The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-07-31
noted TEI6RAPH
OPERATOR is DEAD
COLONEL FALL, WHO SAW sERV-
ICE DURING sEIeE OF Vlcks-
BURG, PASSES AWAY.
(From Houston Post of July 1s).

| SOlOlltl all IhC ltleRTdD0
operator who during the war between
the states saved Vicksburg from being
taken by surprise by the Federals, died
at his home 260S Fannin street, at
1870 o'clock yesterday.
HE was, in point of service, one of
the Oldest Western Union telegraph
operators in the United States, having
served this corporation following the
close of the war until yesterday. His
/ total service with the company approx
mated 81 years.
He was 73 years old, but had stead
lastly refused to be pensioned. Yes
terday he had started three months
vacation, but had planned to go back
to his key this fall Death was due
to the infirmities of old age.
"Decedent is survived by his wife
and two children-W. E. Fail and H. B.
Fall, both of Houston.
| Born In jackson.
Colonel Fall was born in Jackson.
! AhioS', OSpteInDSi 90, 1909. he was
brought to Houston by his father when
two years old and placed in the care
of his two aunts, Mrs. Hadley and
Mrs. Runnels, by whom he was raised.
Mrs. Hadley had the greater care of
him, and he always regarded her as his
mother
when the Civil War began Colonel
Fall promptly volunteered in the Con
federate army, joining an artillery COM
pany in Louisiana, where he CHANGED
to be at the time. His battalion was
ordered to Mississippi, and it was
while stationed there that the COM
mander discovered that Fall was an ex-
pert telegrapher. He was at once de-
tailed for special duty in the telegraph
service and stationed in charge of the
lines near Vicksburg.
Terminates Grand Ball.
when Vicksburg was threatened
Fall had charge of the station across
the river from Vicksburg, while Colonel
Lee Daniels had charge of the stations
up the river. This combination prov
ed of great assistance and value to the
Confederate forces in Vicksburg, for
when Colonel Daniels discovered that
the gunboats were passing down the
river he wired the fact to Fall, who
crossed the river at night in a frail
skiff and notified the Confederate COM
mander in Vicksburg of the impending
danger. There was much of dramatic
in the incident. There was a grand
ball going on in Vicksburg and all
the officers and bellies were in attend
ance Right in the midst of this rev.
elry Fall staggered in, wet and weary,
and delivered his message to the COM
mander The ball terminated abruptly
and there was hurrying of men to their
posts.
History tells how General Stephen
d. Lee was enabled through Falls in
formation to meet and defeat the Fed
eral forces the next morning, and to
: thwart the efforts of the Federal COM
mander to take Vicksburg by surprise.
General Lee in his book gives Colonel
Fall and Colonel Daniels full credit
for the great part they played in the
affair.
Colonel Fall remained in the tele-
graphic department to the close of the
war, and rendered the Confederacy
valuable service.
Rank Of Colonel.
when General Gordon was elected
commander-in-chief of the United Con
federate Veterans he appointed Colonel
Fall to place on his staff, with rank
of colonel Each succeeding COM
mander-in-chief has done the same, and
each felt that the recipient of the
| hnnnr xuac xuorthy