The Washington times., 1912-09-19
AGED HALL TWINS
OBSERVE BIRTHDAY
ANNIVERSARY TODAY
Oldest Telegraph Operators
Alive Tell of Experiences
in 81 Years of Life.

Telling the old tales over. living again
experiences that are still vivid In their
memories. recalling days when there
were no telegraph instruments and when
stage coaches were more frequent than
railroads, G. Alfred and Albert G. Hall
are today celebrating their eighty-firs ct
birthday at the residence of the former,
l2lS Sixteenth street northwest.
They are twins and though eighty-one
years of life have wrought many
changes in their faces, these have been
almost the same changes in each in
stance. and even today 1t is difficult to
distinguish between A. G. and G. A.
Hall
Probably no twins ever lived who have
mad more varied and interesting ex-
telegraph instruments before the mod
ern Morse system was invented, carried
the two first Republican banners ever
In the District, flashed the first message
at Chicago, in 1860, and have been
through many other experiences equally
as unique.
Old-Tme Telegraphers.
The two brothers started operating
telegraph instruments in 1S49, when
they were just eighteen years old, and
when the telegraph had only been
known five years. The only line into
Washington then was the Balm chem
ihSsl lea line, which was supplanted in 1852
brothers went with the new concern.
There were two lines to Baltimore"
said one Mr.. Hall. It doesn't matter
which, but You couldn't send but one
message. The reason for the two lines
was that It was not known at that time
that a circuit could be made with the
ground That was discovered acci-
lines were thought to be necessary in
order to complete the circuit
.or MY A knowledge of telegraphy came in
IGa aa sofSS fSe se5Xss poean once os tbs said d. G.
was In Chicago as the Districts repre-
sentative to the Republican convention.
It was the first time, by the way, the
District had ever been allowed a repre-
sentative at Republican convention,
and this time 1t was allowed four The
other three didn't go. so had four
votes.
Flashed Lincoln's Nomination.
II got acquainted with the telegraph
operator-there was only one at this
conventon-and the day a nomination
was to be made. 1 made arrangements
fore the ballot was through being
taken. So when the third ballot was a
little more than half over, I flashed this
message to my brother. who was then
cashier of sthe old gas company: Lin
coin nominated on third ballot
MY brother took 1t to one Of the pa
pers. but the editor didn't want to use
1t because he was afraid it was In
correct. You see, they were not used
to getting things over the wires in those
days.
vention," continued Mr.. Hall. is the
part had to play, against my will, in
nominating permanent chairman. Of
the convention. I was on the committee |
on permanent organization. made up of
thirty-one delegates. Horace Greeley !
was on that committee, and asked me |
why was taking no part in the ballot |
Ing 1 told him because was a young
would let the older heads settle it. |
Pretty soon it was discovered that with
out my vote the committee was split, |
fifteen for Cleveland, of Connecticut, and
I had to vote, and voted for. George |
Ashman. Then they made it unani-
nous"
Both the Messrs. Hall deny they were
the first telegraph managers in the Dis |
trict, but believe that, since they started |
at the business before they reached |
their twenties, and are now eighty-one, |
they are probably the Oldest operators
alive.
Both the Messrs. Hall are Masons, |
but A. G. did not go past his masters |
degree, while G. A took the full thirty |
three degrees, and was at one time mas
ter of Federal Lodge No. l. He has |
the record of being the oldest past mas |
Ter, the oldest member Of the Grand |
Lodge, an dthe oldest member of the |
Scottish Rite lodge in the District.
Have Held Federal Posts.
Both have held important positions in |
the Government service G. A. Hall was
for many years connected with the
Fostoffice Department. first as inspec-
tor, later in the regular service. Dur |
Ing the war he was made United States
prize auctioneer stationed at New Or
leans, where he sold. in the twenty
seven months he was there, six or seven |
million dollars worth of articles cap
tured by the Federal army. He sold
everything from ships on down. Mr..
Hall was later elected assistant asses,
sor of the District, which position he
held for fifteen years.
A. G. Hall devoted himself to busi-
ness. mainly. but in 1867 he also en-
tered the political arena and was elect
ed collector for the District, the first
Republican ever elected to office in the
National Capital.
These twins We're born September 10
at Vassalboro. Kennebec county, Me.
Both married in the same year. G. A.
Hall had nine children. only two of
whom are still alive. A. G. Hall had
eight children. and six of them are
living.