Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-21
TeIegraphIng for watermeIons.

After having fully equipped the office
at San Jose for business and placed IL in
regular telegraphic communication with
San Francisco, prepared to push on
the next day for Stockton, when just as
we were on the point Of starting / dis
covered that the coils OF wire that had
been stored at San Jose were much
larger than those we had used between
San Francisco and that point, and were
consequently more difficult to handle
without changing the reel. We made
only three miles that day, camping at
night in front OF farmhouse. the
occupant Of which had left the Eastern
States before the advent OF the tele-
graph. When supper was over lac visited
our camp and appeared much interested,
watching me attentively while / was
communicating with San Jose and San
Francisco He could not realize that il
WAS possible for me TO hold conycr-
sation, through the medium OF little
ticking instrument, with persons so far
distant In fact he expressed grave
doubts as to the truthfulness of NV
assertion that ! was speaking with
any one at all, saying that it
was impossible for any one to read or
interpret the clicks made by the little
instrument in front Of me. And 80
satisfied was he Of the correctness of
his views that he stated his willingness
to back them up by wager He then
requested me TO tell him what il was /
had just communicated. | told him |
had informed the operator at San jose
that the machinery that was using for
paying ont the wire needed some alter
ations, and that / would return there
the next morning 10 have the necessary
changes made. He thcrcuDon very
kindly volunteered on certain conditions
to take me TO San Jose in his wagon.
/ The conditions were that would accept
his offer 10 furnish watcrmolons for the
whole party on 1t being proved that the
communication | had stated as having
been sent by me TO San Jose had been
received at that office over the line.
But 10 make sure that no advantage
should bc taken Of him. he re-
/ qucsted me 10 send another mes
sage to the effect that on our arrival
a; San Jose in the morning the operator
must promptly appear at the door Of
the office and say Watcrmclons." q"
Ny agreement 20 do this seemed to
increase the interest my Rnchor friend
held in me, and he very generously
rendered me the hospitality Of his
house, in which ! enjoyed the luxury
of an excellent bed. After a hearty
breakfast in the morning, a good pair Of
horses were brought ont and attached to
a buggy, in which was placed my reel,
and We started for San Jose. Drawing
up in front Of tho Office, We were met
/ by the operator at the door, who
promptly ssluted us with where are
the watermelons? Ny companion
slapped me on the back. delighted at
being fully convinced Of the reality and
/ importance of the telegraph. The
watermelons were quickly provided,
and, rs they were worth at that time 81
or more apiece, they were considered a
/ great treat. When the feast was over,
he made many inquiries about the tele.
graph, examining into the mysteries of
its working after which, the changes
in the wire reel having in the mean time
been made, We set ont on our return TO
camp, where, on our arrival in the after
noon, work was again resumed The
/ Californian.