Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-11
RACING ON THE WIRES.
The Telegraphers' Tournament Yester-
day In New York.

Fifty fast telegraph operators from all parts
of the country gathered in Hardman Hall in
New York yesterday afternoon to take part in
the first telegraphing tournament that has
been held In the country for several years.
Prize money aggregating S720 had been made
up by the Western Union and Postal CON-
panles, the Associated Press and the United
Press, Thomas \. Edison, Andrew Carnegie
and few others. This was to be divided be-
tween the operators in four different classes,
who should send in five minutes the most
words from certain speech made by Chaun-
cey NJ. Depew. The prizes were for quantity
only. Quality didn't count, except that the
matter sent had to be readable at the other
end of the wire.
small table at the front of the stage had
half dozen different sorts of Geographic KEYS
upon it. to suit the different tastes of the con-
testants. The wires ran from it to a room in
the rear, where the judges were stationed.
lhey were not supposed to know who was send
ing. Besides this the wires ran to II dozen diff
ferent saunders scattered through the hall. so
that every one who was an operator could tell
whether the contestant was sending fairly or
not. The official awards we're based upon the
actual number of words sent. Beside this
there was speed indicating machine that re-
corded on dlalthe exact number of impulses
sent over the wire by each contestant. 1t num-
bered the ticks. This was not official, however
OPENING ADDRESS BY WIRE.
The hall was filled, at least half with women,
when Fred Catlin sat down at the table and
began to rattle the key. In minute most of
the audience was laughing heartily The I'M
initiated were mystified. but all the operators
knew that the manager was making the open
ing address by wire. He pegged away patiently
for fifteen minutes, with occasional Interrupt
tons for laughter and applause. He told the
operators that the telegraph key was just about
the biggest institution in the universe and that
its dignity and worth were becoming each wear
more appreciated by the general public. This
tournament, he said would be but the first of
many IN differen: parts of the country and in
1892 or 1893 he promised there would be great
international tournament.
THE CONTEST.
The women's class was the first on the pro-
gram and after fourteen Of them had COM
peted the prizes were announced as follows:
First, $50 to Miss Kitty Stephenson; second,
$40 to Miss Dennis; third, $50 to Miss Vanse-
low. Special prize for best sending, S25 to
Miss Froschel.
Then came the old-timers. There were five
OF them. Two had not worked a KEY for
twenty years. All of them had been operators
for twenty years. The average in sending by
! these contestants in this class was far above
the average. and A S. Ayres, who carried
| away the tirst prize of $50 and the special
prize of SIS for the most finished and accurate
sending, did remarkably clever work
Then came the cracks" There were four
teen OF them, and 1t was deemed expedient to
split up the list and give the evening audiences
an opportunity to judge of the capabilities of
the contestants. Eight young men played the
Key IN the afternoon and six worked it at
night. There were so many good pieces of
work that the judges were uncertain as to the
definition OF merit 1t was finally decided to
have the four gentlemen, or as many
as desired to contest, send over again
after the other contests were over 1t
was then IL O'Clock. There were twenty-four
contestants in the concluding competi-
ton. 1t was for operators who had not sent
800 words or over in the contest of 1885, The
contest did not end until after midnight Then
the struggle between the cracks of class A was
to begin. The following was the early record:
a. j. Swan, 2l5 words; +. l.. Catlin. 4l words;
ii. 5. Wright, 203 words; Ii. ID. Paulhanus, 2lS
words; W. l. Waugh, 229 words; J. p. Bradt
ia words; W. Davis, 195 words; NJ ii. Toomey
230 words
III. L. Paulhamus, the Western Union repre-
sentative from Philadelphia. had hard luck in
the afternoon session. He was looked upon as
probable winner of the first prize in class A.
which was the highest possible honor. After
sending about seventy-five words his key broke.
or stuck in the language of the operators.
1t took HIM fully forty seconds to change over
TO a new key, but the delay proved fatal. He
sent thereafter at an average of fifty words a
minute, but the unfortunate loss Of time spoiled
| his chances for the high prizes. His record for
| the five minutes was 2lS words
| The first prize in class was captured by B.
! r. Pollock, jr.. of Hartford, the second by w
| NJ Gibson OF New York and the third by f. /
| klhm OF New York.
| The United Press prize for good quality was
won by W. l.. Waugh of New York
| The winners in class were Frank Catlin
first; W. L. Waugh, second; Frank English,
third