Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-17
OLD.TIMERS.
The Lightning Jerkers of the Days
of the Rebellion.

of the Rebellion.
CHICAGO, August 16.-It was a jolly
merry, geat-hearted crowd which
thronged the decks of Captain DaviC
Cochrane's steamer, the John A. Dix
this afternoon. The representation o
two great eras in the history of the United
States had been rendered an excursion
on Lake Michigan by the local associa
ton, and it was not at all inappropriate
that at least ene of the organizations
present should take it's outing in boat
named after one who had said that instant
death alone could atone for any disrespec1
to the American flag. The crowd
on this occasion was composed of the
representatives of the Old-Time Tele-
graph Operators and the United States
Military Telegraph Corps of the Civil
War, who for two days have met together
in Joint session for the furtherance OF
good fellowship. The first of these or
ganizations represents the entire tele-
graph service of the United States dur
ing the first twenty-five years of its ex-
istence. 1t includes in its membership
the boys who handled the first
rude instruments at the time of
their invention by Morse, and
when the armies of the Union
swept across the vast theater of war,
some in the far West along the Missis-
sippi, some marching on to Atlanta. and
others fighting on the bloody fields of
Virginia. 1t was necessary to keep in
SECRET COMMUNICATION
With headquarters at Washington. This
only could be done by means Of the tele-
graph. Each army had its corps of tele-
particularly arduous. None of the vexa-
tions attendant upon the ill incidents of
camp life were theirs. They worked early
and late receiving and sending dispatches
translating ciphers and keeping in con-
stant communication with detached
corps and with headquarters. Some
times the operator was exposed to pecu-
liar dangers. Often during the retreat OF
an army hs and his fellows would be
left in the rear exposed to the enemy
until the last moment, in order to take
advantage of any hope which might be
sent in the way of intelligence that rein
forcements were at hand. Often the
operator climbed the telegraph poles,
and connecting his instruments with a
wire, would hold communication, while
exposed to the CALLING fire of the rebel
sharp-shooters. He slept in swamps and
laid his lie down on the battle field as
bravely as the bravest soldier. But the
peculiar responsibility of the service lay
with
THE CIPHER OPERATORS.
There were about five OF these in Wash
ington, and each General had one with
him. The cipher operator received and
interpreted dispatches of the most mo-
mentous nature. Often he had the
password long in advance of the time
when it was to be used. Mr.. E. Rose.
water, editor of the Omaha Bee, had the
password of the corps with which he was
connected for weeks in advance, and
when not even the General of the army
knew it. During the great civil struggle
over $4,000 miles of wire were in opera.
ton, and over 100000 message were
estimated to have been sent; about
twelve hundred operators were en-
ployed, and nearly three hundred were
killed, wounded or captured on the field
of battle. Through the efforts of Gen.
eral Rosecrans bill was introduced in
the House which recognized the value o.
their services during the war and made
provisions for pensions. This was re-
ferred and re-referred to committee, and
in the House finally was passed with the
exception of the pension clause. More
delay resulted, and finally it got to the
Senate, where now, with the exception
of any pension provision, it lays await
ing passage by that body.
SOME OF THE oLD-TIMERS
Among the many present in Chicago
now are the following: R. B. Woolsey
R. A. Taylor, E. L. Norcross, R. W. Du
gan, Geo. N. Dugan, ]. H. White, r
Mckenzie, w. w. Smith, J. D. Cruise
w. H. Woodruff, Charles Newton, w. ]
Dealy. manager of the New York brancl
of the Western Union, John Brant, I
B. Fuller, Jos. Knittler, R. G. Stephen
son, Lane s. Jones, A. P. Ives, Thos
Finnegan, E. M. Tomlinson, R. ]
Hutchinson, James D. Kied, G. G
Hume, D. X. Smith and othe
gentlemen from all parts of the Uniol
who hold positions of responsibility
and trust in the various localities il
which they reside. This morning th
sold timers" had brief session, choosin
the following officers: President, Col
Chas. Taylor, Frankfort, KY; Vice
President, Jay J. Smith, Kansas City
Secretary and Treasurer, VIM. j. Dealy
New York. The next annual meetin
will be held in Louisville, KY, durin
the third week in September, 1873!
After the return from the excursion bot
organizations sat down to banquet {
Kinsley's.
Amicably Settled.
ST. PAUL, August 16.-The wrang
over the selection of the State Commi
tee, in which the Democratic Convel
ton broke up last night, was Sc
tied this morning hY the adoptic