The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-08-06
4a94f89s . = 7'1E1''F'E 2
THE YOUNG
TELECRAPHER.

lOrigihail
Marion OF the Revolutionary war
and Morgan Of the ciyn war occupy
similar positions in history. GsaerA!
John Moraan started On hts military
career as coinmander or companS Of
young Conscderates and operated al.
ways in tile middle southwest His
career was ia, OF daring He would
appfobclf 4 Ipion ptEet, assuming TO
be S4Fqilsra offices lreprimand him
for somd 4etlIgents ct possession Of
his musket and thus capture single
handed a whole picket post.
1t was during the campaign Of Cen
eral Halleck against Quaker guns AZ
Corlnth that Morgan was operating 10
Haieck's rear in western Tennessee.
iisrassIug lines of communication.
This is a very important service. An
array must be fed. That means that
the avenues Of communication must be
kept open and the supplies passing
over them 10 the men az the front
must be protected In this work en
important feature to the protecting
force was the telegraph.
The telegraph Office at the town OF
r., a station on the railroad supply
Ing the army before Corinth, was Ia
charge OF Tom venabie. who lived
with his family on the upper door Of
the two story station building, tue tele-
graph and ticket Office being below.
One night when Venable was in his
oGsce seneing the dispatches necessary
to get a heavy tran load Of supplies
south he heard a tao on tile window
pane. Looking M. There stood man
| In Confederate uniform covering him
with thc muzglc Of his pistol The ON
| Ger had tapped with the pistol 60 at
tract Venablc's attention aud ordered
him to throw up thessash. venahle
did SO. aud the officer climbed In at the
window
I'm John Morgan he said.
Morgan usually declared himself 10
This fashion II was the best possible
way OF striking an enemy with terror.
Meanwhile the station was surround
ed by Confederate cayalrymen. Nor
gan put his own telegrnpheg at the key
Who began 10 telegraph the train Ven
able had been ia communication with.
The conductor had been warned that
The Confoderates we're maklug n raid
IN the region and was waiting to be
assured that Il was sufe ia advance
Morrans tclcgraphcr sent dispatch
that Morgan had gone OF in an easter
ly direction and an order signed by Il
Union commander for the train TO
come on.
Now. there Is hero 10 this story.
though he is asleep In his bed above
the telegraph Office But clatter be-
meath awakes him. Being not over
thirteen years old, he doesn't awake In
a hurry, but his mother helps him by
telling him that the station is In pos
session Of the dreaded Morgan. Jim
mie Veaable was Of a scientific mind
aud had already a miniature telegraph
outfit IN his own little rceni. His CIR
cult was but ten feet and was confined
TO the room, but 1t was big enough 10
play with, and he knew the dot and
line alphabet His father was prIs-
oner downstairs, but he heard his
mother say That doubtless Morgan hal
captured the telegraph In order TO de-
coy u train into Il trap and destroy She
supplies intended Tor the Union army.
Jimmie got an IDEA. The telegraph
: wires passed within ten feet OF his
window before entering the Office be.
low He told his mother what he IN
tended 10 do, and she helped him. lie
took his play wire, tied a haIrbrush to
one end Of H. threw It over the line
3 wire aud completed IFS circuit by
Z means Of lead pipe extending TO the
3 ground Il didn't make g very good
connection, but Il sunlced. He diln't
know the calls Of stations nor what
|. station 10 call lie waited till there
was comparative quiet below. then
4 licked: ~. stution Morgan here" !"
rhis he repeated several times If was
Z heard at several stations up the road.
md the conductor OF the train was adj
yised of Il at once
Ono map heard 1t for whom Il was
Z not intended That Was the Confederate
operating Ia The Office below Jimmie's
Z room lie was sitting near the key
& when he heard the words clicked and
: knew ihat some one had outwilted
] him lie notified bis COMMANDER, and a
Z search WAS made aud Jimmie's hair
brush was aecn dangling from tha
Z NAH wire. 10 tod then, the story.
I Going upstairs ,hey discovered Jim
4 mics device. The general was the
hrst to enter the room. Jimmie was
still ,it his Key w
"ilaye you been sending infOrma.
B lion 10 the enemy2s he asked.
"Yos. ! have" said jimmie proudly,
lie aid not know the extent OF the
service he bad rendered. but was sure
he had done something valuable TO his
Cause
1 100 sou know what we do with lit
ne boys who arc spiesT asked Nor
gan
"No"
well us something very terrible,
Bar 20 this case ihe boy Is very
bright brave little chap. and we win
ige him something FOR candy"
ne drew a roll of Confederate bills