The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-08
HEROES OF SIGNAL CORPS
Montana Telegraphers Play Pro-
minent Part in Philippines.
GEORGE TILLY A CAPTAIN
Well Known Telegrapher of This State
the Recipient of Well Deserved
Promotion-The Boys Acted
Well at Panay.

other. and in many cases more so is the
signal corps. The general run of news
from the seat of war gives but little at
tention to this essential branch, notwith-
standing that Montana is represented in
the signal corps by large quota of tel
egraphers and electricians. The number
of Montana men on duty in the Philip
The men were recruited from all parts OF
the state by George II. Tilly, formerly
chief operator in the Western Union office
at Helena, gentleman known personally
or by reputation to every telegrapher in
Montana, and one who is admired and
esteemed by all of his fellow craftsmen
Early in the war with Spain Mr.. Tilly re-
ceived his commission as lieutenant in
the signal corps, with orders to recruit
desirable men.
This Lieutenant lilly did speedily, and
soon after the muster in Montanas por-
ton of the signal corps left for the island,
where it now is. and where it is doing
the same gallant work in its own line
which characterizes the Montana fighting
men.
tana men who are making dots and DASH
es in trenches under fire from a thousand
Mausers. comes from correspondent in
Luzon of the Telegraph Age. The CORE
spondent says:
Captain George H. lilly, recently pro-
NOTED from a lieutenantcy, Lieutenant
Cameron and the following force of ope-
rators were landed in Iloilo, Panay, P. T.:
Winfield Boulter, Hugh Strachan. Willis
mund Fischer, Richard Paddson, Herbert
Tomlnson, Rudolph Reuter-, Thomas Lea
by, John Lynch, Edward Ganley, George
Crooks, Jeff e. Davis and Frank Kelley
1.-THE insurgents put their torches to
everything in their path as they retreated
and the beautiful little city, was soon one
mass of flames which greatly hampered
our troops.
"A detail of four men. Messrs, Boulter
Durfee, Davis and Kelley, established a
signal station on the fort half an hour
after the first shot was fired, and they
kept up constant communication with the
gunboats Boston and Petrol, which direct
ed their shots toward the stronghold of
the insurgents.
Corporal Edmund Fischer Immediately
set to WORK with men and wires and cir
cult was constructed to the line of burn
ing buildings within one hours time
Captain lilly and his men deserve
great praise and credit for their gallant
work at this place. The men stopped for
nothing but fire, heat and smoke, which
kept them from running the circuit to
the firing line for some time, but as soon
as path through the flames was made
four miles of wire were strung and put in
working order in very short time. Three
telegraph offices were at once established
and four telephones connecting the differ
ent outposts are now in splendid working
order.
''The personnel is as follows: General
Mller's headquarters. Messrs. Lynch and
Kelley. telegraph and telephone duty: 18th
infantry headquarters town of Jaro, w.
b. Boulter and Herbert Tomlnson, tele-
graph duty: provost marshals office, R.
H. Paddison and Rudolph Reuter-, on tele-
graph duty; office of captain of ports, Will
lis Evans flag and torch duty. keeping up
communication with warships, thus max
ing a line about seven miles in length
from Jaro to lloio bay.
This detail changes frequently while
on duty. One day in the office we are on
flag service. The next day on the firing
line. Sentres are being killed off nightly
anu much trouble is anticipated before
the 'insurrectos can be disposed of.
General Miller made special mention of
Captain Tilly and his men in his report.
"Our outpostS have for months been
connected by wire With the different city
army headquarters. Ene night soon after
our forces were attacked the wires con-
Meeting these offices by loops We're cut,
and in many places the wires removed.
A previous methodical arrangement re-
suited in each man being in his place and
on his particular loop Immediately when
trouble was apparent. Notwithstanding
the serious damage done, the darkness of
the night and the dangerous localities
through which many of the lines ran.
long before dawn every sounder clicked
clearly. The sly natives, however, got in
their work again and again for days, and
cutting wires is still practiced.
''The offices at the front We're operated
continuously under calling fire, amid pain
full and ominous silence. no man being
found wanting. The operator with his
field instrument set on hard tack box or
on the ground, handled the business under
his armor of 10-ounce duck with the
promptness and speed of a metropolitan
station. This applies particularly to C. J.
Prendergast and John Weir, both of New
York, and NJ. Maxeiner of Helena, Monv.,
whose tents We're riddled with bullets
while they transmitted orders and re-
ceived reports from all along the lines
Norton and Sergeant Paulsen were at the
front pulling the wires. Mr.. Young of
North Carolina. acting as messenger, had
to give the Mauser bullets a side view to
insure his safety on a hazardous trip
which he accomplished Brooks of Mon
tana proved himself model lineman, do
ing about two mems work all the time.
Lieutenant F. II. Bailey has had
charge of the division up the Pasig river.
where he has Kept the lines right up to
the front, as fast as advances were made,
running insulated wire for emergency
work, replacing this with a substantial
line later. No fault has been found with
his force, for his men have not shirked
and he knows how to appreciate good
work.
Captain RUSSELL with Lieutenants
Gordon and Rudd, have superintendent
the middle and lower sections nearer the
bay, in addition to directing the naval
fire.
"Our forces at Caloocan, five miles out
have good protection now, although the
entire signal force would often have well
coined the protection of infantry trench
es.
Two offices were maintained in Calico
can during the more recent heavy siege,