Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-04-23
A WONDERFUL TELEGRAPHER.
Lieutenant Swift but Once Met His
Equal at Telegraphing.


First Lieut. Swift OF the eth cavalry
United States army, committed suicide
at Fort Robinson, Neb., Thursday
morning by shooting himself througn
the heart. He had been post exchange
and acting commissary officer. During
the past week HI was relieved OF both
duties and an investigation Of his
books was in progress. He leaves a
wife and large family.
Lieut.. Swlft's suicide loses one of
the most remarkable careers in the
United states army, From the posi-
ton OF telegraph operator in small
town OF Virginia he became a private.
corporal, sergeant and lieutenant in
the army in as many days as there
were promotions. When. Gen. Myar
organized the signal corps of the
army, telegraphy was decided 10 be
one OF the most important branches of
signaling to be taught to the young
men who were to form The corps
they were destined TO serve at frontier
posts, where they were to make tri
daily telegraphie reports on the condi-
ilon of the weather. and knowledge
OF biography was desirable. if not ac
tually necessary. Swift had consider
able local reputation as a telegrapher
and 10 secure mis- services as an in
structor he was enlisted in the corps
and promoted from day to day until
he attained the rank of I'd lieutenant.
After Joining the corps and beginning
his work as instructor he devoted him
self to the study of electricity ami
biography, becoming one of the most
skilful operators that the world has
ever known and an author or the sub
ject
There were lot of fancy tricks IN
sending and receiving messages thar
Swift used to do. One of them was to
take two messages at the same time.
He could write equally well. and bean
tlfuily, with either hand, and could
take message from one instrument.
writing it out with his left hand while
ne copied another message with his
right. He could also send a message
with one hand while, he received an
other message, copying it with the
other hand. In the years that he was
Instructor in telegraphy for the signal
corps Swift never met his match but
once. That was when a young fellow
that locked like a typical cowboy ap-
piled for admission to the corps. In
answer 70 the question as to whether
he understood anything about teleg-
raphy, the young fellow answered that
he could receive 40 words a minute
without being very busy. He was sent
into another roGm which had tele-
graphic communication with the main
office, for Swift to test his ability. AT
first Swift sent the young fellow about
20 words minute, then so. When
Swift broke in and asked the young
fellow If he was getting it all right, he
answered 20 K. but hurry up I
haven't much time to fool away" Then
the pace was increased to 40 words,
and, after keeping this up for five min
utes, the applicant broke in and said:
IF you can't send any faster than that
you had better cult" He was en-
ployed, and in less than year ran
away with tho receipts of a government
Office in Arizona.
The most remarkable feature Of
Lieut.. Swifts career in the army is
that 1t has been we'll known among
army people for Il years that he was
short in his accounts During that
period lie has been robbing Peter to
pay Paul, and has been VIGOROUSLY
hard up. For several years he was in
command of Fort Meyer, On the Robert
z. Lee estate, opposite Washington.
and during that time ne had trouble
every month explaining shortages in
army accounts, and he borrowed money
of all the men in the command that
could loan it to him. He had no bad
habits He never drank, gambl ed, or
used tobacco.-Cl -cago Inter Ocean.