New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-06
DISPATCHES That WERE URGENT.
AN OPERATOR TELLS OF TWO rrnrenApHc

AN OPERATOR TELLS OF TWO TELEGRAPHIC
MESSAGES THAT MEANT LIFE OR DEATH.
Telegraph operators who have sent dispatches of sill
kinds for years might be excused II they 20 show
no surprise at any message that could be sent. II is
only natural that there should be drcary routine in the
work which banlshes al degree OF excitement In
thing The writer met telegraph superintendent
Who had handled an electric key I'm all parts Of this
country. lie had stO.cd in his mind fund Of
"reminiscences and as The tipc dragged heavily he rat
tied on story after story.
1T was good many years ago." ne said. when
was not so old as am now. ard perhaps more senti-
mental. that I a husband for gIrl. ] was an
operator then IN town oNt in Ohio. hadn't much 70
do ard used TO sit In the window good deal 10 watch
the people on the station platform Of the railroad
One day I caught sight Of a young and young
woman who were in earnest conversation. lie was
dressed for travelling and evidently waiting for the
next train AS the time for the arrival Of the train drew
near the young man seemed to become desperate for
he paced up and down the platform ncrvousy. talnS
very rapidly.
Then the train came gliding in saw the girl
shake her head and he said something which made her
rn pale. Tho train rad again started and lie climbed
mp TIE car steps without turning TO look back she
gave little cry but he did not hear 1t his train was
gene.
1t two DAYS after this that the young woman
into the telegraph Office, with White face and
rcd tneed eycNds She came up TO me and spoke
rapidly IN o frightened whisper.
AL want ron TO sond o telegram, she said. You
must send it right away. It's TO Network and II must
be delivered before O'Clock this afternoon
She was trying to write, but her fingers trembed
so thar she could not guide the pencil.
- Let me write it, I~sald
"'Oh thank you she answered, and then she gave
me the address. There were Just two words in the
message: Come back
Gan you got it there before sclock7 she asked
brcathlesslv. You mus; lie will leave his hotel
thea to catch a st,amer.' Her voice faltered here
I'm afraid not said. Tile difference In Tine
YOU know, makes it hard work 10 do that
3" On she cried, y forgot about the difference In
time. What shall dol
Send two / said, all the while working on my
key to Get my WIRE send to the hotel and one to
the steamer
"She WIS CRYING now so that I could not hear her
answer. but knew what she wanted. never worked
50 hard before or since get messages through And
all the willie that poor girl watched my fingers with
look 10 her eyes that made me swear I'd get them
through If quick work could do It.
when I turned around finally she drew a long
breath.
Well said, they are gone,' and looked at the
clock. This made her SILVER.
she would not leave the Office ard rs the minutes
slipped away began 10 feel the dread that was re-
nected in her eyes l knew that the steamer must
have started now. felt as II had committed muir
der but she was silent and pale. Only her look was
reproaohful az II had failed her.
FINALLY 1t came. There was Click ana q nash Oh
color was In her cheek
What Is ltl' she said. Quick! What is IT.
".Its for youl' shouted. like the boy that was;
hurrah he's coming for excited that for
got t. --ce her the message.
Then wrote 1t ont for her. I'm coming, God bless
vou l was on the steamer she cried over that
n. n. veIov paper and | think that the hulkng
country boy who gave it TO her dad choking in the
WtlI there was wedding short while after that.
The only b ONE 6aeT er g Parry c oSS operator
was at that wedding. and when the DrldegQOm Sspel
me- letter from the East afterward asking TO
on to go into big telegraph Office where he had
~ had another experience in sending in nv
Younger days in which got greatly Interested IL was
after / went East. l partly broke down and got
one dav a dgnifed welldresscd man OF middle
age came hurriedly into the Office.
reached for my KEY @ hm as sc 18th xe 70
ground together and his fingers clenched the rail 50
aercelv that they were absolutely bOodless.
Get IT, he said between his teeth. Get it
Then saw that his dispatch was in cipher and
remembered that that morning had received one
- When had sent the last word. he became deahly
white and leaned against the wall family tanning him
self with his hat l have never seen such an intense
look of agony on mans face as was on his. He
seemed to have strength enough only to look at his
watch every minute or two, 49,. ~, 5000
His answer came back in cipher. He braced
himself before reading II. .
"'Thank God he said IN low rolcea and 9TH, the
could cry out to him that would not take his
afterward learned that he was also operator
one Of the heaviest operators IN Wall street. I
often think about my having saved millionaire fsn
ruin"