The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-09-24
DOT AND OASHREAD
FIRST BY SOUND
IN BENNINGTON
Col W. H. Phillips Recall Incl
dent Of so Years Ago
SOME OF HIS LIFE HISTORY
Man Who Discovered New Method
of TeIegraphy Has Established
Many Newspapers

the discovery that the Morse tele.
graphic code could be read by SOUND.
The man who first read telegraphlc
dots and dashes without the old fash
toned reel of paper was Col. w. II.
Phillips, now living at Amherst, Mass.
He was an operator in the village oil
Bennington at the time his discovery
accidentally became public. The HeI-
aid article follows
1t was very still in that room in the
little cottage. Something OF a cheer
full old fashion seemed everywhere
about-in the bright cushions, in the
little old vases, in the white curtains
but it was very still.
Outside the slender wires, those
lightning messengers OF mems de-
sires which we have come to look
on so Familiarity, stretched away to the
hearts of cities, and thousands of con-
| nected clicking instruments clicked,
doubtless without occasioning mark
| ed evidence Of human wonderment.
| DO we not fail even to notice those
who identify those ticking sounds,
who set them down In queer, marked
catalogues and send them forth TO us
as telegrams2
! Indeed, we never think that the or
iginal understanding of those sounds
represents a measurable step in hui
| man progress. We decidedly never
think OF the man who encompassed
such an understanding. Yet he is
worthy OF regard He sits in the
| still room IN the little cottage at Am
/ herst which has been mentioned. Be
introduced to him as he rises from
| his chair-he's eighty now-slight.
keen eyed. wiry. with white. white
hair trimmed nicely. both on head and
! lip, but with his restless energy I'M
quenched by years. You see before
you an immutable piece OF cosmic
rubber with possibilities OF rebound
IN II still.
This is Colonel " r. Phillips who
first Of all men read telegraphy by
sound incidental ~ he has founded
newspapers In numbers like unto the
sands Of the sea: his journalistic
work goes back to days when most
OF lie were in the void and his know
ledge Of the legend and history Of the
Berkshires is perhaps unmatched.
Above all Is he most unphilosophical-
~ unattuned to rest.
WHY" said Mrs Phillips, a gentle
smiling. white haired lady. who On
one NAV guessl Is sixty. you've got
TO watch that Mr. Phillips or he'll
beat YOU. He'll just get out on that
lawn and NOW it all before he'll
ston,"
She turns to him with smiling ten
der eyes.-"Pve got TO watch you
haven't 10"
She strokes his shoulder in n sof
renroof. while he laughs. with sly
wink At me and n dry New England
chnckle In which is vet some fain
echo OF that far. far boyhood. envir
oned by that forbidden swimming
! hole. back behind the years.
But of course that isn't telling o
the early days OF telegraphy and how
first II came to be road by sound
That story goes far back 10 tim
not far removed from The swimmin
hole ueriod u extends 10 lSiS whel
Young Phillips was eighteen Fo
three years had he honorabv serve
as printers devil on the Northamnto
Courier. and had returned to Mort
Adams. his home Here great event
were haupening-th FIRST Telegram
Office was IN course Of establishment
: Young Phillips father, Dr. Henry
Phillips. thought telegranhv likel
thing to have I'm the family, so al
rangements were made for coachin
the boy bv the first North Adams ol
orator. Telegraphy came unon youu
{ Phillips ~ the full charge OF 50. TIL
, was I'm the winter. When In the 70
lowing summer the operator went Il
his vacation young Phillips Temporal
= ~ took his place Then came n ne
!. mancnt position at Remington. Thu
AZ nineteen he moved thence to col
Quer-and take charge.
He told me Of these things with a
quaint twang OF the Berkshire count
In his voice puncuated by the chuc'
p les OF "Reminiscences as he spok
J There Is queer. a dry New Englar
c manner about him which is the de
pair OF words.
oNow at the time went to BE
: nington." he said. 1T suffered fro
D careless operator. II had two I
strumcnts and the lightning he
o come and melted the magnets In eac
while both plants we're practical
blown nm. Telegraphy. rs ] said. WI
new. and Bennington was all work'
III up. Remington was collected
front OF the telegraph office; II WI
S concentrated upon the old style ha
q terry. with lts hundred cups OF duio
= silver. and nitric acid, and so fort
y II was specializing about them, abol
IS the new operator and the last one
W iust about rs Remington would spe
D ulate today. AZ that point OF attic
ton and az tho age Of nineteen
walked In. we'll
Il can see them yet" continue
= he. AL gathered about the windo
= behind which I set 20 work; an o
fashioned crowd. with old fashlon'
= farmers hats YOU don't see 50 oft'
now. all staring. staring. Well, I fe
CONTINUED on seventh pago)