Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-03

was relieved at Omaha by Earl Rudd. but
am not sure; whoever it was that relieved
me was succeeded by Mortimer A. Mccoy
who will be remembered by many old Buff
falo men He was fine operator and a
good manager. but his health was poor. and
after the Centennial exposition, which l at
tended I was recalled to Omaha to relieve
him. The Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph
company had become a decided proposition
by this time and had quite an office In
the Grand Central hotel. We had four
wires. one to Chicago. II being the Atlantic
and Pacific proper; an old wire Of the
Great Western Telegraph company, which
ran south and over which on strictly clear
days, we worked to Kansas City. Then we
had the two Union Pacific wires west
THE operating force consisted at various
times Of the following well-known artists;
William A. McElroy, at present with the
Western Union, Omaha; ]. Wesley Ellis
worth Aaron b. Hlliker, Fannie Wheeler
Julia Writ John McNevin. John L. Nor
ris, Charles Paxton, william Wallace.
Henry Bogardus. Ed" schermerhorn, John
Hanchett and. think. A. A. Honey.
They were all fine operators, some Of
them being stars of the first magnitude.
Each and every one OF them had an enor-
nous capacity for work. although some Of
them might be called 'erratic in connection
with the matter of the hours chosen, which
were not always those designated by the
card. McElroy was one Of the most accom-
modating and best men II has ever been my
pleasure 70 be associated with, always being
right on the spot when there was anything
doing requiring hard, continuous work.
Ellsworth was of the old school of opera
tors and gentlemen, always being ready 10
go further and work harder to help anyone
in distress, than any man / have ever
known: he was a humorist and many of his
clean. incsive wittlcisms were worthy of a
place in literature.
'I{illil1er, as has been previously stated,
was everything-poet philosopher author,
comedian. counsellor, comforter, humorist,
stage manager and general pooh-bah Of the
aggregation He was a finished artist in
the making Of explanations and excuses; no
matter how apparently glazing the breach
of discipline was in which he was involved,
his euphonious and sequentially perfect ex-
PLANTATION seldom failed to convince the
manager that he was the recipient OF a
favor from Aaron and had no just cause
for complaint. When an excuse was nee
essary he was certainly there with the
goods his style of delivery was unique
ing when he was working in Mr.. L. n.
Korty's Office he came in about three hours
late. He walked over to Mr.. Korty's
desk. saying: Good morning, Mr.. Korty.
did you get my note this morning?'
Yes replied Mr.. Korty with grav-
ity, got it, Well said Aaron,
that's a mighty strange thing; sent
Il by boy before o'clock as I wanted
x,ou 70 knouv that 7 could MI get here or,
time. I got 1t. Aaron. again replied Mr..
Korty. Well, now said Aaron, I'd like
mighty we'll to know what that boy did
been sick nearly all night, and was suf-
fering so that just could not get here.
why. Aaron said Mr.. Korty. what's the
matter with you. anyway. haven't told
you that 1 got your note7 What are you
driving at?' Aaron saw the twinkle in
Mr.. Korty's eye and took refuge in his
own inimitable way in burst OF laughter.
closing the incident by saying Well. l
sent IL anyway. and you bet I'll make that
boy cough up the 10 cents paid him when
l see him again
"Hilliker remained with the Atlantic &
Pacific Telegraph company until its con-
solldation with the Western Union, after
which he went west. We used to hear
from him at various points. but he sud
denly dropped completely out of sight, and
I have no doubt but that he fills an un-
! known grave somewhere in the great west
| ern empire, where he had made his home
| for so many years. He deserves a monu.
ment alone for the kindly spirit of helpful.
ness to his fellows while he lived II any
one reading these lines can give me in.
! formation Of him will be truly grateful"