Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-06-12

TBLRGRAPHY IN 1861.

James II. Capen's First MessaRe---Lin-
coin TeIegraphed Gov. Holbrook 1900
Words.
Brattleboro's first telegraph operator was
James II. Capen, who, if not the first, was
certainly one of the first to use the tele-
graph in Vermont, writes Maj Childs in
the Springfield Republican. The first mes
sage was sent from little room in Halls
long building on the present site of Hooker
block. This was in the spring of 1851,
two years after the Vermont and Massa-
chusetts railroad had reached the town.
esquire" Bradley dictated the message,
asking for the officers of the Vermont and
Massachusetts railroad, who had been chos-
EN- i'm Boston. He received a reply the fol-
lowing day. The telegraph line began at
Springfield and followed the Connecticut as
far as White River junction, thence by di-
rect line to Montreal, while another line
turned off through New Hampshire to Bos-
ton. 1t was built by the late George Ben
edict of Burlington and some 200 shares
were owned in Brattleboro. The longest
message ever received by Mr.. Capen was
one of 1900 words from President Lincoln
to Gov. Holbrook. This was in answer to
letter from the governor recommending
the president to call for 500, 900 volunteers.
1t was i'm the dark days Of the summer of
1872, and the governors suggestion was TO
have the loyal governors pledge themselves
to favor the call, the Vermont governor
adding that the Green Mountain state
would quickly respond to the call. The re-
suit was a call for 100000 three months
men and 300, 900 nine months men. Gen.
Draper came to Brattleboro to confer with
Governor Holbrook and the paper was pre-
pared here for the signatures of the COVER
nors Thus Gov HObrOok was given cred
it for the scheme so quickly approved by
Lincoln.
During the war Brattleboro people were
accustomed to "chip in" and get the news
from the front. sometimes we got hum
bugged," continued Capen with hearty
laugh; Richmond was taken on the wire
several times, and once or twice the victory
was Justify celebrated by the townspeople.
| remember one occasion when we got a
despatch to this effect, and w. G. Perry,
the old landlord, got out his cannon and
fired it several times in the hotel yard in
the rear of the house. This was Sunday.
Silas Waite got the news about as soon as
it came and he bolted for the churches to
inform the congregations. He rushed to
the Centre and Unitarian churches where
the news was announced by the clergymen
from their pulpits. l went out Elliot street
to the Baptist church where the news was
enthusiastically received, and my enthusi-
asm grew apace till | arrived at the church
in West Brattleboro, where forgot to re-
move my cigar when | went down the
broad aisle to give the pastor the news.
The congregation applauded the happy an
nouncement and | returned to my office,
only to learn few hours later that it was
all hoax, and felt cheap enough, though
it was not my fault" Mr.. Capen was not
only the operator but the lineman as well.
He was obliged to go out in case of trouble
ten miles either north or south, the Green
field operator coming up to Vernon. They
used the old fashioned sickle-shaped climb
ers with strrup attachment, and once up
pole it was easier to slide or fall down than
to attempt to use the climbers. Among
those who served apprenticeship in Ca
penis Office were Levi X. Fuller, Vermont
ex-governor, and son of the old operator
who is now superintendent of the Peoples
telegraph company in Cincinnati.