The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-02-04
The Talking Wire-How the Indians
Regard the Telegraph.

''The telegraph line to the Pacific coast
must be kept up at any cost Such was
the imperative order of Gen. Patrick Con-
nor, the noted California Indian fighter, to
a veteran patrol upon the old California
trail on the North Platte during the last
year of the civil war. Men were scarce
and the Indians were more numerous than
ever before Connor was organizing the
largest military expedition that was ever
sent into the hostile Indian country. He
had determined upon road from Fort
Laramie through the Big Horn, Tongue
river and Upper Yellowstone country to
Bannock and the Montana mining regions,
and to obtain force large enough to insure
success, nearly every military fort or stock
ade on the telegraph line was depleted of
fighting men, 1t was in the summer of
1865. and times were very exciting IN the
East kilograms were eagerly sought for
in California. but the difficulty in keeping
open an uninterrupted electric line through
five hundred miles Of hostile Indian country
was only realized by the brave but scattered
military patrol engaged in that duty.
Wherever the redskins crossed the line they
tore down the wire, burned down the poles,
and in many instances carried away the
wire, and. after coiling it up, would throw
il into the nearest creek or river. The
three hundred miles of line between Fort
Laramie and South Pass were inirusted to
the care Of thirty young men Of the Elev-
enth Ohio Cavalry, under command of the
late Edward Creighton, Of Omaha, the
superintendent Of the overland telegraph
line. II was 10 him and his small band Of
cavalry that General Connor issued the
aisoye terse and emphatic order on their de-
parture on their perilous three months trip.
The small number of Creighton's patrol
rendered an open campaign against the In
dian marauders impossible. All repairs to
the lines were done in the night. and all
breaks in them were made in the day time.
The mode of destruction was as follows A
party Of young Cheyennes or Sioux would
gallop up 10 the telegraph line and throw
rata or rope over the wire, and then start
oiT on n full gallop, tearing down the wins,
which was usually eoiled up aud carried
away 70 be concealed The mischievous
ne,lskins would then deploy up and down
the line, each buck squatting himself down
at the base Of a telegraph pole, where he
kindlel fre of sage brush OF grease. wood,
and after lighting his pipe would SIT and
wait patiently until the tail pole burned
through and fcll The labor Of cutting
down or digging up the poles was too much
Tor the aIy savagyz and, as time was 40
object to them. they waited until the poles
fell. The military patrol, safe within its
imprcgHahle corral Of waeoRs loaded with
telegraph I-ales, could sec the work of de-
stractioa guing ON up and dowH The line,
but dared nos move oas of camp until night
concealed their movements.
INTERESTING THE GREAT CHIEFS.
The Sioax and the Cheycnnes have al
ways beea very superstitious about the
talking wire as they call il, and fer sex.
ersl years aiser the Indian war broke out,
Fefrained from mesldIing with the overland
line. In order TO imprvss the minds Of
these wild beings with the mysterious power
of the telegraph, great cOuncil vas called
81 Scotf Bluffs when che line Was first built
two of the great ehiefs were stationed a,
g.sts in the open plain. between Chimney
Roek and Scott Blaif. and each sent mes
saSes through telegraph operators, which
werc pruaptly delivered. Then the chief
mounted their fastest horses and gallopcd
10 meet each other. and asked what the
message was OF the words be had spoken
10 the wire the rysalt astounded them
they could not explain il, nor has it ever
been understood BY them, and to shis day
a telegraph operator, ~ man engaged IN the
repair ~ management If the talking wire
i regarded as a medicine man and man
e. b Ia alone. Ii was 20 this superstition
that Creighton. men owed their iiycs and
exemption from attack
PERILoCs wuRE.
With the approach Of night the telegraph
des,royers usually disappeared. and the re
pairers weuld start forward upon their
thrilling and exciting trips. The horses
hcof. we're mufiied with blanket pads to
prevent noise. No saddles were used, - as
to render the horses lighter in ease of NJ
trcas OF pursuit by the Indians The IN
srractions were. in case Of interruption BY
the Indians. 10 scatter into the brush aud
each man To silently escape A. best he could
to the camp One party would dig holes
and insert the burning telegraph pole. after
driving in large nail upon which to hang
the vine. The hammers used were thiekly
padded, 50 A. to mufflc the sound Of the
knocking No talking was allowed, and
only whispering when unavoidable. Creigh-
tons work was usually the most dangerous.
His task was 10 unreel thin. thread-like
wire covered with green silk, and stretch il
from one end Of the break To the other, sus-
pending the frail wire upon the top of sage
brush or weeds By this slight, delicate
wire the people of California received some
times a whole days news But woe 10 the
wire if jack-rabbits were thick, or a bear or
stray pony crossed II, as they often did.
The frail thread would break, and Califor-
MIA got no more news for that night or day.
A PLUCKY OPERATOR.
Sometimes the Indians camped ON the
line In that event Superintendent Creigh-
ton would start out alone in the darkness,
make a circuit Of the Indian camp, reach
the line beyond the break and attach his
pocket instrument, and commence to talk
to Omaha or San Francisco, send messages
to operators on the line, aud then return to
camp in time to escape capture. The In
dians never move about at night, hence
there was little danger of meeting them in
the darkness. When moving from place
to place the ten wagons loaded with long
poles proceeded in two lines, the
men in the centre When the Indians APP
peared corral was formed by the telegraph
poles. But while this little patrol was pur-
suing its daring and solitary work, lively
times were being enacted not far from
them, and many brave men were dying by
bullet, arrow, tomahawk and Indian tor
ture.-.Sm Francisco E.ramiaer.