The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-05-16
eLD sroRrEs ABeUr orERATeRs.

The delicate instruments Of tels.
graph Office are net indispensable 10
conmuniCatiug by telegraph. The
MOrse alphabet may be read by those
familiar with IL By hearing, sight, taste
and feeling. It's dots and dsshes may
be expressed by anything that will
make sounder, by a stick Of wood in
the air,or by light in the dark. There
are some curious instances Of telegraph
ing without key, relay and scunder.
About twenty years ago Col. J. J. 8.
Wilson, this city, then an active tsls-
graph superintendent, was on tour in
the southern part Of this state. I. was
q season Of Aesds. Large portions oi
the country adjacent to the Ohis and
Mississippi rivers we're inundated, and
tho wreckage had included the washing
away Of many miles Of poles and wire.
Il became necessary TO cOmmuAicats
with noiat on the Missouri bank ol
the MississiPpi river BY telegraph. The
fertile invention Of Col. Wilson directed
that locomotive be run TO the Illinois
bank. Mounting the foOt-board be
grasped the valve and soon the shrill
! screams Of the locomotive whistle were
heard By the listening operators on the
other shore, whistling out Wilson's
message ia the 'ong and short sounds Of
the alphabet familiar 10 them as that oI
their primers. Communication was kept
up in this way for several hours.
A train on Western railroad several
years ago met with . terrible accident
miles from any station. Among the
Passengers was . young telsgrapher.
His ready mind took in the situation,
and climbing the nearest pele. Ii was al
easy matter to cut the wire, and using
the two ends ~ key sent q message
for help. Ts receive the reply was q
moro difficult task. Here again tas
young mans invention stood In good
stead and spurred him on 10 an sxhi.
bitten Of nerve that is rarely met With.
AdmoDishing the distant operator "a
send slowly, he placed the cut ends q
the wire upon his tongue, and by the
strength OF each shock 10 that dslicats
member made out The letters till the
message was complete. The young mans
ssnse Of taste was destroyed and re-
turned only IN weakened degree after
two or three years.
A rich citizen Of San Francisco owes
his life TO his knowledge Of tslsgrsphy
acquired many years ago. Wandering
over Southern California 80 = prospec-
tor, he was captured BY band Of Mss.
lean despsradoss. They carried him TO
On abandoned hacienda, and With mock.
ing cruelty set him ct their table 70
feast, before, a. they told hiu, they
killed him. The prisoner recognised
among his captors 40 old companion,
also an operator, who had gone 70 the
bad little time before. The rseoEni-
tion was mutual, but neither dared 10
address the ether. The captive's quick
Wit improvised . sOuHder out Of his
knife and fork, and, while to the others
be appeared playing vith them, bis
cry for assistance was read and uAdsr-
stoed by bis old-tims comrads. They
formed in this way . plan Of escape,
which was successfully carried out.
There happened TO be an operator on
board Of . small ooasting schooner
which was cast on = Florida reef in
such position that escape frsm the
ship and aid from the shore were both
out Of tho question during the night si
the wreck. Throughout the long hours
Of suspense he kept up communication
with another operator sn shore By means
Of . lantern, and wsrd of hope, Of sym.
pathy and encouragement passed back
and forth until day dawnsd and made
rescue possible.
The United States Government In
several OF lie lighthouses has the Ian
terms arranged so as 10 emit long and
short fashcs Of light, which fern csr
tain letters Of the teIegrapbio code.
This is mathOd of distinguishing the
beacon, which is easily understood by .
little urackica a-TL;rnOn T,,le. (lr>n,,