Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-21
THE NEWS IN WAR TIMES.
bays Of Anxiety In Warrington When
Waiting for Word from the Front.

Waiting for Word from the Front.
An OLD TELEGRAPH OPERATORS REcoLLEcrroNs-
| DAYS OF SUPREME RxCITEMKsT-How THE GOVERN
| MHNT USED TO CONTROL THE wIREs-THE FIRST Ac-
COUNTS OF THE DEFEAr At BULL RUN.
| I'VE had busy times during the war;" remarked
veteran telegrapher to a STAR reporter, sand a
fearful amount Of responsibility In the matter OF
news. We had but one line Of telegraph here, and
but one railroad. There was the New York Asso-
ciated Press, through which the bulk of the news
| was received The late L. A. Gobright was the
agent here and he had In his office as assistants
| Mr.. Barnard and the two Holland brothers, James
G. and Charles. The office was then in the Davis
| building, on pennsylvania avenue adjoining the
Metropolitan Hotel now No. 6Ie THE STAR was
published during the war on the southwest corner
| OF pennsylvania avenue and 18th street.
The Republican was published in the build
Ing now known as the fremont House,
"a street ana Indiana avenue, but was afterward
removed TO the northeast corner Of 7th and ID
streets, and then to 9th street. between Pennsyl-
van1a avenue and streets The old National Intel
hgencer was published at 9TH and streets ION the
northwest corner), and Col Forney during the
war, started the Sunday Chronicle, which was
| subsequently converted into daily paper. These
| comprlSed all the washington papers. The Ameri-
can Telegraph office was then on the north side Of
pennsylvania avenue, west of An street, and the
colt, Familiarity known as Pop Talcott, now the
electrician at the Capitol or the ten or fifteen
operators engaged In The Office then there are now
Will Snyder, and Andy johnson, the latter though
was then a messenger boy"
WIRING TO THEIR SOUTHERN FRIENDS.
"Much In the way OF news prior to the war never
got out" the old operator continued 1.-THE South
ern people freely used the line and kept up cor
| respondence with their friends South up to the
| hour Of leaving The Government was aware OF
this, for Messrs F. W. Walker and L. X. Pangborn,
Two Northern correspond ents, Informed Mr. stan
Ton, linen the Attorney General under President
Buchanan, that the wires were being used for
reasonable purposes They were informed that
tne ADMINISTRATION was fully aware OF the fact but
could md no constitutional authority TO prevent
IL. When the question OF seeding was being dis
cussed dispatch was sent by several Of Virglnas
cinity urging them to seize the Brooklyn as yir-
ginlas portion OF the United States Navy. Sena.
tor Wigfall, OF Texas, never denied that he had
USED The telegraph, and was wont to say joktDgly
| that he had committed treason enough over the
| wires to hang forty men.
THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR.
"After the Inauguration OF Mr.. Lincoln" con-
tinued the veteran, 'the temper of the people here
| was feverish. Large numbers OF the old Washing
| ton families having Southern connections, SYM
pathlzed with the southern people, but in the
| early part OF the war the large majority, while
not approving OF coercive measures, were willing
| to fight Tor the defense OF the capital, and a
prompt response was made to the Call for troops
| Tor that purpose. A few troops from the Regular
Army were In the city-a company of sappers and
|
| company at the Arsenal and the marines. To
these were added about $500 District men
after the fall Of Fort SUMTER Us' BY the
way, speaking OF Sumter reminds me that
| some years ago correspondent related
| that during the month preceding the fail OF sum-
| ter he was in constant communication with Gov.
| P1ckenS, OF South Carolina. He, however, did not
tell the whole story and perhaps did not know 1t.
| His custom was TO go TO the Office after 1t had
| closed for the night and friendly operator would
send and receive dispatches Tor him. They were
| not destroyed and were left on the paper strip.
Another operator catching on TO the scheme. took
| the correspondence every morning and sent 1t to
the proper officers OF the Government In this way
| President Lincoln and his Cabinet were kept In
formed OF the preparations for opening the ball at
| Sumter.
| THE NEWS FROM FORT SUMTER.
| sit is not perhaps known" he went on shat an
attempt was made to keep the knowledge Of the
| fall OF sumter on April 13 from the Government as
| long as possible. Communication was cut of be-
| tween Richmond and this city, and the Govern
| ment had no direct news Till In the evening. In
the afternoon, however, the late Patrick crowley
received private dispatch from his two sons, then
| at GordonSville, Va, announcing the fact. They
| had built the telegraph line 70 that point. The
| fact that the Government had not received such
news up TO that hour caused doubt as TO the cor
| rectneSS OF MIR. CrOwIey'S Information; but from
this dispatch the report rapidly spread and caused
| much excitement. In a short time 1t seemed as If
every man, woman, and child knew the news. The
| Immediate result was TO quicken the military
spirit. ana In little time the War Department
| had mustered in over thirty companies from the
| District. The question with the young men then
was not as 10 the cause OF the war, but the safety
| Of the capital
OFFERED TO RAISE MARYLAND BRIGADE
| "Col. Whitley continued the telegrapher, "was
then correspondent Of the New York Herald, and
| also the editor Of the Baltimore Clipper, with q
| considerable following IL the Monumental city,
having been Identified with the American, or
| know-nOthlng element. He Immediately applied
to Secretary Cameron for authority to raise brig
AIDE OF Marylanders, and agreed to do so at once II
charters and rations were provided as fast as the
accept this offer, Out expressed his willingness to
| provide for them as fast as regiments were re-
| cruited and presented for muster. The news Of
the adoption OF the ordnance Of secession
| by the Virginia convention for submission
TO the people, and OF Jef1 Davis proclama-
ton Offering letters OF marQue on April II,
was received by Us, but was not given out, and no
dispatches were posted. Through the Associated
Press and the papers the pubic was advised. The
arrival OF about 400 Pennsylvania troops on April
18th gave some confidence TO the Union people, FOR
this was the first nstalment under the call OF the
| President for 10, 900 men issued April Is. From
| time 10 time next day news was received or the
movement OF troops, but none arrived. and late In
the day the telegraph Office wa, closed to all pri-
1 vate business.
THE BALTIMORE RIOT.
| When the attack on the sixth Massachusetts,
| regiment in Baltimore, en- route to this city, was
| made the mob took possession OF the telegraph
ONCE there, and, as they supposed, cut all the
| wires. There were, however, two wires left uncut
| As soon as secretary Cameron learned of this mob
| he became anxious to communicate with Colonel
| whitley, and he directed the telegraph COM
| pany to ind him and wire him that his propo-
| sitiOn would be accepted. Colonel Whteey was
found In Philadelphia, and in reply telegraphed 1T
Is too late They are now all on the oJler side Ii
there mad been less red tape in this Instance the
mob might have been prevented. Then FOL. owed
| suspense, and the eagerneSS for news from he
| North was unprecedented. Reports came that a
Confederate force was marching on Washington
| The wires had been cut north and south. Finally
| the seventh New York regiment, having come by
way OF Annapolis, appeared, and as they marched
direct from the depot 10 the Presidents the entire
| loyal population turned out to receive them
PLAN TO WRECK A TRAIN.
| "Did you ever hear that plan was made to wreck
| the train on which they came from Annapolis
| Junction? Well, there was such plot. Out on
the railroad Is a deep cut. There was an old can
| non In possession OF some OF the country people
| who formerly belonged to a volunteer COMPANY
| This old gun was hastily mounted on par OF
| wagon wheels, and was to have been stationed so
| as TO command the cut party was detailed to
tear up the rails, and when the train was wrecked
| the cannon was TO let into them. Two Germans
who were In the plot were overheard talking OF tt
by some OF the German soldiers OF this city then
guarding the Railroad and they at once Informed
| the authorities. don't know but have CODY OF
| dispatch which confirms this statement
| REVISING PRESS DISPATCHES.
| about the time the movement was made on Alex.
| andria," said the veteran, 1.-THE War Department
| appointed q censor to supervise the dispatches.
and this OccaStOned much com aint NOT hoo. nSo