Early Days of Telegraphy.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 102, 30 April 1892, Page 3 (Supplement)

Early Days of Telegraphy.

I was at Baltimore when the Clay convention met. I participated in the Whig national convention of ratification at Baltimore May 2, ISM. In company with tho delegates from Maine, we left Baltimore on either the 3d or 4th of May for Washington. On our arrival at the station twenty miles from Baltimore tho train stopped for wood and water. There was a Bin all building opposite the train. A man announced from the door that if the passengers would gather around the building, in less than five minutes he would give us tho first message from Washington over ihe telegraph wire.

He adjusted the instrument, which was In front of the window that was open. We Boon heard the ticking of the instrument, F.nd the operator read from the strip of paper the message, whiph I do not remem-' Ijct. We gave three cheers for Harry Clay and tho telegraph. The operator said he would send this dispatch: "The cars have just arrived from Baltimore. The passengers gave three cheers for Harry Clay and the telegraph." We then proceeded to Washington. On our way telegraph ing was the general topic. The writer remembers well that one delegate, who has since been a member of the cabinet, remarked, ''They may make it work this distance, but it will never reach Baltimore." Another delegate said it was all bosh; they could not make him believe any such trash. On reaching Washington, there was a crowd at the Capitol. The writer, as well as most of the passengers, went there. Some one read from the front of the building several telegrams from tho other end of the line. — San Francisco Chronicle.