The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-08
THE SIGNAL "GRANT Is DEAD"
The False Alarm that Stirred o Little Indian
Town About Two Years Ago.

Town About Two Years Ago.
Lafayette Letter in New York sun.
The story of the message General Grant is
dead" sent over the wires as signal for the
ors little over two years ago, is matter of
common information, and pretty generally
revived at present; but there is a singular piece
of history connected with it that has never
found its way into print. Its scene was at
Corwin, little place about twelve miles south
of here. Corwin is typical country town, with
about one hundred and fifty inhabitants. 1t has
one long, struggling street, with few general
stores where are supplied the simple wants Of
its people and the scattered population OF the
broad vista of farming land that forms its
background. At the end of the street
is its sole link with the outside
world-a telegraph Office, presided over
by an old man named Samuel Givens He has
been in the employ of the Western Union ever
since its origin, and his duties are light, for
nothing ever happens at Corwin, and its buster
neighbors generally overlook its existence.
Givens learned telegraphy before the modern
system of reading by sound was in vogue, and
the instrument he uses is tho old-fashioned
Morse register, very few of which still re-
main on the Western Union lines in out-of- the
way places.
On the morning of July -, 1883, Givens was
droning over his instrument when it suddenly
called. 10 save the paper ribbon on which the
brass point of the register recorded its message
he always kept it closed until he heard his call.
1t was the letter D-two dots 6 dash, and a
dot-and it ratified out its staccato warning with
an energy this time that made him open l with
unwonted Suddenness.
Out rolled the ribbon bearing on its surface
the words, General Grant is dead Givens
was not a brotherhood man. Living in the
isolated village he did not know that his profes-
sion was on the eve Of a great strike, aud the
message to him had no import save that of its
face. He had been a soldier in the army Of the
Tennessee, had laid down his arms at Appomat
ovid n xosyJpC 4l,oA
solemn reverence that IS found among his follow
ers alone. He seized the tape with trembling
fingers, and, bursting into sobs, rushed out to
spread the news.
Corwin is settled largely by soldiers of the
late war; who have taken farm land in the
vicinity No news to them could have been
more startling, more deeply moving than this.
Instantly the village was in such stir as it
never saw before. and will probably never see
again. All crowded around the old telegraDher
anxious to hear him read and reread the mes
sage. They were eager to learn more but the
instrument had stopped after those four words,
and was silent
Some one suggested to toll the village school
bell, and dozen men ran to put the idea into
effect. Grant at that time was sixty-one years
old, and for an hour and one minute the slow
notes of the bell echoed through the town This
tolllng heard for long distance through the
Silly air, and it. together with the farmers who
happened to be in Corwin at the time and left
Immediately on their wagons, suficed to rapidly
spread the news.
Had stranger passed through the village at
about noon he would have been surprised to see
every store and house draped in mourning There
was little Grape to be had, but the black calico at
the store was pressed into service at the sugges-
ton that every one display some mark Of grief
Meantime the farmers from the surrounding
country bad hurried into town, and a strangely
unwonted crowd filled the street Owens had
suddenly assumed Importance. and the ribbon
with Its caba.lStlc dots and dasheS translated
into English with pencil was eagerly passed
from hand to hand until its message was Obliter-
ated. Every one, however, had the few words
by heart. and many were the surnlses as to tie
details Of the old commanders death
IN early afternoon twas thought we'll that there
should be some formal expression of the Senti.
ment or the town. and meeting was accordingly
held IN the largest store, owned by q man named
Wright 1t was not, however. nearly large
enough to hold the crowd and a throng was
clustered about the door. An Old farmer who
had been a sergeant IN an Indiana regiment and
whose name, believe, was Andrews. was chair
man OF the meeting and It was opened by prayer
and song. Lincoln's faYorite, "Why Should the
Spirit Of Mortal be Proud was chosen Many
was the speech made and many the Renaissance
told by those who had carried musket in tho
great Captains legions. The people OF COrwin
will never forget that meeting, because all par
ticpated in 1t. At its close series of resolutions
were adopted, expressing sorrow and agreeing
that no more labor be done for that day. A copy
Of these resolutions, written III pencil on a sheet
OF legal cap, are still at the store where the
meeting was held.
1t was not until next morning that the little
town learned OF its strange mistake. A few
copies of the Indianapolis papers reached it then.
containing news Of the strike and the story Of
the signal and great was the rejoicing thereat.
Old Givens still at his obsolete instrument
day before yesteday, when for the second time
the ribbon bore the message of death