The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-06-13
HOW THEY MISSED IT.
Why Sargent and Boucicault Failed to
Connect in the Telephone Bonanza.

sDo you know how nearly came to
making a fortune out OF that?' ii. ).
Sargent, manager OF Madame Janauschek,
leaned forward from his seat on the sane
tum table and tapped the telephone box
with the end of his cane. There was
longing, lingering look" of regret in the
southwest corner Of his near eye as he
spoke. There were three newspaper men
present, and, strange enough, not one OF
them professed to know anything about it.
''Well I'll tell you. We were in Boston
when the first mention OF the telephone
was made in the Globe, OF that city. Mr..
Boucicault, who was then manager, and
were at breakfast at the Brunswick, and in
looking over the morning papers L noticed
an article on the invention, and read IL.
| called Boucicault's attention to it, and
told him that we ought to investigate it.
The inventor l reasoned, was probably
moor man. who would want backing, and
bv the use OF some money we might secure
our fortunes 4 do not believe that there
is anything in it, said Boucicault. But
you do not know | replied. when the
telegraph was invented hardly any one
thought that it amounted to anything. l
could not get him interested, so l went
down to the Globe office and asked
WHO WROTE THE ARTICLE.
I was told it was IL Bohemian who did
special work for them, but who was not IN
at the time. | left word for him to send TO
us the address of the inventor, and soon
received the information that it was DIR.
Graham Bell, of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum.
We made arrangements for him to call on
us, which he did, and by his conversation
| it was found that our surmises concerning
his financial condition we're correct. Mr M
| Boucicault began to be a little inspired with
the idea, himself, and we made arrange
ments to call and see the wonderful
machine.
| ION arriving ut the Asylum we were
shown into the Doctors room-and {
rather remarkable looking room it was
| The walls and ceilings were literally covered
with wires and electrical apparatuses
various kinds standing at different places
On the piano was a square box, much tn
size OF this telephone box, but it had larg
plate on it, instead OF the small soundlh
board, which this one has.
| TESTING THE TELEPHONE.
"We went up into the garret, which tn
Doctor used as workshop, and where n
had placed the listening end OF his telephone
We heard the music a while, and then h
substituted a box with four conical-shape
openings in it, He had four young men sin
a euartete, and we listened to it above
These tests satisfied us, and we then an
there made a verbal contract for Il thlr
interest in the invention. AS we we're t.
leave the next morning, it was agreed tina
the Doctor should come to New York an
the contract be formally concluded there.
eve went to New York and began an eI
gagement of eleven weeks. | was OF ittl
use then. In New York, when Mr. Bouc
cault plays, it is only necessary to max
the announcement and open the doors
J Accordingly, concluded it would be bette
for me to go out and prepare the country
? and did so. kept writing and telegraphi1
Boucicault to know what he had done wit
Bell, but he did not answer me. When
returned to New York I learned that BE
had come on with the contract, and Bouc
caulr, objecting to some stipulation, ha
broken Off the engagement entirely