The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-29
TELEGRAPHING IN 1916.
A Test Which Caused Wonder, Al
though Message Was Sent Only
From WASHINGTON to New York.

though Message Was Sent Only
From Washington to New York.
From the New York Mail and Express.
The wonderful news given to the
world on Sunday last that a telegraph
message had been sent without the use
of wires from Europe to America
makes dbubly interesting the following
extract from the Washington Union,
published at the national capital in
June, 1886.
A copy of the paper which is in the
possession of a clerk in the Pension
Office at Washington gives the fol-
lowing account of what was probably
the first practical test of a telegraph
line between the national capital and
New York:
On Saturday evening last, June 6,
Prof. Morse, the Inventor and superin-
tendent of the magnetic telegraph, and
his assistant, Mr.. Vail, in their office
at Washington, wished to test the in
tegrity of the Geographic line the whole
distance through to New York, a dis
tance of no less than $50 miles. The
better to understand the singularity of
the scene we are about to record, the
reader must imagine four individuals,
one at the Office at Washington, one
at Philadelphia, 10S miles farther, and
one at New York Cor rather jersey
City, opposite New York;, 112 miles
farther.
The Geographic lines pass through
the instruments at the offices at each
of these places, and g. communication
dispatched from any one is written
and instantly understood at all the 9TH
ers. We shall designate the opera
TORS nv the the nlaCaS a
which they are stationed.
Observation-Disclosures, are you in
communication with Philadelphia?
Baltimore-Yes.
Washington-Put me in connection
with Philadelphia.
Baltimore-Aye, aye, sir; walt min
ute. (After a pause) Go ahead. You
can talk with Philadelphia.
Washington-How do you do, Phila-
delphia?
Philadelphia-Pretty we'll. Is that
you, Washington?
Washington-Aye, aye. Are you con-
nected with New York?
Philadelphia-Yes
Washington-Put me in connection
with New York.
Philadelphia-Aye, aye; wait a min
ute. (After a pause) Go ahead; now
for it.
Washington-New York, how are
you?
New York does not answer.)
Philadelphia-Hello New York,
Washington is talking to you. Don't
you hear him? Why don't you an
swer?
New York; don't get anything from
him.
Washington get that from New
York.
Philadelphia-New York, Washington
says he gets that from you.
Baltimore-How is it that Washing
ton hears from New York, and New
York does not hear from Washington
hiladelphia-There's where I'm
f1oored.
Baltimore-What is the reason,
Washington?
Washington-Becaus New York has
not properly adjusted his magnet.
Philadelphia-Ive been hard at work
all day. 1 feel like bricks. Had no
supper. I have had stiff evening S
work; there have been many mes
| want to go.
Washington-Wai little.
Baltimore-Go it, we cripples.
Philadelphia--Who is writing?
Washington-Don't all talk at once.
Baltimore-Mary Rogers are a case;
so are Sally Johnson.
General Jackson are boss, so are
Colonel Johnson.
Philadelphia--Wh is that? I will
discuss that pint.
Observation-Disclosures, keep quiet.
Philadelphia, tell New York to ask me
to write dots. (That is to adjust his
magnet)
Philadelphiar-Aye, aye, sir. Wash
ington, write dots. washington begins
to write dots.) That's it; o. K. Now
have you. Go ahead.
Washington-New York, do you now
get what 1 send?
New York-Aye, aye, sir;
Washington-Did you get Pror.
Morse's message for his daughter?
New York-Yes, from Philadelphia;
but it's too late to send 1T over the
river tonight. l am all alone, and the
two boys are gone.
Washington-Ver well; no matter.
Baltimore--Good night; I'm going.
Washington-Good night, all.
New York-Good night.
And so ends a curious scene; not an
imaginary one, but one of actual occur
renee. Let any one reflect on the fact
that all these questions and answers
occurred in a space of time but very
little longer than that in which this
unioue drama has been related.