The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-11
AN ODD KIND OF CLUB.
T aREsEM5LEs A full PLEDGED
y, TELEGRAPH COMPANY.


mnnleaie with Zach other by Telegraph
One Of the most novel or unique or
CARNATIONS In Brooklyn Is one that has
recently gained new lease of life
through the infusion Of new and vigy
orous blood and by thorough reorgaD.
ization. 1t Is called the Phenix Morse
Telegraph club. and Is perhaps the only
one Of its kind in the United States
The old organization was formed ia
1870 and started Ia life under the name
Of the Phenix club. 1t was inangnrated
by number Of young people, some Of
whom were engaged in occupation as
telegraphers, and others Of different vo-
cations, who took pleasure in studying
the mysterious language Of dots and
dashes. A private telegraph line was
established and connected with the res
licences Of the members, A busy wire
1t was too. The hum OF conversation,
II it can be termed such, was constant
throughout the evening. Stories wero
passed over the electrical current, jesty
and jokes banded, chess and checkers
played by individuals who liked this
sort Of recreation. and in fact ~ good
q time was usually passed d. if the mem
bers were brought In contact with each
other by person in ono room.
Jokes Of an innocent character were
also carried on over the circuit, which
had the advantage in 80 far as 70 allow
the peIpetrator TO remain unknown or
making 1t unnecessary to flee from the
wrath Of the person upon whom it was
inflicted. Quite d number Of these are
stock property among tho old members,
who relate them TO friends with ais much
gusto and enjoyment as If 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
be could, or as telegraphers would say
| rushed" the receiver, Notwithstanding
the protests of this unfortunate disciple
of Americas noted inventor, The latter
promised himself that speedy revenge
would follow, and sought to find some
means whereby he could make the
struahers as uncomfortable as he had
been previously,
The practicing finally came texan end,
and the receiver waited until an un-
earthly hour of the morning, when he
supposed his victim had gone to bed and
when the click Of sounder would strike
the gloom and quiet with the distinct
ness Of blow from trip hammer. AT
about3 o'clock in the morning he went
to the instrument and began to call his
cate that a 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 jumpedsup out of
bed and went to the instrument, ex-
pecting to hear that something dreadful
had happened. He answered the call
! quakingly. His Indignation can be 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 ii
safe to assume that the immediate vici1i-
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 OF 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
a bond of friendship to be established
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 amalgamated and new
order Of affairs brought about thereby.
The name was changed to the present
one, and under which it started out with
bright and prosperous auspices.
4 A fiat, corner Of Marcy avenue and
Fulton street, has been made the head
quarters of the club, and which may be
tern,sd 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. ~ which arc placed four
sets OF instruments and double practic-
ing outfss. A galvonometer, 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 larger room running off from this
one. Eighty cells Of battery work the
circuit, which covers a distance Of near
ly eighteen miles in this city, mainly Ia
the upper residence section
The old string was oyerhanled by
I an experienced lineman recently and
put in sufficiently substantial shape in
order to enable it to more readily resist
4 the wear and tear Of a line in d 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
Il offices are on the circuit. all Of which
have their calls in the same manner as
do the stations Ola telegraph company.
i Among the present members Of the
club are practical telegraphers Of skill
and records for sending and receiving.
Considerable rivalry exists between
them, and ii is proposed at some future
d time to have q tournament for fast trans.
4 hitting and also for skill and ability il
receiving the Morse characters Classes
will he ea1 l,1Jxhed A., r.,sl6, IL, ~ -,