The Washington herald., 1909-03-07

many OF us. for instance, ever knew any
thing about the actual origin Of thar now
almost Indispensable instrument, the
ticker
A Few days ago in one of the downtown
/ offices. says the Pittsburg Dispatch.
party Of men were examining a new
electrical contrivsnce. when Commodore
Benedict. who was present and whose
keen criticisms not only commanded at
tention. but showed an intimate and pro-
gressive knowledge Of the subject. grew
. reminiscent and finally led the thought
and talk away from the discussion of thar
particular exponent Of a mighty and stM
mysterious force back 10 It's humber ex-
preston IN the days when he was a mem
Der OF the old gold board The bit OF his
tory related IS well wO-:h preserving.
and while II is not possible 10 put into
cold type the commod0re's charm as
raconteur. the story he told IS substantial
" as follows:
The gold boardrOom." he sid. was
a very small one, and IN those stirring
times so crowded every day with people
eager 70 know the quotations there was
scarcely room enough ror the members
70 turn around. while the press was con
stantly kept up by the thrOng outside who
wanted 10 get in and could not and who
were unable 70 hear the calls. For The
/ benefit OF these the board had placards
hoisted from time 10 time giving the
prices The rapid changing Of the figures
necessitated the employment Of several
attendants and many mistakes occurred
In consequence These quotations were
largely distributed 10 the public by clerks
ana messenger boys, and the unreliablity
1 OF the reports thus naturally increased.
Had No Money to start.
zone day one or the members. a former
preacher from Missouri informed me that
ne believed a way could be devised by
means OF electricity 20 furnish those quo
tations 10 outsiders, and that they would
/ be not only accurate. but Official.
q. Why don't you 90 ahead then and get
( il up I asked
d" No money was the reply. I have
I the idea in ny head. but have no means
10 carry IL out
" I'll stake you. Z said 20 ahead and
I see what you can do
In a short tine a model was made.
I then the question was 20 find some one
I able 20 put IL into practical shape. There
was but one electrician IN New York CITY
az the time. and after a long search we
found him located In a small shop in a
& diiapidated building near the old Tombs
After careful examination OF the model
he said.
" That VIII co the work. and I can put
+ it up
He was al once directed 10 construct
a machine snd give II a practical test
The result was most satisfactory. and the
7 possibilities OF the business were quickly
grasped when he afterward informed Us
( that twenty machines could be worked az
Z the same time as well as one. We were
not slow in ordering them. Wires were
strung over the buildings and IN due time
! the twenty machines were installed {n As
MAJ different Offices az a rental or 81
! day each. Everything went or swimming
\ Is for awhile. then first one and another
machine would get out OF order and final
I y stop work I feared something was
radically wrong with the mechanism. and
had grave doubts as 20 the advisabiity
/ Of going on with the undertaking. but the
I inventor kept reassuring me by insisting
that the principal was all right and that
/ some way was sure 20 he found %
remedy the difficulty.
Feather bed starts Trouble.
After a long investigation we discovered
I the trouble had been occasioned by a
woman throwing a feather bed across the
wires. This removed. the machines com
renced running again and restored conf
dence in the ultimate success Of the bust
I ness. But then. as now. they would occa-
| sionally get out Of order. and we lacked
the technical knOwl,@gH 10 remedy the
defects. After having had more OF less
trouble the inventor finally told me he
/ believed he had found a way 70 correct
matters and had procured from the West
ern Union Telegraph Company the serv-
ices OF a bright young operator 10 take
charge OF the keyboard
/ "A few mornings after this converse
ton I happened 90 90 20 the boardroom
very early. several hours before the usual
time for the board 10 open. and there
saw A lank, cadaverOuq-loOlSIng boy in
tently occupied with the keyboard. Never
having noticed the new operator and not
/ a little startled 70 find any one there az
\ that hour. asked rather sharply:
Who are you and what are you doing
here?'
I'm Tommy he replied, and I'm try
ing 20 fx the thing
Struck BY his tired. hungry face, I
asked II he had had any breakfast
No: don't want any; have no time
Where did you sleep last night2'
Didn't sleep; stayed here
Further inquiry revealed the fact that
he had actually stayed In that chair all
/ night too intent on trying 20 adjust the
machine 10 his satisfaction 20 think OF
rest After a few more manipuIations he
! finally looked Up with the first show OF
spirit I had seen and said
Pie for His Breakfast
It's all right now.
Handing him some money. / told him
TO go out and set his breakfast asking
him. a little curiously. perhaps. what Ae
usually ordered for his morning meal
Pie he replied. and sometimes cof-
fee and a doughnut
Recommending more substantial diet
I told him on his return 20 so out and
buy a cot put IL in the storage room up
stairs and 10 sleep there whenever he
/ found il necessary thereafter 20 stay all
night. His persistent efforts with the
halky machine had 50 appealed to me that
7 informed him then and there his pay
would be raised al once 70 s. a day.
which was quite an advance over what he
had been getting. and which was amply
justified by the fact that he was able 70
/ correct the difficulties which had troubled
US
And this was the actual beginning Of
the gold and stock telegraph. which was
/ sold later to the Western Union Tele-
graph Company for Sl000o0 and a yearly
royalty OF S15-O00 during the life of the
patent. The last heard OF the inventor
himself he was still preaching in Ms
souri.
Recognizes Old Friend
Many years after these incidents oc-
Cured I was invited 20 reception given
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