The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-06-05

!. x.r..tllitx of the nrors. Alphabet.

The Versatility OF the Morse Alphabet
Such is the adaptability of the Morse
alphabet used in telegraphing that it
can be communicated by the sense of
hearing, taste, sight, or feeling.
About twenty years ago Col. J. J. s.
Wilson, of st. Louis, then an active tele-
graph superintendent, was on tour
In the southern part of Missouri 1t
was q season of floods. Large portions
of the country adjacent to the Ohio and
Mississippi Rivers were inundated, and
the wreckage had included the washing
away of many miles of poles and wire.
1t became necessary to communicate
with point on the Missouri bank of
the Mississippi River by telegraph.
The fertile invention of Col. Wilson di-
rected that locomotive be run to the
Illinois bank. Mounting the foot-board,
he grasped the valve, and soon the
shrill screams of the locomotive whistle
were heard by the listening operators
on the other shore, whistling out Will
sons message in the long and short
sounds OF the alphabet, familiar to
them as that Of their primers. Commu-
nication was kept up in this way for
several hours.
A rich citizen of San Francisco owes
his life to his knowledge of telegraphy
acquired many years ago. Wandering
over Southern California as prospect
or, he was captured by band of Mexi
can desperadees. They carried him to
an abandoned hacienda, and with mock
ing cruelty set him at their table to
feast, before, as they told him, they
killed him. The prisoner recognized
among his captors an old companion,
also an operator, who had gone to the
bad little time before. The recogni-
ton was mutual, but neither dared to
address the other. The captive's quick
wit improvised sounder out of his
knife and folk, and, while to the others
he appeared playing with them, his cry
for assistance was read and understood
by his old-time comrade. They formed
in this way plan of escape, which was
successfully carried out.
A train on Western railroad several
years ago met with terrible accident
miles from any station. Among tho
passengers was young telegrapher
His ready mind took in the situation,
and climbing the nearest pole IL was an
easy task to cut the wire, and using tho
two ends as key sent q message for
help. To receive the reply was 4 more
difficult task. Here again the young
mans invention stood in good stead and
spurred him on TO in exhibition Of
nerve that is rarely met with. Admon-
ishing the distant operator to send
slowly, he placed the cut ends Of the
wire upon his tongue, and by the
strength of each shock TO that delicate
member made out the letters until the
message was complete. That young
mans sense Of taste was destroyed and
returned only in weakened degree
after two or three years.
There happened to be m operator on
board of small coasting schooner
which was cast on a Florida reef i'll such
q position that escape from the ship
and aid from the shore were both out
of the question during the night of tho
wreck. Throughout the long hours OF
suspense he kept up communication
with another operator on shore by
means of lantern, and words of hope.
of sympathy and encouragement passed
back and forth until day dawned and
made rescue possible.
The United States Government ia sew
eral Of its lighthouses has the lanterns
arranged so rs to emit long and short
flashes of light, which form certain let
tiers of the telegraph code. This is
method Of distinguishing the beacon,
which is easily understood by little
practice.