Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-18
BUSY DAY FOR CLEVELAND.
TELEGRAPEY IN 1851.
James H. Capen's First Message Lincoln
TelegrapIled Gov. Molbrools I 500 Mnrd..

Brattleboros first telegraph operat or
was James II. Capen, who, If not the first,
was certainly one of the first to use the
telegraph in Vermont, writes Major Childs
in the Springfield Republican. The first
message was sent from a little room in
Halls long building on the present site of
Hooker block. This was in the spring of
1S5l, two years after the Vermont and
massachusetts, railroad had reached the
town. Squire" Bradley dictated the mes
sage, asking for the officers of the YER
mont and Massachusetts railroad, who had
been chosen in Boston. lie received a re-
ply the following day The telegraph line
began at Springfield and followed the Con-
necticut as far as White River Junction,
thence by direct line to Montreal while an
other line turned off through New lamp
shire to Boston. 1t was built by the late
George Benedict of Burlington and some
200 shares were owned in Brattleboro. Tho
longest message ever received by MIR,
Capen was one of 1900 words from Presi-
dent Lincoln to Gov. Holbrook. This was
in answer to a letter from the governor
recommending the president to call for
100000 volunteers 1t was in the dark
days of the summer of 90, and the gov
crnor's suggestion was to have the loyal
governors pledge themselves to favor the
call, the Vermont governor adding that
the Green Mountain State would quickly
ItNlOIlu 10 inc call. Inc result was a can
for 100000 three months men and 300 600
nine months men. Gen, Draper came to
Brattleboro to confer with Gov. Ilolbrook
and the paper was prepared here for the
signatures of the governors. Thus Gov.
Holbrook was given credit for the scheme
so quickly approved by Lincoln.
During the war Brattlcboro people were
accustomed to chip in" and get the news
from the front sometimes we got hum
hitUuaI
laugh; Richmond was taken on the wire
several times, and once or twice the VIC
tory was Justify celebrated ny the towns
people. ! remember one occasion when we
got a despatch to this effect, and W. G..
Perry, the old landlord got out his cannon
and fired 1t several times in the hotel yard
in the rear of the house. This was Sun
day. Silas Waite got the news about as
soon as 1t came and he boltcd for the
churches to inform the congregations, lie
rushed to the Centre and Unitarian
churches where the news was announced
by the clergymen from their pupits. /
went out to Elliott street to the Baptist
church where the news was enthusiastic
ally received, and my enthusiasm grew
apace TIL | arrived at the church in West
l}rattleboro, where | forgot to remove my
cigar when | went down the broad aisle to
give the pastor the news. The conErcga-
ton applauded the happy announcement
and | returned to my office, only to learn
a few hours later that 1t was all hoax,
and felt cheap enough, though It was not
my fault" Mr., Capcn was not only the
operator but the lineman as well. lie was
Obliged to go out in case of trouble ten
miles either north or south the Greenfield
operator coming up to Vernon. They used
old-fashioned sickle-shaped climbers with
stirrup attachment, and once up pole it
was easier to slide or fail down than to
attempt to use the climbers. Among those
who served apprenticeships in Capcn's
office were Levi K. Fuller. Nermonts cx-
governor, and a son of the old operator
who is now superintendent of the Peoples
Telegraph company in Cincinnati