Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-09-23
. THE YOUNG
TELEGRAPHER.
lOriSinal.1

similar positions in history. General
John Morgan started on his military
career as commander of company of
young Confederates and operated al
ways in the middle southwest His (.
| career WIS full of daring He would
| approach a Union picket, assuming to
be a Federal officer, reprimand him
for some negligence, get possession of
his nusket and thus capture single
handed Il whole picket post.
1t was during the campaign of Cen
eral Halleck against Quaker guns at
| Corinth that Morgan was operating in
| Hallecks rear in western Tennessee,
! harassing lines of communication
This is a very important service. An
| army must be fed That means that
the avenues OF communication must be
kept open ana the supplies passing
over them TO the men at the front
must be protected. In this work an
Important feature to the protecting
force was the telegraph.
The telegraph Office at the town Of
T., {; station on the railroad supply
ing the army before Corinth. was in
charge OF Tom Venable, who lived
with his family on the upper floor Of
the two story station building the teie
graph and ticket office being below.
One night when Nenable was in his
Office sending the dispatches necessary
to get heavy tran load of supplies
south he heard a tap on the window
pane. Looking up, there stood man
in Confederate uniform covering him
with the muZZle OF his pistol! The Off
Ger had tapped with the pistol to at
tract Venables attention and ordered
him to throw up the sash. Venable
did so, and the officer climbed in at the
window.
"I'm John Morgan he said
Morgan usually declared himself in
this fashion. 1t was the best possible
way of striking an enemy with terror.
! Meanwhile the station was surround
ed by Confederate cavalrymen. Nor
gan put his own telegrapher at the key
who began to telegraph the train Ven
able had been il communication with.
The conductor had been warned that
the Confelcratcs were making raid
in the region and was waiting to be
assured that it was safe to advance
Morgun's tclegrapher sent a dispatch
that Morgan had gone Off in an caster
ly direction and an order signed by 4
Union commander for the train to
come on.
Now, there is hero to this story,
though lie is asleep in his bed above
the telegraph Office. But a clatter be-
Meath awakcs him. Being not over
thirteen years old, he doesn't awake in
hurry, but his mother helps him by
telling him that the station is in pos
session Of the dreaded Morgan. jim
ME Eenab!c was Of a scientific mind
and had already a miniature telegraph
outfit in his own little room. His cir
cult was but ten feet and was confined
to the room. but it was big enough to
play with. and he knew the dot and
line alphabet His father was pris-
oncr downstairs. but he heard his
mother say 'hat doubtless Morgan had
captured the telegraph III order to de-
coy train into Il trap and destroy the
supplies intended for the Union army
Jimmie got an idea. The telegraph
wires passed within ten feet of bis
window before entering the Office be-
low. He told his mother what he in
tended to do, and she helped him. He
took his play wire, tied hairbrush to
| ann
wire and completed his circuit by
means Of lead pipe extending to the
ground. 1t didn't make very good
connection, but it sufliced. He didn't
know the calls Of stations nor what
station to call. He waited till there
was comparative quiet below. then
clicked: "P. station. Morgan here"
This he repeated several times. t was
heard at several stations up the road,
and the conductor of the train was adj
vised of it at once
One man heard it for whom it was
not intended. That was the Confederate
operating in the office below Jimmie's
room. He was sitting near the key
when he heard the words clicked and
k1i-w that some one had outwitted
him. He notified his commander, and a
search was made, and Jimmie's hair
brush was seen dangling from the
main Wire. 1t told them the story.
Going upstairs, they discovered jim
mics device. The general was the
first to enter the room. Jimmie was
still at his key
'Have you been sending informa-
ton to the enemyy' he asked.
Yes, have" said Jimmie proudly.
He did not know the extent of the
service he had rendered, but was, sure
he had done something valuable to his
cause.
"DO you know what we do with lit
tie boys who are spies?" asked Nor
gan.
NO"
"Well. it's something very terrible.
But In this case the boy is a very
bright, brave little chap, and we will
give him something for candy"
He drew a roll of Confederate bills
from his pocket. picked out 4 ten dol
lar note and handed it to Jimmie.
"H-m!" said Jimmie, looking at it con-
temptuously. "'Tain't worth United
States fifty cent postal shinplaster"
This postal currency was used during
the war in lieu Of silver.
Morgan laughed, took out a roll Of
greenbacks, doubtless captured money,
and, handing a five dollar note to the
| hOv wnDt ,lnUDStoirS and ro6a ouov