The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-18
At ELECTRIC KEYS
PROMINENT MEN WHO WE'RE
ONCE EXPERT AT TELE-
GRAPH INSTRUMENTS.
M'G0NIGLE'S FLYING TRIP.
FIRST TO APPRISE JAMES BU-
CHANAN OF HIS PREsIDEN-
TIAL NOMINATION.
MALONE A REMARKABLE MAN.
The Queer Bill That Was Sent Out
to Newspaper Men After
Banquet.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-"Hon. Ed
ward Rosewater, editor Of the Omaha
Bee, was a telegraph operator during
the Civil war; says Pop Tolcott, one
of the veterans Of the electric key. HE
is still a vigorous man. full of vim and
fight in politics. But most of the vet
eran operators are gone.
''The late Hon. j. H. MacGonigle,
for some time collector of internal rev.
enue for the Lancaster district of Penn
sylvania, was celebrated among teleg-
raphers in 1856. At that time he was
an operator at Lancaster, and it was
he who received the telegram from the
Cincinnati convention to James. Bu-
chanan informing him of his nomina-
ton by the Democratic national con-
vention in that city as the party's can
d1date for president. He quickly tran
scribed the message, rushed from the
office with it, and started at the TOP
OF his speed for WheatIand, Mr.. Bu-
chanan's residence, a mile and a half
out Of Lancaster. AS he reached the
gate of the future presidents grounds
he looked back and saw a horseman
galloping toward WheatIand in q cloud
OF dust and only short distance away
Correctly surmising that the horseman
was bearing to Wheatland the news
tnat he was carrying, MacGonigle flew
across the broad lawn, burst into the
house and into Mr.. Buchanan's apart
ments unceremoniouSly and handed to
the distinguished gentleman, who was
gazing in speeches. amazement at the
painting and dust-covered intruder the
message conveying the important in
telligence. Mr.. Buchanan read the tele-
gram composedly, and an odd smile
appeared on his lips. He thanked Mac
Gonigle for his trouble, and the oper-
atOr met the horseman with the news
that was now stale coming in as he
went out. The way in which he was
the first to apprise Buchanan of his
nomination was favorite Renaissance
Of MacGonigle, and he often said that
Whfie Buchanan was president the
White house latch string was always
out for him.
John McDonogh did not live in vain.
although his life was lonely and love-
less says Col. w. o. Crosby, Of Mary
land
"It is a pity that McDonogh did not
do something for Washington with his
vast wealth, bu the left valuable be-
quests for other cities. Few people of
the present day ever heard of the man
During his life time he was as Sc
elusive and reclusive as a hermit, and
yet he lived in the world. mingling with
men Of the business world He made
few acquaintance and fewer friends
When he died his fortune was estimat-
ed away up in the millions. It is gen.
orally understood that he had been
crossed IN love, and therefore remained
a bachelor. Although he lived an al
most misery life, he entertained char
liable and noble designs. The greed
OF some of his relatives and the results
OF the civil war seriously impaired his
fortune, but enough remained, after
twenty years Of litigation, to endow an
educational institute near Baltimore
which Is an honor to the state and
founder. A print was once published
representing John McDonogh rowing
himself across the Mississippi, to save
money for the poor Somebody
scratched out the word poor and sub
stituted lawyers However, in spite
Of the lawyers, or probably because of
them, Baltimore realized something
over million dollars and made grand
use of it. The school buildings are am
pie and substantial, situated upon an
eminence and surrounded by $50 acres
OF farm lands, about twelve miles from
Baltimore on the Western Maryland
railway The country is garden spot.
lined with beautiful villas. Two bold
streams run through the McDonogh
estate. About 100 boys Of poor par
entage are admirably equipped for
practical life. They are taught lam
guages, mathematics, physiology, chem
istry, mechanics, drawing, history. etc.
They are drilled like cadets and work
on the farm. BY a somewhat romantic
incident the fund Of this institution
was increased 1000, which is devoted
to manual training. This bequest came
from DR.. Genus Barnum 1t was di-
rected by his will that the money
should go to his brother Frank, provid-
ed he abandoned his intention Of be-
coming Catholic priest. Upon his re-
fusal to do so, the property was to be-
come fund for the McDonogh insti-
tute. Frank Barnum had been a rich
young man and travelled all over the
world. cunning and knavish partner
ruined him financially. After vainIy
seeking peace of mind in Florida he
abandoned the world and was received
at the Jesuit noviate He declined his
brothers. offer, and the McDonogh in
stitute received the benefit of what his
conscience would not permit him to ac-
cept.
An army officer with ideas and with
courage to express them is a rarity.
Of course, all army officers think.
Some of them think out loud, but none
of them utter thoughts for publication.
One OF the best men on duty in Wash
ington, a man who has been in many
skirmish and in several battles. this
evening said:
ct would be regarded as an act of
INSTRUMENTATION for me to express for
publication, any news concerning the
disposition of the army the transfer
of regiments, the duties of the quarter
master or commiSSary departments
But you can use certain facts, without
quoting me individually, which may be
of interest to the people Of the coun-
try who support the army and who
take pride in it's achievements There
is one subject discussed among officers
which never reaches the public eye or
the public ear; and that is, the regula-
ton uniform. / think that our govern
s1ent did queer thing in changing the
uniform of the federal army just after
a war In which its men, in that uni