The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-05-29
THE TRAMP OPERATOR.



He looked like very ordinary man
as he stood In the doorway of the train
dispatcher's office ut the pier. Hs was
dressed in an ordinary suit of clothes.
His rather tain face was framed in a
thin. reddish beard. through which
peeped pair of blue eyes. Taking it
all in all he was very ordinary-loek-
ing man. and yet that man was the
most noted telegraph operator in the
world. 1t was "Old Bogy."
Every body who is or pretends to be
telegraph operator or II train dis
patcher knows Old Bogy. Wherever
there runs a line by telegraph wire
there is known that name. and it is
self has been pretty nearly wherever
the telegraph has gone. Old Bogy's
other name is Bogardus.
Twenty-Five years ago Old Bogy-for
Old Bogy he was even when he was a
lad-was telegraph operator in the
employ of the United States Govern
ment- Bogy was n telegraph operator
in the Capitol at Washington. and be
handled all of the important messages
that came there from the front He was
trusted, and the confidence was not
abused.
After a while he WAS sent to the
front. and was in the midst of the fight
ing with General Grant. and he played
no unimportant part in the great strife.
He was an expert OPERATOR better
does not exist-aad lie held many a
great secret during those troubious
times.
After. the war Old Bogy began to
drift. He wandered from railroad to
railroad. and from telegraph Office to
telegraph Office. from one end of the
country to the other. and before long
the name of Old Bogy became pro-
verb among telegraph men, He had
gained the bad habit of unrest that had
fastened itself upon him during the
war. and before long lie became the
most noted tramp operator in the
United States. He seemed to have
lost all desire or ability for steady
work, and while his ability was of the
highest. he would work a few weeks
and then suddenly leave. and do moth
ing until his money was exhausted.
And so he travelled. working little.
borrowing a great deal. and often get
ting passes from point to point on rail-
road lines.
Train Dispatcher Comstock. now at
Oakland pier. worked with Old Bogy
in Chattanooga. some seven or eight
years ago. Bogardus had just been
sent to China TO put in operation a
system of train despatehing on the first
railroad telegraph in that country. He
was gone four years, and when he re-
turned he was given big reception at
Chattanooga. and that WAS the begin-
niEg of his second downfall
Five years or so ago Old Bogy drift
ed out to San Francisco and was en-
ployed in the Western Union Office in
that city. He worked there fos several
weeks. aud just before pay day he
went out of the Office and never re-
turned to get the money that was due
him.
Old Bogy's uncle died in Rochester.
n. Y. not long ago and left him S20..
0o0. but so Invested that he could draw
only the income, and consequently the
tramp operator is in better financial
condition than ever before. He is good
natured aud gnod hearted in tile ex.
treme. and will share his last penny
with his friends. but he Is an inycterate
borrower. aud the boys all like him.
and he has no trouble making his way
wherever he goes, travelling mostly Gu
his reputation.