Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-02-23
A TELEGRAPH JOKER,
he Knew What the Crowd Want.
ed and Delivered the Goods.
ELECTION RETURNS TO SUIT.
swung States and National chairnsa
Into Line In his Reports and Gsvs
tho Boys Of the Mining Camp the
Time Of Their Lives.


night or the national election OF 1895
In little camp tucked away in the
mountains OF southwestern Colorado.
where the only means or quick COM
uinnication with the world were sim
gle uncertain telegraph wire and a sin.
gle more uncertain telegraph operator.
Naturally only the merest scraps OF
election news reached the camp. but
before the certain news OF Mckinley
election could have been got the uncer-
tain operator had fallen a victim to his
favorite vice and. further, had fallen
beneath the table.
The only other person who knew any.
thing about talegraphy was shorty"
the local wit and humorist, who volun.
leered TO write out the election returns
- they clicked or from the telegraph
Instrument. Political sentiment was
ahame for Bryan. News OF his election
was not only sought, but demanded, for
the average American miner is as san
Suine concerning the uncertainties of
politics as he Is concerning the uncer-
tainties Of mining. The volunteer teleg
rapher was noted for an obliging dis
position. He was the genial" of the
camp.
The boys" had placed stores OF
giant powder at various points. They
had cleaned and oiled their six shoot.
eru and renlied their cartridge belts
Bonnrcs were ready TO be lighted on
the hillsidss. and natural enthusiasm
had been stimulated at the Metro
pole. the Cosmopolitan, the Fashion.
the Trocadero and less pretsntiously
named Gases In the desert OF MINING
camp ex1stence-In fact, every pre-
lllninary TO the Rrandest celebrate
the San Juan country ever had known
Shorty was not the man to neglect
an opportunity like that. The drst
bulletin he handed 10 the waiting
crowd stated that New York and In
diana were In doubt and IL looked like
a close election, with the chances ia
voring Bryan. That whetted the
crowds keen appetite for returns 10
razor edge. The second bulletin sent
their spirits MP with leap, Bryan
has carried Kansas, and the Demo
Gratis are claiming Iowa"
'Whoopee" from the crowd
Shorty bent bis ear to the clicking
Sounder and inscribed Bulletin No. B.
Illinois Joins the Bryan col1mn with
10000 majority. Indiana certain, New
York very close."
When the deaf9ning chorus had died
down q young member OF the party
asked the leader. "HHdn't we better
begin to set OF the KiantT'
Before the leader could answer
khnrfU
hook. Don't go of half cooked" be
said. ITS always best 10 wait until
you are SIRE. You can't be too con.
serVauve In case like this"
After long pause. in which the
crowd displayed much Impotence. the
imperturbable ana conservative Shorty
transcribed bulletin No. 4. but before
passing II out he said:
Now. boys. don't do anything rash
Wait FOX thc actual returus."
Bulletin No. 4 read Senator Jones
claims Ohio and Pennsylvania for Bry.
an"
Under ordinary circumstance
doubt might have been expressed con
corning the probability of such states
reversing their DoliticaI records, bat
the crowd was convinced Of an iuo.
pending landslide for their favorIte
and yelled with delight. Now we nrp
beginning TO get the news" remarked
shorty when the cheering ceased, and
he began TO write bulletin DO. an
follows:
New York gives Bryan 100000 plu-
Fality; Indiana AO.OuO. Returns from
Wisconsin and Minnesota nAicate
large Democratic gains"
Inc crowd heard only he frat sen.
ssnce. Shouting, cheering. yelling.
screaming, It broke FOR the street.
Hold orr called Shorty. Here's
another"
Bulletin No 6, Quay eenoeaag Pens
Sylvsnis to Bryan"
Another fragment broke from the
crowd and ran down the street shout
ing the news. The new operators pen.
ell was travelling rapidly over the pa
per. while bis friends and fegow cid.
zens crowded closely upon him and
read as he wrote bulletin No Z, MARX
Hanna has locked up Republican head.
quarters ana gone nome"
The roar OF the crowd was drowned
by the roar OK exploding giant powder
Buldings shook, windows ratified, &C.
companied by the crash Of hEokon
gloss. The celebration was on. aud
shorty Mcintyre was alone.
The celebration lasted for two DAYS
The morning after election the regular
operator had recovered sufficiently o.
tYanscribe messages aunouReinR Ne.
kinley's victory Those who we're
sober enough 20 understand them /
didn't believe them. After several |
warnings OF what would happen to |
him II he didn't QUIT trying to fool |
people" the operator desisted and join |
rd in the general tublls tiOn. Not until I
tnc arrival " the Denver papers on the !
second day did that camp aWake to .
realization Of the outcome Of the cleo \
Ton. aad then there was not sufficient !