Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-12-04

o'clock-for had occasion TO mark the
hour-the signal CAL, several times
repeated, caused me to throw all else
aside and attend to it.
This was tie telegraphic cipher of
the war department; and telegraphers.
in those days, had instructions TO put
that service above all others. A mes
sage was quickly ticked off from the
President to the commanding officer at
Harper's Ferry, reprieving two desert
ers who were to be shot at noon. The
message was dated the day before, but
had in some way been detained or de-
layed between the department and the
Washington office.
4 few words to the Baltimore office,
which accompanied the dispatch, ex-
planned that il had stuck at Balti-
more, that an officer direct from the
President was waiting at the Washing
ton office, anxious to hear that il had
reached Harper's Ferry, and that Balti-
more must send it on instantly.
Baltimore would have been very glad
to comply, but the line to Harper's Fer
ry had been interrupted since daylight
nothing whatever had passed. so ex-
planned to Washington.
The reply came back before my fin-
gers had left the instrument. "Iou
must get it through. Do it, some way,
for Mr.. Lincoln. lie is very anxious,
has just sent another messenger to us"
called the office superintendent TO
my table, and repeated the dispatches
to him. He looked at the clock.
"Almost eleven" he said. 81 see
Just one chance-a very slight one.
Send it TO New York; ask them to get
it to Wheeling, and then it may get
through by Cumberland and Maryland.
Stick to 'em, and do what you can"
BY this time had become thoroughly
aroused in the business, and | set TO
work with a will. The dispatches with
the explanation went 10 New Iork-and
promptly came the reply that 1t was
hopeless; the wires were crowded, and
nothing could be done until late in the
afternoon, if then.
responded just as Washington had
replied TO me. 1t must be done, 1t is
case of life and death do IL for Mr.. Lin
coins sake, who is very anxious about
it. And | added for myself, by way of
emphasis-For Gods sake, let's save
these poor fellows!
And got the New York people thor
oughly aroused, as | was myself. The
answer came back, "Will do what we
can"
1t was now ten minutes past II. In
ten minutes more, | heard from New
York that the dispatch had gotten as
far as Buffalo, and could not go direct
to Wheeling; it must go on TO Chicago.
Inquiries from Washington were re-
peated every five minutes, and | sent
what had reached me.
Half-past IL the dispatch was at Chi
cago, and they were working their best
to get it TO Wheeling.
Something was the matter, the Wheel
ing office did not answer.
The next five minutes passed without
a word; then-huzzah New York says
the dispatch has reached Wheeling, and
the operator there says he can get II
through to Harper's Ferry in time.
At this time the news stopped. New
York could learn nothing further for
me, after several efforts, and | could
only send word to Washington that
hoped it was all right, but could not be
sure.
Later in the day the line was work
ing again to Harper's Ferry, and then
learned that the dispatch had reached
the office there at ten minutes before IL
and that it was brought to the place OF
execution just in Youths Com
pdnion.