Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-11-19

SOUND.
From New York Sun
"Telegraph operators have queer expert
ences," said veteran in the employ of the
Western Union Company. "Many strange
things and good deal of private informa-
ton come to their knowledge"
"They profit by information sent between
brokers and dealers, do they not?"
every seldom. You see, such messages
are usually in cipher, and the operator is
ignorant of their meaning. 1 remember
young man who was at Oil City during
the Pennsylvania oil excitement Bystudy-
ing the ciphers of certain heavy spectators
he was at last able to translate them. He
gave the information to a friend, who used
| it to their Joint profit. He was finally de-
tected and discharged, but not until he had
made quite a fortune, which was afterward
increased until he became very wealthy
This man is still alive, and has served more
than one term in the Pennsylvania Legis-
lature. l know of another case somewhat
different. was one of the first operators
on the Morse instrument sent to Philadel-
phia when the telegraph reached there.
The instrument marked the characters on a
slip of paper. OF course the instrument
ticked, but this was long before there was
any thought of talking by sound. Among
| our visitors were brokers and members or.
the Exchange, and they were much inter-
ested in what had already become very val
liable to them. "Bull" Bridges, spent so
much time in the office that we gave him
great deal Of information and explained
the workings of the instruments. About
! this time we began to receive complaints
that the contents Of messages sent from
New York to Philadelphia were known to
outside persons. In the office we began to
look upon each other with suspicion, and
finally determined to do some detective
work. l kept watch of our visitors and
finally discovered that complaints only
reached US concerning such kilograms as
were received while our friend "BulP' was
in the office. 1 therefore determined to
have all visitors excluded and an order
was posted to that effect. Our trouble
ceased at once, and my suplclons were con-
| firmed.
81 knew Bridges had not seen any mes
sages, and 1 wondered how he could have
known their contents. When | accused
him he burst out laughing and admitted
the whole thing. He had the tick of the
recorder down so fine that he could take
message by ear and he was the first man
that ever did it. Not long afterWard the
sounder was introduced, and since then al
most all telegraphing in this country has
been taken by ear"
"Was there any system of rapid COM
munication before the invention of the
electric telegraph?''
Eyes, indeed, quite number. The sys-
tenn most generally used was the Invention
| of the Chappe brothers, two French boys,
who first utilized it in 1874 at school, where
they saw each other only at a distance.
They used a pivoted beam, which being
placed in different positions, indicated diff
| ferent characters Afterward the French
Government adopted this system, and one
of the inventors was made Telegraph En-
gineer and placed in charge. Lines were
established all along the coast and from
Paris to the frontier"
"H0w were these signals to be seen ,"
"By the use Of powerful glasses. The
stations were only about ten miles apart,
with good telescopes the signal could readl-
ly be distinguished, and the receiving sta
tion could then communicate with the
next station"
could this be done rapidly?"
eyes. / remember a line that was work.
ed from the top of the old Custom-house
here to Sandy Hook. The operators used
blocks of wood with large letters on them,
and could telegraph at the rate of about one
hundred letters in five minutes between
stations ten miles apart.
"Beacons were first used. Long before
! the Christian era Roman Generals were
able to communicate with each other by
means of flames in different positions, and
of various numbers. Some of the Indian
mounds in the West are supposed to have
been constructed for signal purposes, fire
and smoke being used. The fiery cross
of the Highland chief quickly summon
ed the faithful to war. In later times
drums, trunpets and flags were used for
signal purposes, particularly by armies.
Most barbarous people have methods of
telegraphing. Among the negroes in the
CAMERON country, on the west coast OF AT
rica they communicate by means of sound,
| for great distances. The instrument they
use is a sort of drum, and their words are
represented by various beats upon it. |
will tell YOU an incident connected with
telegraphing by sound.
"After | came to New York lived in a
quiet street, which is now noisy thorough
! fare. spent most of my time when away
from the Office in my room. One evening
while sitting at my window, l happened
to look across to the opposite house, where
saw a pretty girl at one of the windows.
She was leaning against it tapping the glass
with a pencil. After this | saw her in the
same place many times. We had got as
far as a nodding acquaintance, but | had
no opportunity of speaking to her. One
afternoon having come home somewhat
early, was at my window thinking of my
pretty friend opposite. l almost uncon-
sciously tapped salute to her on the win
dow pane with my pencil, using the tele-
graphic signs. 1 was very much surprised
/ when a reply came from her in the same
way. She understood the signs and could
use them. After that we had long talks
across the street, and as our interest in
each other deepened into a warmer feeling,
many a tender message was sent by the air
line. You may not believe it, but we were
engaged to be married before we had ever
exchanged a word or before either had
heard the other speak a word. Afterward
l was introduced properly, and married the
young lady the following Christmas, and
that was what l call getting a wife 'on
! tick.'"
THE WHITE HOUSE KITCHEN.
I So much is said and written of the cup
per ten" in the White House, and so little
| ahout the rea1 foundation of much of their