Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-02-17
THE YOUNG TELRGRAPhER.

Marion Of the revolutionary war
md Morgan of the civil war occupy
similar positions in history. General
John Morgan started on his military
career as commander Of a company
Of Young Confederates and operated
always in the middle southwest. his
career was full Of daring. He wouio
a Union picket, assuming 10
be a federal officer. reprimand MIN
for some negligence, get possession
of his musket and thus capture single
handed whole picket post.
It was during the campaign OF Gen. 1
Halleck against Quaker guns at Cor
inth that Morgan was operating IN
Halleck's rear in western Tennessee.
harassing lines of communication.
This is a very important service. An
army must be fed. That means that
the avenues of communication must
be kept open and the supplies passing
over them to the men at the front
must be protected.
The telegraph office at the town OF
p. a station on the railroad supply
ing the army before Corinth, was IN
charge Of Tom venable, who lived
with his family on the upper hoor OF
the two-story station building, the
telegraph and ticket Office being pc
low. One night when Venable was
in his office sending the dispatches
necessary to get heavy train losd
of supplies south he heard a tap on
the window pane. Looking up, there
stood a man in Confederate UNIFORM
covering him with the muzzle OF MS
pistol. The officer had tapped with
the pistol to attract Venable's atten-
ton and ordered him to throw up the
sash. Venable did SO, and the oficer
climbed in at the window
I'm John Morgan" he said.
/ Morgan usually declared himself In
this fashion. It was the best pos
sible way of striking an enemy with
terror.
Meanwhile the station was sur
rounded by Confederate cayalrymen.
Morgan put his own telegrapher ut
the key, who began to telegraph the
train Venable had been in commune
cation with. The conductor mad
heen warned that the Confederates
were making a raid in the region and
was waiting to be assured that 1t was
same to advance. Morgan's tele-
erapher sent a dispatch that Morgan
| had gone off In an easterly direction
and an order signed by a Union COM
mander for the train to come on.
Now, there is q hero to this story
though he is asleep in his bed above
the telegraph Office. But clatter
beneath 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
possession of the dreaded Morgan
| Jimmie Venable was Of scientific
mind and had already a miniature
telegraph outfit in his own little
room. His circuit was but ten fee,
and was confined to the room, but !,
was big enough to play with, and he
knew the dot and line alphabet. His
father was q prisoner downstairs, bu'
he heard his mother say that doubt
less Morgan had captured the teie
graph in order to decoy "a train init
trap and destroy the supplies IN
tended for the Union army.
Jimmie got an idea. The telegraph
wires passed within ten feet OF hi
window before entering the Office be
low. He told his mother what h
intended to do. and she helped him
He took his play wire, tied a hair
brush to one end Of it. threw it owe
the line wire and completed his cir
cult by means of a lead pipe extend
ing to the ground. 1t didn't make
very good connection, but it suf1icet
He didn't know the calls OF station
nor what station to call. He waite
till there was comparative quiet be
low. then clicked: 'P. station. MOI
gan here" This he repeated severe
times. II was heard at several sta
lions up the road. and the conducto
of the train was advised of it at onc'
One man heard it for whom 1t we
not intended. That was the Confe(
crate operating IN the office belo
Jimmie's room. He was sitting nes
the key when he heard the wore
clicked and knew that some one Ia
, oufwitted him. He notified his con
, mander, and a search was made. an
Jfmmie's hairbrush was seen dam
ling from the main wire. 1t told the
the story. Going upstairs, they di
covered Jimmie's device. The gel
I eral was the first to enter the roor
I Jimmie was still at his key.
q Have you been sending inform
ton to the enemy?" he asked.
i, eyes, 1 have" said Jimmie proud
\ He did not know the extent Of Il
service he had rendered. but was su
= he had done something valuable
his cause.
do you know what we do with II
;. tie boys who are spies?" asked Mo
gan.
a NO.
Il well, it's something very terrib
But in this case the boy is We
d bright, brave little chap, and we W
Ia give him something for candy"
He drew a roll of Confederate bi
from his pocket, picked out a ten d.
"a lar note and handed it to Jimmie.
"H-m!" said Jimmie looking at
p. contemporary. "'Tain't worth
United States flfty-cent postal shl
II plaster" This postal currency "
q used during the war in lieu of silv
N Morgan laughed, took out roll
H. greenbacks, doubtless captured me
- ey, and, handing flve-dollar note
" the boy, went downstairs and re
an away. followed by his troopers.
Tho Biggest Check.
IL The Royal Mail Steam Pacl
sr. Company's check for 21,347,S2