Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-09-18
AN ODD KIND OF CLUB.
IT RESEMBLES A FULL FLEooEp
TELEGRAPH COMPANY.

ganizations in Brooklyn is one that has
recently gained a new lease of life |
through the infusion Of new and Wig.
orous blood and by thorough reorgan.
izaton. II Is called the Phenix Morse
Telegraph club, and is perhaps the only
one Of its kind in the United States.
Tne old organization was formed in
1879 and started in life under the name
of the Phenix club. II was inaugurated
by number OF young people, some Of
whom We're engaged in occupation as
telegraphers. and others of different yo-
cations, who took pleasure in studying
the mysterious language of dots and
dashes. \ private telegraph line was
established and connected with the res
idences of the members. A busy wire
it was too. The hum of conversation.
II 1t can he termed such, was constant
throughout the evening Stories We're
passed over the electrical current, jests
and jokes banded, chess and checkers
played hy individuals who liked this
sort of ret~eatinn, and in fact MS good
time was usually passed as if the mem
bcrs were brought in contact with each
Otner bN person IN one room.
Jokes of an innocent character were
also carried on over the circuit. which
had the advantage in so far as to allow
the perpetrator 10 remain unknown or
making II unnecessary to flee from the
wrath Of the person upon whom it was
inflicted. Quite number Of these are
stock property among the old members,
who relate them to friends with as much
Gusto and enjoyment as IL they had oc-
CURED only yesterday. One of these is
TO the effect that two members after
practicing with another in the early
evening. during which the sender trans
mitted the Morse characters as fast as
he could. or as tclegraphers would say
rushed the receiver, Notwithstanding
the protests Of this unfortunate disciple
Of Americas 5 noted inventor The latter
promised himself that a speedy revenge
would follow, and sought to find some
means whereby he could make the
''rusher" as uncomfortable as he had
been previously.
The pracucing finally came to an end,
and the receiver waited until an I'M
earthly hour of the morning, when he
supposed his victim had gone to bed and
when the click of soundcr would strike
the gloom aud quiet with the distinct.
ness Of a blow from trip hammer At
about o'clock in the morning he went
to the instrument and began to call his
victim III a manner which would indi-
cate that fire had perhaps broken out
or that the transmitter had serious need
of aid in some dire calamity. He called
in this furious style until he had awak-
ened the sleeper, who jumped mp out Of
bed and went 10 the instrument, ex-
pecting TO hear that something dreadful
had happened. He answered the call
quakingly. His Indignation can he i'm
agined when the query came slowly and
distinctly:
"Will You please tell me the time; my
clock has run down.
His answer Is not recorded, but it is
safe 10 assume that the immediate yicin-
ity became as warm as hot box Of an
overheated wheel.
The organization went on in the even
tenor of its way until two or three years
ago, when it began to languish, partly
ON account of detection of members
who moved away from the city or be-
cause the remaining persons would not
shoulder IN the proper or necessary man
ner the worry and expense of conduct
ing such and organization. Then came
another club which was purely social
in its character and which was also
called the Phenix club 1t may have
been that the similarity of names caused
or that some Of the members Of this
body were capable of handling a key
and working the electrical current.
However this may be, the two organ
izations were aInalgamated and new
order of affairs brought about thereby.
Tho name was changed to the present
one, and under which it started out with
bright and prosperous auspices.
A fiat, corner Of Marcy avenue and
Fulton street, has been made tho head
quarters of the club. and which may be
termed the main office of this amateur
telegraph company. Here are located
the battery room. which furnishes the
powerful fluid by which the wire is
worked, and another. which is called the
operating room, in which are placed four
sets of instruments and double praetic-
ing outfit. 4 gdlyonometer, whereby
the wire is measured, SO that the where
abouts of any trouble on the line can be
detected, is also included in this space.
Meetings and social gatherings are held
in a larger room running off from this
one. Eighty cells Of battery work the
circuit, which covers distance Of near
ly eighteen miles in this city. mainly in
the upper residence section.
The old "stringa was overhauled by
an experienced lineman recently and
put in sufficiently substantial shape in
order TO enable il to more readily resist
the wear and tear of a line in large
and busy city. The circuit is placed
along the hOusetops on the route, and
trouble of any kind or, as an operator
would say, "hugs" are rarely met with
or experienced. Twenty-three SO called
.'offices+ are on the circuit. all Of which
have their calls in the same manner as
do the stations of telegraph company.
Among the present members OF the
club are practical telegraphers Of skill
aud records for sending and receiving,
| Considerable rivalry exists between
them, and it is proposed at some future
time 10 have a tournament for fast trans
mitting and also for skill and ability in
receiving the Morse characters. Glasses
will be established in order to give every
one chance. One Of the fastest senders
| in the country is tho secretary Of the or
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