The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-01-25
THE TURNiNC-PCINT.
An Act OF Heroism That Made Edison .
Photographer.

His second venture in practical tel
egraphy was the turning-point of hi
life. The story is told as it was re
lated to the writer by Mr.. j. L. Mae
kenzie, who during the early siXtie
was the station agent and operator a
Mount Clemens. Michigan.
AS 4 newsbov Edison's run took hin
twice week through Mount Clemeu.
on the train known as the mixed
division. This train reached that sta
ton between 10 and II a. M. and re-
turned to Port Huron between and I
p. N. Young Edison was popular
with the railroad men, whom he de
lighted TO entertain in his train labOra.
tory with chemical experiments an(
had made stanch friend of the Mount
Clemens operator. Mr.. Mackenzie
and his wife and family lived over the
station.
1t was a summer day. The mixed
arrived in good time, and the train
was cut loose ahead of the baggage
car IN order to pick up car of freigh,
on Its way to Jackson. This left the
passenger and baggage-car at the
north end of the station platform. The
engine and freight-cars backed in on
the freight-house track and pulled out
the car on to the main track, without
a brakeman, giving it a gentle push
toward the baggage-car The track
was very level.
My son, then two and a half wears
old, said Mr.. Mackenzie. ''"unObseryed
by his nurse. had strayed upon the
main track and was amusing himself
throwing pebbles, when Edison, who
stood near with papers under his arm,
turned and saw the child's danger.
Throwing aside his papers, he,plunged
between the cars just in time to drag
himself and the child clear of the ap.
preaching cars. Excepting scratches
both escaped without injury. The act
was heroic, and our gratitude wa. I'M
bounded. | was just then unable,
however, to substantially reward the
young hero. Then | remembered his
absorbing interest in telegraphv.
al | said, stop at Mount Clemens
from II 4. m. until p. N. several
days each week, and will perfect YOU
as an operator and get YOU a position
The offer was eagerly accepted.
Edison soon had erected line from
the station tank TO my brother-in-law's
sleeping-roOm over the station. The
instruments used were made by Edi-
sons own hands at a gun-shop in De-
trolt In construction and operation
they were perfect. subsequently the
boy put up perfectly equipped work.
ing line from the station to the village
drugstore distance of one mile. 1t
worked very well in the fine, dry
weather during which it was built, but
the first rainy day rendered it useless.
1t could hardly have been otherwise.
for nine-tenths of the line was fastened
with mere penny nails to the cedar of
a snake-stake. There were no insu-
lators of any kind, and the line was
what Is known as stove-pipe annealed
wire. Excepting two paid messages
sent over this line, the whole was
financial failure.
Zone day while the line was in oper-
alton AL rushed into my office, bis
eyes electric sparks.
Mr.. Mackenzie he cried, Il can
send two messages at the same time
over 4 single wirer
AWAY with your nonsenser | re-
oi.O"' ''hu utONe MIN OUT OF the once. |
After the Boston trial in which Edi- |
sons claim to the invention of the 'du |
)leX was contested, | recalled to him |
.he incident.
Had | had your evidence Macken
,le. said the inventor in reply, IL
would have saved ME $500, O0O.'"
In three months the pupil exceled
he master, who had no hesitation ir
recommending him to the telegraph
perIntendent Edison became night
operator at Stratford, Ontario. Young
Mackenzie now rides the largest bicy.
lie in the United States, and is a trust.
1t man IN his rescuer's employ.-St
Nicholas.