The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-06-15
RECORD
AS TELEGRAPH
OPERATOR
Charley st. John Of Canton, Miss, has
Been at the Key over
so Years.

Inc ClarlOu-LeuSer OF the lZtn naQ
a picture of Mr.. Charles st. John of
Canton, the oldest telegraph operator
in Mississippi, accompanied by an
article full of interest which The News
reproduces, with the added statement
that Mr.. st. John has been in the
Canton Mississippi railroad telegraph
office since 1867 or quite As years, and
it was 35 years before he ever missed
a day on account of sickness, or even
took vacation. Though he had
handled hundreds of thousands of
kilograms in that time, it is claimed
a serious error was never traced to
either his sending or receiving of the
Morse signals. Mrs. st. John is the
Oldest living sister of Mr.. R. L. Ben
nett of this city, and Mr.. Bennett is
proud to speak of Mr. st. John as one
of the truest and best souls that ever
lived.
The Clarion Ledger says:
Charley st. John, of Canton, is the
Oldest telegraph operator in the SER
vice OF the Illinois Central Railroad.
he having handled the key for over
fifty years, being so regular In his
habits that clerks, school children and
housewives have taken time by his
movements. He goes to his work
every morning at the same time; re-
turns to dinner promptly on the dot;
goes back to his office exactly on time,
and returns home with punctual reg
ularity, being, perhaps the most
methodical man in the state.
Though not a member of a church,
Charley st. John never swore an oath
in his life; never took drink of whis-
key or beer; never smoked a cigar or
chewed tobacco, and as for cold
drinks, he considers them an abmoni-
nation
Mr.. st. John was born in Claiborne
county seventy years ago. After leav-
ing school he learned to be a tele-
graph operator, when the system was
new, and when the Sound" method
was unknown, all messages being re-
ceived on ribbons"
He was bright young fellow when
the war began and was taking mes
sages in a railroad office, but was
soon impressed by Gen Joseph E..
Johnston, and took war messages for
that great Confederate officer for a
long time, Gen. Johnston regarding
young st. John as the best operator
he had ever had.
| Mr.. st. John ran a narrow escape
at Madison Station, when he had been
dispatched on horseback, with his tele-
graph instrument swung in the pom.
mel of his horses saddle He was in.
structed to stay at Madison till the
4 last Confederate soldier had gotten
away, and then to leave with his dis,
patches. He obeyed orders, and as
result narrowly escaped death al
the hands of the advance guard of the
Federals.
He had similar experiences al
Brookhaven, Morton, Newton and
other places, being shot at many
times during the war. He was with
Gen. Johnston in many of his cam
paigns. and performed many invalu
able services for the great genius Of
the war.
The war over, Mr.. st. John remain
ed in Bardon long enough to win q
wife. marrying Miss Minerva Ben
nett, daughter of the Hon. JOSEPH
Bennett, who afterwards became Lieu
tenant-Governor of the State.
Charley st. John, though seventy
years of age, does full days work
and is regarded as one Of the bes
and most efficient employees of the
Illinois Central. He is held in high
est esteem by the officers and attach
es of that company and by the people
of Canton, who almost look upon hin
as the Patriarch of the place. Lont
may he live.