Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-12
CHAPTER XXXvI.
ON THE END OF THE WIRE.

"A operator at headquarters in ksssSssssssssssH Mobile was called up to re- kS9AG2 ceive information that the Federal fleet was at last about to at tempt to force an entrance into the bay. The news was taken instantly to the commanding general, who, knowing ber intense personal interest in the bat tie in which her husband and two sons were engaged, immediately dispatched an orderly to Mrs. Peyton with the news. In few moments Mrs. Peyton. with Pink and Tempe, who had insist ed upon accompanying them, came in- ko the telegraph office.
 .sOh, what is it, General Maury? Is there news?' cried Mrs. Peyton as she came into the room.
 Make way here, gentlemen" said the general, forcing his way through the crowd and coming toward the wo- man. My dear Mrs. Peyton," he continued, ''the enemy are about to en- gage the forts and our naval force in the bay"
 'sHas the battle begun?"
 t'Not yet, madam. The fleet is just coming within range. The monitors are leading, and they seem to be in three columns. We will get news as fast as 1t comes in. There is a direct wire between the fort and headquarters here. Go within the railing, Mrs. Fey ton, and you, Miss Pink. There are chairs there, and you will have little more room. We are so interested that q am afraid we might crowd you out here" said the general courteously,
 Within the railing and next to the operator the two women and the little girl sat down. There was window looking to the south near them, which was open. As they settled themselves to listen Tempe, whose ear was of the keenest, suddenly called out in her shrill little voice, rising almost to a scream:
 Don't you hear the guns? Therev'
 She pointed toward the open window hs she spoke. The room had been filled with noise, which immediately gave place to silence as everybody stopped talking or moving to listen. Mrs. Pey- toI1s heart beat so that she could hear nothing. One or two officers thought they could distinguish the sound, but most declared themselves unable to hear anything. As the child had spo- ken, however, the general looked up at fthe clock on the wall. The hands marked 6:47.
 Click-click, k-click-click, click click, rattled the sounder on the table. The operator translated the message verbally as the words were spelled out by the key:
 ST oo dtoo, = .,oooitn1 = cpans - fro Shells - explode harmlessly = over fort. Garrison-at- quarters ready. PIeasants-acts-as- -aid-to-General- Peyton."
 A deep sigh broke from the lips of Mrs. Peyton at this confirmation of the news. Tempe was right, then. She had heard the two fifteen inch guns of the Tecumseh. A murmur of conver- sation broke out in the room again. to be instantly hushed at the calling of the sounder:
 "Beverly-Annan-ju
 "My brother" walled little Tempe bitterly. bursting into the noisy tears of childhood.
 Pink Peyton, herself almost heart broken for her lover as we'll as her fa- aher and brothers, gathered the little waif to her breast and strove to soothe her agitation. She would have given worlds to have wept herself.
 Poor boy" said the general taking bf his hat; poor ladl Well, he died like''-
 "Clickeclickr' rang again from the table.
 Fort has-opened- fire-with rev y-gun-that-bears. General-Pey- ton = freely exposes - himself = on ramparts. Monitors close--to-fo fort Leading monitor heading toward ennessee-which- - with = gunboats- standing - across channel heavily engaged. Two-of-our-men- Names-later. Leading-sh -ships-f1ring- shell = and -shrapnel point blank range Monitor-approachi see. Firing-heavy-an !"
 The room was filled with such ex- eitement as has rarely been contained within four walls. Distinctions of rank were forgotten. Men crowded around the operator seated before the trembling key, their breath coming quickly, their faces red or pale accord ing to their temperament, as the story of the tremendous action thirty miles away was clicked off in broken sen- tences from the tenuous wire. It was like holding battle by thread. That long strip of copper put them in touch with it. It was alive. In their imagi- nation they could hear and see as they waited and listened eagerly for more tidings from the front Murmurs, nut terings, ejacuIations, broke from the deep breathing men.
 Tn the intervals between the mes- sages the room quivered and vibrated with outward manifestations of the fierce pent-up emotions possessing the listening people, which seemed as if they must break the walls, as they burst from the hearts of the men and women hanging upon the clicking key.
 But when the rattling of the key broke in upon those in the room, all other noises died away, and they held their breaths to listen. There were