The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-23
81 H. E--DUM-- BUM
Ialklns 0iar Telephone in Montana
Seventeen Years Ago.
PROF. MOORE TELLS OF 1T
IL Was aGreat Day for Many Peo-
pie Who Have Since Cut Fig
ure IN the Social and Politi-
ca. Life of This State.

BUTTE, Feb. 22.-While in a reminiscent
mood tlp other day. Prof. Clinton Ii.
Moore tod STANDARD reporter an inter-
estlng st'ry of the first use of the tele-
phone inMontana, which has never been
published The relation of the early his
tory of tte ''hello" machines in this state
was prompted by the recent election to
the United States senate of Lee Mantle,
who playld prominent part in the ex-
pertinent THE telephone was first used
IN the tertory of Montana" said Profess
sor Mort during the winter of 1S7S-79
and the first conversation was carried on
between Helena and Deer Lodge, which
are situated respectively on the Atlantic
and Paciff slopes of the Rocky mount
aims. HoI. II. p. Rolfe of Great Falls, a
gentlemanof no mean scientific knowl-
edge and ,ttainments, in those days was
promlnen citizen of Helena and had
become greatly interested in the practical
use OF the telephone in eastern cities as
well as in those of the middle west.
Being convinced of the great merit of
Professor Bills invention, and under
standing tn, business needs of better
communicative facilities than the tele-
graph then Afforded to the widely scat
tered towns and villages of the territory,
Bell telephone m the northwest, and COM
menced operations at Helena, demon
sIrating the practical value of the instru-
Incnt to the Business men of that city and
10 his old tim acquaintance whom he
CHANGED TO meet. During conversation
with the gentleman i'll question n propo-
sition was made and accepted that
practical test OF this invention should be
attempted, using the two towns mem
TONED Tor terminal stations and making
The circuit over the telegraph line which
joined together the two cities. Full conf
uence was not entertained by both parties
as 10 the result OF this experiment, for
that telegraph line was nearly as wonder
1ul IN Its construction as the telephone
itself. The wire was strung over the
range upon convenient trees, insulated
upon projecting limbs and rusty nails,
and kept in place by the awkward efforts
and expert curses Of the stage drivers,
who frequently acted in the capacity of
line repairers.
The ownership Of this valuable prop
erty early attracted our attention and
curiosity, and at length the secret was d-
Vulged to us one morning in the office of
the McBurney house at Deer Lodge by
Capt. James ii. Mills, when he SAID: Per-
mt me TO introduce to you p. A. Largely.
one OF the chief owners of that gigantic
monopoly, the Helena q Deer Lodge Tele-
graph line In due time an interview
was held with the parties employed in the
desired telegraph offices for the coming
experiments, and those parties readily
proffered Their services for the occa sion.
At that time Mr.. Fredericks, an expert
electrician, had charge of the Helena of
flee, and Lee Mantle, now a United States
senator for Montana, was stationed at
Deer Lodge. The former has escaped our
observation, but the latter is remembered
as the same pleasant, courtly and easily
gentleman as one finds him
to-day.
when the preparations we're ready for
the experiment of talking over the Rocky
with the conversers 40 miles
apart, feat looked upon by many per-
sons as something not within the range of
small party of ladies and
gathered at the Hello centers
as critics and auditors. Notable among
the number were men and women whose |
deeds have since become historic and !
whose names are dear to many Montan.
aus.
I'm the Deer Lodge office could be found |
Hon. Hiram Knowles, Hon. D. b. O'Ban- |
non and wife, the teachers in the College |
Of Montana, then in its first year of exist |
euce. One could see at the Helena ter |
IN nus Hon. II. p. Rolfe and wife, Col. |
w. f. Sanders and wife, and other ex-
,ellent takers. The performance be- |
Gins. Mr.. Mantle and Mr.. Fredercks |
telephones are attached to the giant |
monopoly and Mr.. Role salutes the Deer
Lodge listener. Vocal sounds are readily
lcard, but no words are dstInguishable
smiles and frowns change places on the
aces of those holding the telephones.
)iher voices are tried with no better re-
salts. Mr.. Mantle chats with Mr. Freder-
cks and thoy conclude that faulty insula-
ION and weak current are the chief OBJ
tacles. The batteries are inspected and
another trial is made. Judge Knowles
mi Colonel Sanders attempt to make
themselves understood, but. for once,
heir efforts are in vain. Each recognizes
he others voice, that is all. Mrs. Rolfe
md Mrs. O'Bannon can do no better.
FINALLY conversation is dropped and |
inging substituted, when, from Helena,
omes with startling distinctness to the
Deer Lodge audience, those
words so dear to every college man, words
epeated often in early life by doctors,
minister's and priests when college honors
ell thick about-and missed them: Lei
oria, Litora. Swe-de-le-we, dunn bum,'
Here's to Good Old Yale Science is
,ockies, storm swept and snow crested,
re no obstacles to Professor Bells in
entive genius, and the men of the West
re bound by stronger tie to their friends
the East. Cheap and common talk dis
lnce no longer holds in check. The
udiences separate to speak of, not the
onder they have seen, but heard. Sew
nteen years ago! Memeris of those
avs! Mother Corbetts,' Clouds of
make River Dust The sweetly singing
lmpires of Market Lake. The outside
eat on the palatial stage coachi How
mes have changed"
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