The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-12-06
WOMAN HANDLES WIRELESS.
Worlds First Female Operator Here
ON the MOhawk-Miss Graynella
Packer.
News and Courier, End.

G2oi WI elSSS lelSSI dpu OPO@ dCOA LII
the world, arrived in Charleston yes
terday aboard the Clyde steamship
Mohawk from New York. This is
Miss Packers first trip as operator,
and owing to the fact that she is the
first woman ever placed in control
of the wireless apparatus on an ocean
liner, a whole lot OF attention has
been centred Oh her.
Shortly after the Mohawk docked
yesterday morning, a. reporter went
aboard, and asked to be directed to
. Miss Packers room. There stood a
very pretty, dainty little lady of about
2e summers, dressed in a neat walk
ing skirt, and a hat of the most sty-
lish make. The expected uniform was
not in evidence, nor was the air of
masculinity, which would so natural
7y be expected from woman bearing
the responsibilities of a mans posi-
don. After introducing himself to the
WIZ SiOoS OpC4 dIO4, tAO 4Opo1 I0A e-o
jeurned with the lady to the social
hall, where a conversation could be
conducted to better advantage.
Prey of the Camera Men.
"Do you know" said Miss Packer,
{ <'I never before realized that there
were so many newspaper men in this
world. I was very much surprised to
see that my pictures were in all OF
the newspapers, and really don't see
what I have done that such fuss
should be made over me. When the
Mohawk was ready to leave New York,
ehere must have been twenty-five or
thirty reporters there, and there were
ten camera men, all requesting me to
pose for my picture. Obliged one or
TWO Of them; but soon found that I
would have to pose for hours for them,
and stopped.
"As to my work. am fascinated By
it. While this is my first trip as an
Anploye Of the Clyde Line, I have
made seventeen complete trips on the
line, and It was on fhess trips that
frst became enamoured Of the wire
7ess work.
Used to be TeIegrapher.
'I started the study Of telegraphy
in Jacksonville, said Miss Packer,
<'and was finally made the manager
Of the Postal Telegraph company's
offices at Sanford, Fla. I was on
vacation trip from Florida to New
York when first started to learn any
thing about the wireless work.
watched the operators at their busi-
ness, and gradully learned almost all
there was to learn, for my previous
experience in the shore work, made it
comparatively. easy. However, the
first time ever seriously considered
taking up the work was last june,
when was on my way to New York
to take up vocal course. I found
that I had, by observation, almost mas
tered the use Of the instrument, and
since I went North last June, have
bee1 studying with the manager OF
the United Wireless Company at NO.
~ Broadway. I tried to get with the
Clyde Line because of the fact that I
have relations in both New York and
Jacksonville, my mother living at the
latter place, so that I will have some
home life at each end of my run.
First Trip Busy One.
sThis work is different from the
land work." the young lady contlnu-
ed, warming to her subject, and
soma of the best of the shore opera
tors can never master the wireless
work. The work requires much more
concentration on the part Of the per-
son sending and receiving the mes
sages. Besides, while there are no
speci6ed hours for US, there is but
enc operator on each boat My berth
is right in the wireless room, and
90 to bed at night with the little re-
eeiyers near my bedside, and awake
nearly once every hour during the
night to listen for messages. This trip
was a specially busy one for me, as
there were, in addition to the COM
pany's business, many communica-
tions to and from passengers on
board. However, the passengers and
employees all treated me with a world
Of courtesy, and I am wholly delight
ed"
Not Yet SEhragette.
cam I a suffragette?" she said, in
reply to a question. "Well, not ex-
actly. To be very frank, I have been
too busy with my work to pay any
attention to such things as suffrage.
am naturally rather domestic in my