Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-14
VETERANS OF THE KEY.
Telegraph Operators Of Long sgo-An
Ancient Brass Founder Expsti.
ates on the 6Iortes
OF the Days When He was YounE-rhe
Star Operators of the Pres
ens Time,
Chicago Herald.

OF the old Union Bank building, at tn
corner Of Washington and La Sail
streets. The company established thi
staurant for two reasons: first, to say
the time which would be lost by its ON
ployes going to outside places for lunch
and sec nd, as convenience to the ope
rators themselves. Like the operating
room, which Is on the next floor above
! II is open Gay and night, ana is somewha
Of resort for employees of duty, espe
clsliy just before the night force gees OF
at $3.50 p. m. The other evening q re.
porter cornered an old-time operator wht
was seated at table in this establish.
ment listening with obvious disgust Il
Two Of his younger professional brethren
who were talking "shop," and asked hin
to tell the Herald something about tele
graphing before the inven ion of the
Wheatstone sets and qusdruple instru
ments. The veteran WAS disposed to be
reticent at first, but upon the assurance
that his name would not be "put in the
paper" he recalled anecdotes of some Of
the worthless of bygone days, and Incl.
dentslly mentioned number of the best
known members of the craft now in this
city.
| chow does the present generation OF
operators compare with the men of
twenty years ago?" asked the reporter as
starter.
"Tnere are plenty Of good telegrsphers
being turned out now, just as there have
always been," wss the reply; "but the
| Introduction Of multiplex systems has had
a bad effect on the business, In regard to
the individual speed attsinsble, and the
| constant reduction in salaries has re-
moved much of the inducement 10 become
thoroughly proficient. Still, il boy mas
it IN him-for you must know that good
telegraphers are like poets, they are born,
not made-le can become as expert as in
the old times"
"Tell me about some of these old-time
stars"
"Well, of course, the skids' won't be-
lieve it, but the fsct is that nearly all of
them were good ones back in '6s. sup
pose. though, that the big four, from q
sender's standpoint, at least, were George
Eitemiller Of Pittsburg, P. V. DsGraw OF
Washington, Bert Ayres OF Cincinnati,
and Billy Kettles of Boston. There was
very little difference between them 10
point Of speed, although I always did
think that Eitemiller-the boy George,
we used to call him-could send lust
little faster than the other three. He was
q great receiver, too, and so were the
others, for that matter"
81 suppose, though, that there were
come phenomenal receivers, Just as there
were some exceptionally fast senders?"
"Yes; there WAS Walter Phillips, for
instance. He won the gold penholder
that Professor Morse offered as q prizs
for skill in receiving. I forget what the
exact figures were, but it was something
like ferty-six words minute for over an
hour without soreak." P. q. Burns
was the sender, and the performance
has never been equaled to this day
at least, not as matter of rec
ord. John W. Moreland, who died
last year in San Francisco was another
phenomenal receiver, but of . different
style from Phillips. The latter copied
close up, IS an operator would express it,
but Moreland's specislty Was copying
behind. 1t WAS mere pastime for him to
keep thirty five or forty words behind on
press matter-thst is, he was keeping
that number of words in his head all the
time, while the sender WAS hammering
away as fast as he knew how. He was
always correct, too, no matter how far
he got behind; it wss natural gift in his
case"
care any of those you have mentioned
in Chicago now?"
"No. Eitemiller is chief operator in
Pittsburg; DeGraw is manager for the
United Press at Washington: Ayers is
with the same association in New York
city; Kettles, l think, is still in Boston
Phillips is general manager Of the United
Press with headquarters in New York,
snd Moreland, as l ssid, Is dead. You
must not understand, however, that thel |
are no good old time operators in chi.
cago, for the woods are full of them"
"For instance"
swell, there's old man Fred Kent, for |
instance, who works every night of the |
year, and who won't take back sest for |
any OF the colts. He has two groWn-up
sons, by the wsy, both Of them operators
and mighty good ones, too. Then there
is my venerable friend John Stevely, a
division chief up stairs; the boys ssy tnst
ha must be thousand years old at least,
/ ut when the old gentleman puts on his
gold-rimmed spectacles and sits down 10
work wire the man at the other end has
no time to tell funny stories between
messages. AL Baob is another one, al
though he probably wouldn't like to be
called an old-timer, as he is not married
and is disposed to be. quite giddy
yet; but to my certain knowledge
be worked for the old House Print
ing Telegraph Company In 1852 at Sals-
n 3ncs, Y Harry S.oner is still another
one from sway back who is working up
stsirs, So are Thsd Smell, Roger Pearson,
Wire Chiefs Springer, Richardson ard
Kemp, and Assistant Manager Dave An
terson. Dave has lost his grip,
'Lost his grip?"
Eyes; t hats q professional designa-
lion for telegrsphers' paralysis-.an afiec-
ion OF the muscles of the wrist and fore
rms which prevents one handling a key,
although, singular to say, it seldom in
erferes with ones ability to use 9 pen.
n fact there are many of the most expert
eceivers who can scarcely send at all, or
ave to use the left hand, ON account of
loss of grip" II
"Nesrly all the higher officials are prac.
icsl operators, are they noii" ID
"Well, should say so. There's Bob !
,lowry-or Colonel 3. c. Clowry, vice. {
resident and general superintendent, to {
i've him his full rank and title-Old Billy I