving telephone had been
perfected.
YES" said Tim, eve have been
thinking Of putting up q ribbon-printing
machine"
"Hang the printing machine" said
the Colonel. who scorned the use of
such childish things. sect yourself q
regular Morse instrument and learn to
send your own messages and read by
sound"
Three months had elapsed when Edg-
erton returned to the city on business,
and he took occasion to see how things
were getting on at the Gas Works.
After looking about he said, in his quick
way:
"ONeille, how are you progressing
with the telegraph
"Oh. very well, }" said Tim, trembling
as in the presence of a master, 1--WE can
communicate slowly"
LET me try yoh," said Edgerton.
looking about him as if for some printed
matter, as an expert will when about to
send messages on trial.
"Hold on, will get you the morning
Pcayu,se," timidly suggested Tim.
shaking all over, and moving toward
another room.
"Never mind, this will do,'' said
Edgerton. as he picked up volume of
Shakespeare which happened to be ly-
ing near. 'sit over there and take what
l send.''
Tim. with paper and pencil, obeyed.
By a remarkable chance, which can
never be explained, Edgerton opened
the book at the play of ''Hamlet," and
his eyes fell on the first speech of the
"GhOst.'
care you ready over there" asked
the Colonel.
call ready" said Tim.
And then the Colonel commenced to
sound:
"I-a-m-t-h-y-"
This came very slow, according to
the supposed capacity of the listener to
read. Tim had it down, and then
came:
Fa-ther's-spirit:
DOOmed-fOr-a-Cer
care you taking me?' asked the
Colonel. looking anxiously in Tins
direction.
81 am" said Tim.
And he was. for every line of the
Ghosts speech was alive in Tins men,
ory. He has played the part dozen
times when Judge G. II. Braughn. e.
F. Buck. ESQ.,, and others had appeared
as Hamlet at amateur entertainments.
But of this Edgerton knew nothing.
He was only sending words for Tim to
read. and as Tim kept on writing Ed
gerton increased his speed. Tim had
lost all connection with the sound of
the instrument; but he knew what to
write and he kept on writing. Edger-
ton grew more and more astonished as
he sent faster and faster and faster
until he reached speed seldom ex-
celled by the most expert operators.
"Let me see what you have writ
ten," demanded the surprised Edger-
ton. as he finished the speech.
He looked from the book to the pa
per, and from the paper to the book, as
if he could not believe his eyes; but
there it was on Tins sheet word for
word, the speech written as he had
sent it.
''This is something wonderful" said
the astonished Colonel. "You must
have given your whole time to this"
eyes, SIR" said Tim, 81 have stud
led hard"
.'Studied hard! I should say so.
Why, sir, don't know of better oper-
ator in the United States than you are
to-day"
At that stage of the proceedings Tim
did not have the face to confess how |
shamelessly he had imposed upon the |
Colonel. After receiving such compli-
ments for expert work, he could not |
give himself away and acknowledge
that he knew next to nothing about tel
egraphing. He has never told Edger-
ton to this day, and never will. of the
ghostly trick played on HMM o.
Rcayxne.
A Sluggish Country.