Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-27
EARLY AMBER CANE
S0RGH UM SEED!
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Question OF the First MexssSe over
the Morse Telegraph Lise-Letter
FROM Secretary Nelson.

This society, which is still pursuing its
work OF collecting tbs antiquities, relics and
historicsl and Archaeological facts pertaining
10 Tennessee, at ils nesting in Nashville,
the present month, received as a contribu.
ton The original Gisps'ch sent over Morse's
telegraph wires FROM Baltimore TO Washing
ton, announcing the nomination Of 9mes
K. Polk in 1874. Il was thought arpropri-
ate TO preserve at Nashville this memsnto of
one OF Tennessee favorite sons. The dis.
patch was presented as the first ever sent
over the Morse wires. But Mr. Nelson, the
recording secretary of the society, stated
that it was the fist public dispatch only; the
fret one Of all bsving been dictated
| by Mics Fanny Ellsworth, daughter
| OF one of Prof. Morse's early and
| influential friends, 10 whom the inventor I'D
promised, in care Of his success, ths privilege
OF sending tine fra. message. Her message
was, sswhat hs.h God wroughfY" This
point provoked an interesting discussion at
the meeting Of the society, which, in cosnsc.
ton wish a recent newspaper statement on
the suhj-ci has ELECTED the following letter
from Mr.. Nelson, the esteemed secretary OF
| the society, which, Though no, intended for
publication, contains so much Information
| 10 the public that we take the liberty OF
printing IL:
NASHVILLE, TENN, April %. 1888.
Judge J. D. Pierce, Memphis, Tenn. :-.-
DEAR SIR thank you for sendiug me para
grsph from paper, stating that toe nrst recorded
message OF Morseis telegraph was: Attention,
the Universal By Kingdoms, Right wheeli And
that this in 1897. This may be true, aud yet
my statement that the fret message in 1874 sas,
What nath God Wrought?' signed by Fanny Els
As early as 1882. Morse really discovered or bad
the idea firmly fixed 10 his mind of telsgrAphing
messages, by wire, over long distances He kept
working At it, and worrying over IL, trying to get
Others TO believe 1t. and 20 advance money 10 erect
line. He went TO Europe. eDdeayoring to get the
British government TO adopt and work MS won
derfui discovery. He failed. He ran a line for
half Iaile in New YORK CITY. and. believe did
seed the first message, Attention" etc, a. the
| first message He went to Washington, session
after session, for an appropriation TILL at last in
1874 one was obtained, as stated at the meeting of
your society. Then the lice was built from Wash
lngton to Ralt more, forty miles 1.-THE frat long
liBe), and the message "W hat hsth God Wroughi?'
sent over the wires as ths first regular dispatch.
Numb rs of dispatches had gone over the line
OF half mile in New YORK previously. But this
did not convince people that it would work for q
long distzece. the appropriation by C0ngrtss
was, II reco lect right, so 90. This line from
Washington to Ba timore established the certain
" of the great discovery. Morse had to CO intend
with numerous iDterlOpers and pretended diseov-
erers. He had lawsuits on hand with s.veral per-
sons, but he trumphsntiy established mis- disc1v-
cry before the courts An Iri-hmsn named
o Reilly built the frst line fr IN Louisville TO
Nashville and Prof Morse had to stop his work
by law. Sush, in brei, is my recollection. which
may be at fault but | think not. 1 think. also
that Morse ran wlr from The dome If the capt
| toll to the lower floor, in one OF the committee
rooms. 10 convince members oil Congress of the
| truth OF bis discovery, and that 10 this way he
Robert l.. Caruthers) who voted for the approprfa-
ton, or, rather failed to oppose it, in the the gen
eral appropriation. Hope some day TO get a the
facts OF this matter Very respectfully your friend.