The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-04
A NOVEL TELEGRAPH WAR.
Besieging a Western Union Operator and
Trying to Starve Him Out.

Besieging Western Union Operator and
Trying to starve Him Out.
Philadelphia Times.
The Western Union Company has an Office in
the banking and brokerage house of Howell
Brothers. 1t has never paid any rent or other
valuable consideration. and when the proprietors
notified its officers yesterday to discontinue the
occupancy they refused to do so Howell
Brothers rented the space to the Baltimore q
Ohio. Thomas j. Fahy. the operator at that
place, resigned several days ago and joined the
Baltimore Company. General Manager Gar
wood, of the Western Union sent another Oper-
atOr at once, and when. forty eight hours ago
he sent Andrew P. Sell to hold the place against
all intruders, Howell Brothers again ordered the
Western Union man to get out. Mr. GarwOod
accompanied by his counsel, visited Howell
Brothers to-day and tried to come to an under
standing but Charles l.. Howell told him that
the company must take its instruments out
TINS the manager Of the Western Union refused
t. do "Then. said Broker Howell well close
our doors and starve him out"
An employee of the firm stationed at the
front door Third street, and customers for
the house were admitted, but no messages or
provisions for the operator were allowed to be
brought III. On a chair by the side of the small
walnut cabinet in which sat the self imprisoned
operator rested a Baltimore & Ohio man,
ready to capture the citadel the instant it was
vacated On the roof was a gang of Baltimore
Ohio linemen putting the wires into the build
ing A faint voice came from the cubby hole Of
the w tSUtrD Union company. IL was InaL OF lne
operator. As a cable made of twisted wires was
seen slowly and mysteriously descending through
a hole in the ceiling, he said: IF that comes
down here somebody will get hurt Tactically
the stOrming party strong. but strategically
the defense was perfect. 1T is inhuman to
keep man from getting food, said Manager
GarwOod, Of the Western Union. with a society
fOr-the prevention of cruelty -tochildren express
sion. Who's keeping him from his meals!'
Tetorted Manager Jones, of the Baltimore
& Ohio. let him 90 out to his dinner,
by all means All saw the joke except the pale
visaged youth in the walnut cabinet. He toyed
with the key on his table and raped out mes
sages to unknown destinations, and received
answers running thus They're still here
Are you hungry "Yes. as Gehenna." ''Were
just having lunch; want sOmeE Heavens! l
smell the coffee" What does Zeub say" Hes
over in New York" HowS IoneSy!' Hes
where are your Tenth and Chestnut" And
SC, shut off completely from the outside world
except by wire, the plucky fellow, who was
obeying orders from his superiors, passed the
afternoon.
Thus the siege continued until o'clock when
the Howell Brothers went home for the day,
being compelled to leave a man in their Office
whom they knew nothing about, but of whom
they couldn't get rid. 1t was as curious a con
dition of affairs as ever was known in Third
street. and is general topic of conversation
among brokers tonight A double patrol, one
man employed by the firm and the other by the
Baltimore & Ohio Company, is now pacing up
and down in front of No As South Third street.
Another fact Of which the telegraphc neophite
is in ignorance is that expert Baltimore &
Ohio operator Is stored away under the counter
in the brokers Office ready to enter the walnut
cabinet if the hermit energies during the night.
A final interview was had with the solitary
operator this evening. TAe street was deserted,
and he alone sat at his desk like aCassabianca of
the wires. Il am very hungry" said he, and
very cold. l did not come prepared for this
blizzard. 1t was kind in the people hers not to
put out the heater fires, for l believe [ should
have frozen last night"