Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-13
EARLY OVERLAND TELEGRAPHY.
Rough Experiences and Interesting Epi-
sodes I'm the Lives Of Pioneer Operators.

EAnAA OVERLAND IELEOhAfH1.
Rough Experiences and Interesting Epi-
sodes In the Lives Of Pioneer Operators.
From the San Francisco Examiner.
The callow operator of to-day can lean back
| in his chair and indulge in q mocking laugh
over the troubles which interrupted business
between important centers in the early days of
the telegraph. About 1865 the best talent of
the Pacific coast was nonplussed over a break
in the line between Virginia City and San Fran
cisco. The wire carried the stock quotations.
and the market was Frustrated by the failure
to hear from the mines. Stations were long
way apart, 20 miles frequently intervening be-
tween operators. Frank Bell was superinten-
dent OF the mountain division, where grades
were so heavy that linemen had to Chamber up
the hills by hand-over-hand process. An in
spection did not disclose the break. Another
hneman was sent and hereturned with the
news that the wire was all right Three Gays
had elapsed without message between the
two feverish markets Of Nevada and California,
and spectators surmised that some one was
playing crooked Then Frank Bell got mad
He swore that he would 60 over the line him
self and examine every inch of wire. Then he
| sailed forth with blood in his eye and couple
OF six-shooters in his belt. He Jared no better
snoA hAo PACuCScssOIb, dltuOuRn he SUCK 10 Ills
resolution to inspect every inch of that wire.
Once only did he falter. The wire was
stretched across the top Of high hill where it
passed behind tree. He could see both ends
held taut, but not satisfied, he scaled the cliff,
climbed in behind the tree and found the
break. The wire which had parted had been
joined by some one who used piece of hay
rope, thus effectually breaking the circuit.
The air was sulphurous about this time and the
superintendent wore himself out apostrophiz-
a mo ,vrykN hol H., til
Nothing was heard of the break until one day
during the following summer when Frank Bell
was out making certain repairs. A teamster
pulled up his mules on the road below and
shouted to Bell:
Say, you telegraph feller," he yelled, 81
guess you owe me a drink"
mot by sight," was the positive re-
joinder
Eyes, you do" came back from the mule
whacker. II found your - old line down
here last winter and 1 tied it up for you
"Then you are the blasted fool I've been
looking for" replied Bell, who began to get
hot over the recollection as he started down the
bluff.
The teamster saw there was something he
could not understand and lit out without delay.
The Los Angeles circuit Of the Southern
Overland became interrupted in IS. Linemen
who were sent out returned, stating that they
could not repair the break without lot of sup
Plies. About a mile of wire and poles had as
completely disappeared as though they had
been swallowed up by the earth. No trace
line was reconstructed. Afterward detective
was engaged to solve the mystery. He worked
for three weeks on the case, exploring coun-
try that was mere desert. He was respondent
and about TO abandon all further search when
he ran across the material in question He was
stopping over night at a small ranch which was
surrounded by neat wire fence. Barbed wire
was unknown and the ranchman was taxed
with stealing the Overland line. The old set
tier, who had built first-class corral at little
cost. admitted the impeachment
Yes" he said, I've been living here nigh
onto three years, and have watched that burned
old line. l never saw anything go over and
thought no one was using it,"
The settler was honest, and after reading him
lecture on the invisible nature of electricity
the detective reported. No prosecution fol-
lowed.
On the San Joaquin trail the daring engi-
neers who had climbed crag and precipice to
stretch their wires were outwtted by the long
horned Spanish cattle that grazed in the valley.
No timber graced the country, and flies were
troublesome. The cattle were tormented by
these winged pests, and to get rid of them
crowded to the telegraph line. They would
rub against the poles and paw the earth away
from the base. Heavy poles would be worn out
In few months, causing frequent Interrupt
tions The line could not be fenced in and it
would not pay to hire vaqueros to drive away
the stock. One of those brilliant ideas that
change the fate of nations suggested cure for
the evil. Spikes were driven in the poles and
the ends sharpened so as to tickle the thick
hide of the steers and keep them away from
their daily pleasure. The theory was good but
it failed in practice. The cattle actually ap-
preciated the change and brought all their
horned companions from 20 miles to enjoy the
prickly sensation produced by the invention
After this twice as many poles were needed
and the spike feature was abandoned.
Dave Williams was the smartest telegrapher
OF the day. Quick-witted and fertile in ex-
pedients, he ran up to Virginia City in 1865
when the mining world was lying awake nights
expecting to hear the decision in the famous
Chollar and Wide West claims. Whichever
way the judgment went meant fortune for
the first man who got the news Williams
boldly entered the Office at Virginia City and
openly engaged the three wires running to San
Francisco by filing copy of a newspaper for
transmission. The court was tardy, and the
newspaper was exhausted before the decision
was announced. Williams then passed Bible
over the counter. telling the Office staff to
grind out on that on their three wires. Agents
OF brokers who had been sent to Virginia City
on the same mission tumbled to the deal to
shut them out and induced the manager to
wire to headquarters for special instructions
The question of priority on three wires was
raised, and the president wired back that
priority could only be claimed on single wire
knocked out, but fortune favored him by DELAY
ing the decision for several days. Hastily collect
ing camping outfit and hiring a wagon the
plucky operator started for the brush, where
he concealed himself at a spot convenient to
the telegraph line.
The wire was tapped and receiver and trans
mitter cut into the circuit. In this way Will
liams learned everything that passed over the
wires. Nothing interested him until one day
the electric spark flashed the news of the de-
cisiOn. A weeks vigil had almost exhausted
the patience of the desperate schemer. His
acute ear detected the first announcement, and
instantly grounding the wire he broke the cir
cult, and then, cutting in, he took up the story
cipher was to apprise his confederates in San
Francisco what way to buy. The ingenious
swindle fortunately was frustrated BY Mr..
Yountz, who was chief operator in this city. He
detected Williams characteristic style in the
sending, and knowing that Williams was not
supposed to be handling key in Virginia City,
he ordered the bogus and cipher dispatches to
be detained. His suspicious were further con-
firmed by Virginia City messages beginning to
arrive from the regular operator. The facts,
embracing the language of both dispatches,
were compared over the wire and the fraud ex-
posed. This ended Williams connection with
the telegraph system of the Pacific slope. His
talents were diverted to stock jobbing, in which
he realized and dissipated several fortunes.
A View Of Gen. Wolseley.
Gen. Beauregard in New Orleans Times Democrat
Gen. Wolseley impressed me most favorably.
He has the appearance Of a thorough soldier,
is Of medium size, compactly built and evil
IDENTIFY of great activity. His manners are OK