The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-20

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stretched upon masts in Pass Rigolettes, a
channel OF water that connects Lake
Borgne and Lake Pontchartrain. The diff
culties at this point were overcome by Mr..
Butler, who successfully laid tho first cable
from shore to shore. Great Improvement
had been made with cables. The expert
ments between Dover and Calais we're
| prohted upon, and the result was what was
then known as the shore end cable, con-
tanning three copper conductors, insulated
with gutta percha, then wrapped with
talTed rope and then surrounded with a
wire armor. Afterward similar cables were
lald IN the Cape Fear River at Will
mington. The entire cost OF these cables
was 81, 900.
1t was ia the year 1851, and before Mr..
Butler had charge of the division, that he
accomplished the then unheard OF feat OF
receiving message on his tongue, and it
occurred in this way: While in the Macon
Office II was found one day that the line
was down, and from the strength of the
current in the Office Mr.. Butler located the
break near town. Borrowing horse he
rode out on the wagon road leading to
Columbus. The high wind of the morn
ing had Frustrated the wires and for miles
they were stretched upon the tops of the
| young trees, upon the rail fences and upon
the ground. Several miles from town he
found the break, but having no help along
and no tools, except n pair OF plyers, the
task Of repairing the wire would have
seemed dubious undertaking to man of
less energy than young Butler Not far
distant he saw number of hands at work
in field, and riding up to the owner of
the plantation he introduced himself and
asked for the loan Of the hands for half an
hour.
TELEGRAPHING WITH THE TONGUE.
The farmer did not seem disposed to
grant such favor, but Mr.. Butler men
toned the name OF Mr. Alexander and
others, who were close friends OF the
farmer, and the hands were directed TO u.s.
sist. The wires were brought together,
but before being joined 1t occurred to Mr..
Butler that he would inform the operator
in the Macon Office that the line was in
working order. INC" was the call for
Macon, and great was the establishment OF
Sam Suffers, the operator, when he found
that he was talking with John Butler,
knowing that he was out in the woods
without key or sounder or instruments OF
any kind. Mr.. Butler had driven Ratchet
in the moist earth between the ends OF the
two wires, and by tapping the end OF the
wire leading 10 Macon ON the top OF the
Ratchet he was enabled 10 send message.
Then, by holding the two wires with his
hands and his tongue between them, he
received the replies.
This was the first instance known at tho
time, but owing TO Mr.. Buffers modesty
nothing was ever said about it, A year or
80 later he accomplished the same feat and
it created quite a stir.
Mr.. Butler was one OF a large number OF
passengers bound for Mobile. When the
train was rolling along toward Montgom-
ery, where il would make connection with
the steamboat Messenger, Capt. Cox, then
one OF the model steamboats, on the river,
ii was found that a freight train had run
oil at the mile post, sixteen miles above
Montgomery. Here was dilemma. The
nearest office was at Columbus over one
hundred miles away, and no man could be
sent 10 Montgomery in time 30 delay the
departure OF the boat or TO stop the up
night passenger train, which would most
likely run into the derailed freight Con-
ductor Gordon was in despair until Mr..
Butler said to him:
Gordon. / can send a message to Mont
gomery for you"
The conductor doubted Il, but anxious
to try any means he told him for heavens
sake to do It.
Take down that bell rope and make
your brakeman bring me a crowbar"
This was done, aud the passengers fled
out OF the cars TO see what followed. The
end Of the rope was thrown over the wire
aud pulled down. The crowbar was sunk
into the earth and the wire placed on top
OF il was severed by a blow from hatchet.
Then, tapping the Montgomery end upon
| the crowbar Mr.. Butler called up Hubert,
the operator Hubert responded, and then
the message OF the wreck and the request
| 10 hold the boat was sent. sam q. Jones
was superintendent Of the Montgomery *
/ West Point Railroad, and Hubert, who
| knew Butler well, asked him 10 hold the
wire open until lac could find Jones, and
also Mr.. Pollard, agent Of the boat line.
/ Hubert ran across the street and found
/ both Jones aud Pollard In the Chamber Of
| Commerce Building, and related the won.
| dorfnl message. They went at once 10 the
office, aud after q conversation with But
| Ter told him that the passenger train that
was already steamed up 10 10 out would
/ 20 ut once 10 the sixteen mile post 10 bring
in the passengers aud carry a surgeon to
look after the injured engineer Of the
freight train. Pollard kept the boat wait
ing. and shortly after dark the train arrived
In Montgomery with the passengers. who
took the boat and proceeded on 10 Mobile.
As may be imagined Mr. Butler was the
hero Of the hour. The Montgomery al.
rcriisr published an account OF the occur.
renee. THIS was copied In the Mobile
Rcgiser. and then In turn by the New
Orleans BULLETIN. Then II got into the
London inns aud was made much sport
OF, the Thundcrcr claiming that Il was a
yankee trick and an impOssibility.
During the late war this feat was often
done, notably by Gen. Morgan OF the Con-
iederalc side, but Mr.. Butler was the first
man 10 demonstrate that II could be &C.
complishcd.
Mention Of tho war reminds me Of
another iacti connection with biography.
/ Ii was the war that caused tho abandon.
ment OF the paper on which the messages
wcro written with tho needle. Down
South hero the paper could not be oh.
tanned, and the operators were therefore
forced 10 depend upon reading by sound.
After tho war the paper was discarded al.
together, and every operator depends upon
his good ear.
BLARE's SADDLE BAGS.