Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-01
HEROES OF THE WIRE.
The Approaching Reunion Of the Old
= Telegraphers.
RIES OF OPERATORS.
The Wire In war-Achievements Of Plucky
Men Who Worked . Key-HoY the News of
the Monitor-Merrimac Fight was Sent
Sending PressDispatches Fromwashington.


more matter is sent by wire. and more political
secrets are in the keeping Of old-time opera
tors who have had long continuous service
here than of any other class of men. The war
time history of telegraphy at the capital
to censorship of the military authority
the telegraphic system was an adjunct
to the military power. When battles were
fought the whole field was laid before the oper-
ators in Washington, and, through them. be-
fore the President and his cabinet, while the
adings. whether good or bad, had not reached
the public. President Lincoln and Secretary
Stanton watched many battles through the
telegraph tickers, which were kept busy at the
capital, and through them directed the move
ments Of the armies. The thin wires. stretch
ing In all directions, all came together here ard
were In the strong grasp of the iron Secre-
tary OF War. While the battle between the
Merrimac and the Monitor was being fought
the telegraph operator at Newport News, who
was an eye witness to the fight. reported
momentarily what he and the movements
OF the battle were known here as they hap
pened. When the second battle of Bull Run
was fought the first reports were favorable
to the federal forces. Then came the tale
OF disaster. The telegraph operators knew
all that had happened, and they alone
besides the President and cabinet knew.
hammering out the details of disaster were
asked by enthusiasts on the streets to drink TO
the glorious victory. and all the people about
them wero rejoicing while they were silent.
They alone of ali the nation were in the conf
dence of the government and held its most
cred secrets. The history of the war told over
the telegraph ticker would be very interesting.
The secrets OF politics told in the same way
would teach the public many things they DO not
know and are not apt to learn.
Many prominent men who have made success
In various walks of life have served as operators
III Washington during the early days OF teleg-
raphy.
THE oLD-TlNE TELEaIAPHERs.
There will be q convention in Washington on
the 18th and Goth of next month which will re-
call many of the "reminiscences of early teleg-
raphy and will probably be Of extraordinary
interest.
1t will be the meeting of the Old Timers
Geographic Association and of the Society of
the United States Military CORPS. The compo-
sltlon of these associations and the work which
they have done is fraugbt with interest to SCI
ence, 70 business and to the history of the late
war. Many of the members of these societies
were telegraph operators when telegraph
ing at the front meant much danger
to them as did the charge of battle to
men engaged i'll it. And again in their admin
istration OF the particular line which they had
to operate it was incumbent upon them 10 show
administrative judgment and tact equal to that
OF an officer in command OF a division in recon-
Nuisance: in other words, they not only had to
know their countr.y and their wires and be
quick in execution. but they were compelled
to rely wholly upon themselves.
If they failed there are but very few records
OF such failures. That they did their work
without fear and to the entire satisfaction of
the men who benefited by that work the
records Of the War Department fully at
test Ii was early in the war that the bene-
hts OF the telegraph were recognized. and
1t was only about six months after the
war opened that telegraphers were used to es-
taoiish lines on battlefields and to manage
what were called field batteries term
drawn from the artillery. The Use of the tele-
graph as an adjunct to warfare was thus demon
strated by these men to be not only prac ticable
but Of the greatest advantage. European coun-
tries were quick to recognize this tact aud to
introduce the system in their own armies
Gen Sheridan in his memoirs speaks of this
specially In reference to a conversation on that
subject which he had with Prince Won Moltke
when he accompanied the German army in the
Franco-German war. Won Moltke. Gen. Sheri-
dan says in his book. told him that there were
two things which stood out among
many others that he had learned from the
American civil war. One Was the use
OF the military telegraph and the other the
equipment of cavalry. This was told to Gen.
Sheridan, as he relates, on the field OF Grave
lotte after the German charge had been made,
and Won Moltke, Prince Bismarck and En-
peror William were standing on a knoll with
Gen. Sheridan awaiting calmly the result of
that charge.
The French were next to follow the United
States in this field, which had been de ,eloped
by the American telegrapher; after that came
England-always slow-and the rest of Europe
This much for preliminary as regards the
military service of the American telegrapher.
Less striking, perhaps, but more important
ar lurO il III -h.+
these old men did in extending the commerce
OF the world. II is an axiom of trade that quick
communication makes quick sales and thereby
accommodates profits. The commercial basi-
ness transacted over the wires OF the world
really controls the trade OF the world.
Its inception was in the hands of the
men who will meet here on the dates mentioned.
Instead of waiting four months for a return
from his consignment to London tho cotton or
other merchant can get by cable return within
an hour after the ship containing that consign-
ment Is sighted on the other side. This is but
an INSTANCE, however.
TELEGRAPHY AND THE PRESS.
striking feature of the telegraph service
is that involved in the transmission of matter
for the press. The newspapers were the first
to recognize the importance of this adjunct to
the worlds intelligence. There is more matter
sent out OF Washington to newspapers than
from any other city in the country. I he
hrst office opened for the convenience
OF the newspapers here was at the
Capitol in 1857. 1t was located about half way
mp the steps leading to the public gallery on
the House side in the old House of Representa-
tves. When the new wing of the Capitol was
built, about 1859, this Office was transferred to
a place in the rear of the reporters gallery,
on the same side. which position it still occu-
pies Up to 1868 it was the only telegraph
office in the Capitol. There was but one
telegraph operator to send all the
press matter and private business. The special
correspondents at this time were very few in
number. Among them were ID. W. Bartlett.
who is now American secretary to the Chinese
legation, but WAS then connected with the
Springfield Republican; Whitelaw Reid, then
connected with the Cincinnati Gdzeite; Joseph
Medill of the Tribune, Chicago; ". b. Shaw of
the New York Herald and Mr.. A. R. Spo.ford,
librarian OF Congress-
These are of the living. Among tho dead
who at that time were special correspondents
were Ben: Peerly Poor, Charles G. Hal in bet
ter known as Miles o. Reilly" II. NJ. Noah, son
Of Maj. NJ N. Noah the veteran editor of New
York; A. H. MARYLAND, who was afterward post
master for the Army of the Potomac; ii.
d. Cook, afterward governor Of tho District
of Columbia, q very versatile if at the
end unsuccessful financier. From the little
Office which these men and others patronized
the highest number of words ever sen. on any
day was 5000. This was considered very good
work for day hours-that is, l2 m. to pm.
Before the war rs, 600 words were considered q
very good nights work. Tho night work il
must be remembered, was then, a. it is now.
much heavier than that of the day. The num-