Newspaper Page Text
(lolumbu
mmuTf.
VOL. XIX.
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 21, 1877.
NO. 225
HAYES AND PARTY.
COMBINATION
SOUTH.
IN TBE
OEM. CHEATHAM HEADS THE PBOOESSION IN
NASHVILLE—DECEPTION AT CHATTANOOGA
—MUTUAL ADMIBATION SPEECHES BY KEY
AND GEN. HAMPTON—MBS. HAYES ON EX
HIBITION.
HIS BOUT IN TENNESSEE.
Washington, Beptember 20.—The
■peeohes of the Presidential party are
highly patriotio, but the prolixity whioh
characterizes them excludes them from
the noon report. The hubbub from Ten
nessee is so great that it is impossible to
say exactly where Hayes is.
AT CHATTANOOGA.
Washington, Bept. 20.— En route to
Chattanooga President and Mrs. Hayes
ooonpied the rear platform and admired
the scenery, and seemed equally inter
ested in the battle fields, whether the
Yankees had the better or worse.
At Chattanooga, on Market street, a
large monogramatio aroh, consisting of
the letters U. 1). H., had been ereoted,
from the centre of whioh a large floral
key was suspended.
HAYES AND PiBTY.
Special to Enquirer-Sun.)
Chattanooga, September 20.—After an
address of welcome and elaborate
speeches by the President and Secretary
of State, Postmaster General Key spoke
as follows: My friends, I am quite hoarse
to-day, and oould not make a speeoh if I
wanted to, and I am sure yon would not
want me to make one if I could, for you
have heard me here and everywhere on all
sorts of questions. There is one thing I
can say to you tosday, and I can say it to
the people of the United States, that
when the President did me the very great
and distinguished honor to place me in
bis Cabinet, the colored people of Chat
tanooga were not afraid of that aet.
They knew me, and know I was their
friend. They did not suppose that an
old Demoorat would hurt them very
muoh I am sure. [Applauae.J It may
be that the white people were more
afraid of me. I don’t know how that was.
[Laughter. J I am glad to stand before
you. All that I am I owe to Chattanooga
—to the people of East Tennessee, They
have been my friends, and while I am not
unmindful of the great honor the Presi
dent did me in the appointment, while I
am proud of the administration to whioh
I have, in my feeble way, given
my earnest support, I remember with
still more. pride and gratitude the faot
that when in your legislature, I was can
didate. for the Senate of the United
States, every man in East Tennessee,
white and black Demoorat andftepublioan,
Union men and Confederate was for my
eleotion. Now my^friends to a crowd
like tbiB what can I say ? If I were to
talk too mnoh I might suy something
that Bomebody would not like, and I like
all. There is no people on earth that I
love as well as I do the people of Chatta
nooga. [Applause.]
INTBODUOINO MBS. HAYES.
Judge Key leading forward Me*. Hayes
—here'is the best speech I think has
been made. They abuse all the other
members of the administration but no
body abuses her.
Mrs. Hayes was greeted with loud and
continued applause.
Hampton’s speech.
I scarcely feel that I am authorized to
detain you one moment, when those of
you out there are standing in the rain, but
I will, at least, have the comfort of know
ing, if I do so, that my Bpeeoh will not
be a dry one. I oome to you, my friends,
having met the President of the United
States when he made his first oall upon
Southern soil. The authorities in Louis
ville did me the honor to invite me to join
him there, and that gentleman himself
added to that honor by expressing the
wish that I should come. 'I went there
expecting to remain only a few hours to
greet him on Southern soil as a South
ern man, and I recognize in him a
man higher than a party man ;
[applause], a man who has forgotten party
as he rose to be a patriot, and it has been
my additional good fortune to accompany
him as he journeyed Southward, and I
think we may say to-day that be has
struck the solid South. He is here in
Chattanooga, standing upon your battle-
scarred plains, looking and seeing every
bill-side, crowded with evidences of war,
remembering that your soil has been
Btained by preoious blood, poured out by
brave men who were fighting honestly
for their oonviotions on eaoh side. I am
glad to oome here with him, and see
the motto that you have writ
ten there of peaoe and harmony
onoe more restored in our beloved coun
try; and, my friends, in the few remarks
I have had the honor of making, as I
have been in this trimnphant procession
of the President, I have studiously avoid
ed any allusion to politios. I have tried
to subordinate them entirely to a feeling
of patriotism, and I urge upon you, men
of the South, as far as possible, to forget
past differences between our people, to
direct yourselves to developing and open*
ing up the best resources of this oountry.
I want to urge upon you this thing, and
yon will have power and peaoe and happi
ness evermore. I have not spoken of
politics. It was my misfortune, perhaps,
to differ in politios from the President of
the United States, but, Demoorat as I am,
Democrat as I have been, there is no man
in Amerioa to whom I more oheerfully,
oordially and willingly do honor than the
Republican President of the United
states. I do that, my friends, because he
is Bhowing that he is the President of the
whole United States. I do that because he,
in the very first sot of his administration,
lifted that great pressure which was upon
the neck of my own people. Many of
them said, “he but did his duty." Many
of them had never smelt powder. Show
me the man who will do his duty without
fear and without favor, and who will not
do more than his duty, and I will olasp
hands with him, aDd will stand upon the
same platform. [Applause.] He has
brought back peaoe to our people. He
has shown that the men who fought eaoh
other can meet in peace and fraternity
without any loss of respeot. We oould
not do it when their State was pinned
down by bayonets, and my right arm
should have dropped from my shoulder
before I would have given my hand in
peaoe while my State was pinned down by
bayonets. [Applause.] When we felt
that every State was the equal of every
other, that every man in every State was
equal, white and blaok, when the great
Republican party, the dominant, the rep
resentative men who have fought, oame
forward and said we respeot you as
men who fought .for your oonviotions,
as men who fonght bravely, and as long
as they oould, when they oame forward
and said that to us of the South, and ex
tended the hand of peace, and said we
were only fighting to restore the Union,
come back into the household of
States, oome baok to the hearthstone
of your fathers, I felt that better
thiugB would be accomplished. I felt, as
a Southern man, aB a Southern soldier,
as a rebel, if you choose, I oould come
baok. [Applause.] I told the men in
Illinois that I had fought them as long
and as bard as I could. I would have
been fighting them now if I had been or
dered to do so. They honored and re-
speoted me for it, and that is the way for
us to meet—as brave men should meet—
if not forgetting the past, at least
drawing a curtain over it, looking not at
the bloody past, whioh is full of sorrow
to all of us, but looking forward to a
brighter and higher future, when all of us
oan march on bravely, honestly, truthful
ly, eaoh one doing his duty to the whole
oountry, leaving the oonsequences to
God. [Long and oontinued applause.]
HurniiiK of Steamers at St. Louts.
St. Louis, September 20.—The steamer
Grand Republic, the largest and finest
steamboat on the Western waters, took
fire at 12 o'clock last night and was
burned nearly to the water's edge. The
flames oommunioated to the steamer Oar-
ondalet, lying along side, and all her up
per works were destroyed. Her hull is
of iron and will be saved, but the ma
chinery will no doubt be badly damaged.
Both boats were lying up at the foot of
Le Speranoe, about two and a half miles
from the centre of the oity.
LOSS OVEB $300,000.
Cincinnati, September 20.—Speoial
dispatches plaoe the loss by the burning
of the steamers at St. Louis at over
$300,000. The steamer Grand ltepublio
was insured for $200,000 in the Howe,
Carroll Sc Powell agonoy.
THE BUBNED STEAMERS.
St. Louis, September 20.—The steamer
Grand Republic was burned to the water’s
edge and sunk before morning. It is
doubtful whether her machinery will be
of any value. She was owned by Captain
Thonvegan, valued at $150,000 and in
sured for $50,000 in about twenty-five
offices.
The Carondalet is probably a total loss.
She was ownod by Captain Hioks and
three associates, and valued at $40,000,
insured for $17,000.
HAYES’ SOtJTHEBN TOUB.
THE LONDON TIMES THINKS IT LOVELY.
London, Sept. 20.—The Timet edito
rially commenting on the President's
Southern tour, says: In little more than
half a year, the President has suooeeded
in beating down a compact mass of preju
dioes, and in allaying a host of conflicting
passions. The visible triumph of his pol
icy is now being assured and be has this
week began a journey through the South
ern States which is intended to show that
the work of pacification is not far from
completion. The Federal Government has
no intention in interfering in the
looal administration of the Southern
States. The Southern States have no de
sire to disturb the great achievements of
the civil war, whioh have been embodied
in the constitutional amendments. The
removal of the objeots of contention
make it easy to establish friendly relations
between people who respect eaoh other,
and the sympathetic moeting of the Pres
ident and Gen. Hampton is an omen of.
the coming time, when the North and the
South will no longer be separated by the
lines of divisions whioh the civil war had
traced.
THE TURKO-RUSSIAN WAR.
OSMAN PASHA REINFORCED.
ADVANTAGES WITH THE TURKS—THE MEET
ING OF BISMAKOK AND ANDRA88Y—REPORT
ED THEE ARE CONSULTING REGARDING
MEANS OF MEDIATION.
The storm In the tinlf.
Washington, Sept. 20.—The signal
office reports,the oyolone yesterday in the
East Gulf States has remained nearly
stationary, bnt is diminishing its intensity
with barometer rising at the centre of
depression; high winds and heavy rains
have attended this indication. They are
not threatening for to-day, however.
Gantionary signals continue at Mobile,
8t. Marks, Jacksonville, Savannah, Key
West, Charleston, Wilmington, Smithville,
Tybee Island, Gape Lookout, Kitty Hasok,
Gape Henry, Gape May, and Norfolk.
DAMAGE TO RICE.
The New Orleaus Price Current esti
mates the damago to the rice orop from
the cyolone on the lower coast at thirty
per cent.
LOSSES AT GALVESTON BY THE STORM.
Houston, Sept. 20.—The following is
the estimated damages by the late cyclone
around Galveston: The Government
works in Bolivar channel, including a
portion of the fleet, $75,000; Galveston,
Houston and Henderson Railroad, loss of
track and bay bridge, $20,000; Gulf,
Colorado and Santa Fee Railroad, loss of
track and bridge, $20,000; cotton presses,
$18,500; incompleted buildings in oity,
$25,000; bath houses on the beach, $3,500;
twenty small schooners capsized, loss
$5,000; private buildings and property,
$10,000.
YELLOW FEVER.
Seven Deaths at Fernand I na—More
New Cases.
Special to Enquirer-Sun.]
Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 20.—Seven
deaths from yellow fever to-day in Fer*
nandina—all white persons. Dr. Palmer
is in a very critical condition. Fifteen
new cases are reported to-day. Heavy
rains for the past two days have caused an
inorease in mortality. The weather to
night is very cool and stormy. A contri
bution of $300 from the Maritime Asso
ciation of New York was received to-day,
also contributions from Gainesville, Jack
sonville and other places. Fifteen nurses
have gone from here.
ALABAMA.
RIVERS RISING—LOBS OF COTTON.
Montgomery, Beptember 20.— The
Warrior river has risen sixty feet and is
still rising rapidly. The entire river
oountry is submerged. Loss of the orop
is calamitous. The Alabama is rising
slowly at this point. Rain has beaten ont
an immense quantity of cotton. It has
been raining since Tuesday.
I. O. O. F.
Baltimore, Sept. 20.—In the Grand
Lodge, the special order, the amendment
to change the name of the Grand Lodge
from Grand Lodge of the United States
to Supremo Lodge I. O. O. F. was taken
np. The yeas and nays were called and
the amendment lost by yeas 74, nays Cl
not a throe-fourths vote, ns required by
the Constitution. It was considered inex
pedient and impracticable on account of
the laws of the Spanish Government in
relation to secret societies to take any
steps towards granting a charter for a
lodge in Havana, Cuba.
Death of Senator Bogy, of Hll»-
■ourl.
St. Louis, September 20.—United
States Senator, Lewis V. Bogy died at
11 o'clock this morning. He had been
afflicted with malarial fever several
months, and lately an abscess of the liver
was discovered, whioh hastened and, per
haps, directly caused his death
The Cyclone.
Washington, Sept. 20.—The oyclone
that since Sunday has been so severe in
the Gulf States has moved to the east**
ward, and is now centered in Southern
Georgia and Northern Florida. The bar-
rometer has risen at the centre of the de
pression, and the storm has diminished
very much in severity. It can no longer
be considered dangerous. It is attended
by northeasterly winds and rain in the
South Atlantic and East Gulf States.
American VcrroIr and Cabo.
Washington, Sept. 20.—The United
States Consul at Cadiz informs the State
Department that the United States vessels
have latterly been requirod to quarantine
from three to seven days on account of
their former voyage, having been from
ports of Cuba or the Gulf of Mexioo,
causing a delay and expense whioh the
consul suggests oau be avoided, if the
captains of vessels will apply to the Span*
ish Consul for a certificate, stating that
the vessel on her arrival at her home port
from Cuba, or the Gulf of Mexioo under
went the formation of qua|antine.
Chicago Hank Fall arc.
Chicago, Sept. 20.—The Merchants’,
Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Savings Bank
has failed.
Chicago, Sept. 20. — Judge Williams
granted the petition filed by a number of
depositors in the Farmers’, Merchants’
and Mechanics’ Savings Bank, and ap
pointed a receiver, S. D. Wards, whose
bond was fixed at $350,000. Little ex
citement exists on account of the failure,
as it is generally believed that it will not
prove disastrous to depositors or the gen
eral public. Depositors number about
2,500.
RUSSIANS OPPOSED TO PEAOE.
London, Sept. 20.—The Times' corres
pondent at Bucharest telegraphs the Rus
sian officials of high rank here have de
clared that, although opposed to the war
in the first plaoe, yet now they would not
listen to suggestions for peaoe.
ROUMANIAN DEFEAT.
London, Sept. 20.—The Standard's
Bucharest correspondent says the Rou
manians, in their abortive attack on the
redoubt before Plevna, on Tuesday last,
lost 300 killed and wounded.
A telegram to the Daily News, dated
Adrianople, Wednesday, states that strong
hopes of speedy victory in Sohipka pass
are still entertained there. The Turks,
by constant fire, night and day, prevent
the repair of the Russian works. The
Russians aro withdrawing part of their
forces.
UNEASINESS IN RUSSIA.
A Belgrade dispatch to the IHines says
the news of repeated Russian disasters
has created great uneasiness here espe**
oially as every thing was prepared for the
crossing of the Danube at Gladova by the
Russians, and their reoeption in Negatin
and the Tunak villages. It is announced
that the Cabinet have agreed to postpone
the error of action of the troops who were
marching to the frontiers, and have been
recalled in towns not so near the border,
in order to give no umbrage to the Porte.
RIbMAROK AND ANDRASSY—WHAT THEY ARE
AFTER.
London, Sept. 20.—The Vienna corres
pondent of the levies, whose information
of diplomatic mattors is conspicuously
accurate and thorough, makes the follow-
ing comment on the oonforenoe at Sals*
burg between Bismarok and Audrassy:
Its importance ought not to be under
rated, not only as regards Germany and
Austria, bnt touching the Eastern ques
tion itself. The triple alliance, about the
existence or non-existence of which there
has been so muoh talk, had indeed become
a woful anachronism since Russia step**
ped cut of it, and took her own line ; but
it must not be forgotten that it had
another, perhaps deeper, meaning, and as
regards that, happily, not only for the
parties concerned, but for Europe
at large, it still exists, and may be hoped
will be strengthend anow by the Salsburg
interview. Except for the apparatus of a
permanent mediator constantly at work,
since the Berlin meeting in 1872, which
is said to be the foundation of the triple
allowance to smooth down the differences
which exists between the interest of Aus
tria and Russia regarding the solution of
the Eastern question, probably by this
time, instead of a looal struggle Europe
would have found itself in the midst of
an European war.
Prince Bismarok and Count Andrassy
at Salsburg is to be regarded as a sequel
of the rooent interview between Austrian
and German Emperors as merely
strengthening the views then exchanged
between the two sovereigns regarding the
continuance of the ' understanding be
tween the imperial courts, upon the
means of avertiug European complica
tions. This result is secured without for
mal treaty stipulations, inasmuch as it
represents the complete personal agree
ment existing between the three Empe
rors.
London, September 20.—The foregoing,
whioh is a semi-official communique, is
identical in meaning with the comments
of the London I'imcs' Vienna oorrespond-
ent as contained in the above London
dispatob.
A Russian offioial dispatch, datod Gorny
Studen, September 19, says: Yesterday
affairs were quiet everywhere. The
blockade and bombardment of Plevna con-
tiuue. *
IN ARIA.
St. Petersburg, September 20.—The
Galos publishes a telegram from Igdijr,
Asia Minor, which shows that the Turks,
on the 18th instant, were cannonading
General Tergukassoff’s positions there.
MUCH TALK EE TWEED.
William M. Tweed exploded a bomb
shell in New York Saturday. It would
seem us though the old man intended to
make “a clean breast” of it. If his mind
has really been burdened by its load of
guilty secrets he is rapidly disohargiug
his cargo. His first innings on Saturday
were distinguished by a “threo base hit”
at the expense of ex Sheriff Jimmy
O’Brien. O’Brien had characterized
Tweed’s story of the previous session as a
falsehood. Saturday the “Boss” produced
O’Brien’s autograph, the validity of whioh
was attested by several witnesses.
Tweed then proceeded to unfold a tale
to the passage of the famous corrupt
New York charter, declaring that he
bought several Senators outright and
naming the figures these legislators re
ceived ; William B. Woodin, Norris Wius-
low, T. L. Minior, George Boweu, and
James Wood; Senators W. H. Brand and
A. A. llarpending received $5,000 each,
while Senator W. A. Graham frequently
occupied the position of a debtor to
Tweed. Sixty places were given to Sen
ator S. H. Frost, ranging in remuneration
from $2 to $5 per day, while Senator
Oauldwell was given a position worth
$20,000 per annum for his partner, Mr.
H. P. Whitney. Senator Elwood was also
described as a debtor of Tweed’s in vari
ous amounts.
Tweed says be oaunot name a single
Assemblyman who was purchased, for
the reason that he left the manipulation
of the votes in the lower house to his
celebrated lobbyist, A. D. Barber, of
Utica. Barber has long been known as
Tweed’s rigbt-hand man. “The Boss'’
says he gave Barber six hundred thousand
dollars to be used in buying the votes of
Assemblymen. Tweed severul times em
bellished his teatimouy with dry humor.
Speaking of one politician he desired to
placate in the palmy days of tho ring, he
said :
I bought a few bills of goods from
him—not for large amounts.”
Question — What do you call a largo
amount ?
Answer—Well, five thousand dollars I
considered a pretty large amount then ;
five dollars is a large amount now.
When he was questioned specifically in
regard to lobbyist Barber’s business,
Tweed replied:
“I believe he swore that his business
was to walk np and down the hill and
talk to members.”
Oakey Hail received five per cent, of
the fraudulent divide. Thus does Tweed
talk about the ex-Mayor :
“One time Hall said to me : ‘Your peon
pie are very Blow, arou’t they, in settling
up matters ?’ I made inquiries and found
there were some bills on whioh Mr. Hall’s
percentage had cot been paid. I had the
matter attended to, and after that I heard
no complaints. Mr. Hall did not mentiou
his percentage, but I found he was not
paid his share of a little bill of Garvey’s,
and so be was holding baok on the signing
of the bills.”
“The Boss” found that it was desirable
to buy the vote Of Norris Winslow, the
Senator from Watertown, Jefferson coun
ty, New York. He says :
“I didn’t know how to reach Winslow
exactly, although he had been hanging
around me; he was the proprietor of a
bank, president of an insurance company,
and in faot in the town and county he
oame from I guess he was the most prom
inent of all the men there; at Liasting’s
suggestion I spoke to those men; Woodin
I had never talked with before; ho was a
very quiet and reserved man, and I had
never spoken to him exoept to ‘pass the
time of day;’ on the day of the passage
of the charter I met a gentleman who
asked if I wanted any help, and said he
was the brother- in-law of one of the Sen
ators who oould help mo; I Asked who it
was and ho said Norris Winslow; a asked
to see the brother**in-law, and he suid be
would bring us together; he did so and I
talked the matter over with Senator
Winslow; bo thought they ought
to have $50,000 apiece, as many
as would go for the charter; we talkod
the thing over on two days. Mr. Hastings
then suggested thot if I could got Woodin
I had better do it; while I was thinking
over how bent to approach Woodin I met
him in tho library hall of the Senate
chamber one day ; I said, ‘I hope you aro
not going against me, for it is a personal
tight.’ ”
In this way, by insidious approaches,
Tweed said ho dragged the legislators,
one after auother, into the mire of official
corruption.
Tweed promises to make good his state
ments with documentary and other evi*
deuce. It is fair to presume that there is
a heavy substratum of truth in his story.
Many others now enjoying their freedom
are as guilty as he. Let there be as
square a division of the punishment as
there was of the spoils.
FRANCE.
EFFECTS OF MACMAIION’S PROC
LAMATION.
London, Sept. 20.— : The Standard's cor
respondent at Paris reports that Prosident
MacMahon’s manifesto has created an im
mense seusation. The Bonapartists and
Olerioals applaud it as a declaration of no
surrender. Le Temps, which so far is the
most outspoken of the Republican papers
declares the manifesto unprecedented.
The Times' Paris correspondent says
the people look upon Prosident MaoMa
hon’s manifesto as only an electoral arti
fice designed to frighten the timid elec
tors into supporting the offioial candidates,
and to encourage the functionaries to exer
cise fully their doty.
Falling or Whetstone’* Oil Factory.
Cincinnati, O., Sept. 20.—Last night
the third iloor of the Whetstone Linseed
Oil Factory on Eggleston avenne upon
which rested about 15,000 bushels of fiax
seed, gave way and carried all the floors
below to the cellars, and at the same time
foroing out the wall. The loss will exceed
, $20,000.
A few days ago, says the San Antonio
(Texas) Herald, the sheriffs of Mason,
Llano and McCulloch counties, with a
posse ondeuvored the capture of several
cattle thieves who were herding a drove
of stolen cattle near Brazos City, McCul
loch county. After securing one, Wads
worth, they confined him in the Llano
county jail. The night after his capture,
a party of men went to tho jail, threw in
a lighted turpentine hsll through the gra
tings where Wadsworth slept, and then
riddled him with bullets.
One Henry Hoy, a bad character, was
then pursued by the sheriffs. He had
sworn he would never run and never sur
render, and when the posse hove in sight
of where he was, he took up hisjarms, Hat
down behind a tree, and, resting his gun,
opened a fusilade upon his pursuers. His
fire was returned, after an order to sur-
render had been given, and he received
four wounds at tho first volley, killing
him instantly. One of the sheriff’s party
was grazed by a Winchester bullet.
It is said that three hundred citizens of
Llano, who were confident of Wads
worth’s inuocouce, have sworn to find
out and kill the men who murdered him
while in jail. Notifications to leave the
oountry are already being passed around.
There is a likelihood of another cattle
war, or feud between cattlo men in Llano
and McCulloch counties.
Death of u Hunk President.
New York,Sept. 20.—John E. Williams,
President of tho Metropolitan Bauk, is
dead.
Till*: TELEPHONE.
A PECULIAR TEST OF THE INSTRUMENT—HOW
FAR TIIE HUMAN VOICE MAY HE HEARD.
From tho Utica Herald.J
The peculiar tost of tho telephone in
New York tho other day, whereby mes
sages wore sent through the bodies of five
men and distinctly heard, is calculated to
inspire belief that the limit of tho thing
is by no means yet reached. Five men
joined hands, the two on tho extreme
bolding ends of the wire. Through the
circuit thus completed conversation was
distinctly heard, and none of the men
were conscious of any peculiar sensation.
The resistance of one man was calculated
to be equal to five longths of the Atlantic
cable—that of five men fully twenty five
lengths. Tho five men wore, therefore,
equal to a wire extension of (say) 50,000
miles. Tho current used was produced
by the magnets of the telephone, no bat
tery being employed. Tho ability to
send the human voice twice around the
globe seems to bo impliod by the result of
this test.
A Tardoro, N. C., negro, nnder trial
for larceny, made the following argument
in his own defense :
“Mister J edge, I clare ’fore God I nover
stole nothin’ in my life, ’copton a pig tail
at hog killin’ time from my ole miHsus,
when I was a boy, and Mister Jedge, 1
shall nevor forgit my punishment. She
sowed dat tail to my brooches behind, an*
when company would come she would
make me come out and shake myRolf so
dat tail would switch, and Mister .lodge,
I felt so moan an’ got so tired of dat pig
tail dat I never stole nothin’ since. Dat’s
a fao.”
Throe years in the penitentiary.
Went tier.
WAsniNOTON, September 20.—Indica
tions—For the South Atlantio States,
stationary or falling followed by rising
barometer, northeasterly backing to
northwesterly winds, stationary temperas
lure, partly cloudy weather, with rain
areas.
WOMEN “AN TELEUKAP1IEKS.
ROMANCE AND FUN AND DUSINE88 AT BOTH
ENDS OF THE WIRES.
“Well, it’s better than sewing or mak
ing shirts for a living, any way,” said tho
black-eyed, sweet-voiced operator in one
of our largest hotela. “It’s bettor than
that sort of dog’s life, and besides I have
a chance to kuow what’s going on in the
world.”
She sat behind a counter of black wal<
nut, ground glass, and gilded iron, and
looked np from a copy of “Adam Bede”
she was reading. Like most of her class,
she appeared to be about twenty-five
years old, bright, quick, and talky. I
had sent a number of messages over her
wire, and for a wonder they were always
sent as written. Littlo by little wo be
came acquainted, and this morning I
ventured to ask her if she liked the posi
tion. She answered as above.
“What are yonr hours ?”
“I get here at 8 in tho morning and
stay till 8$ or 9. They want me to stay
later, but I couldn’t stand it. It’s awful
ly trying, any way.”
“But why get here so early as 8 ? Does
anybody send messages as early as that ?”
“Bless you, yes. I often find two or
threo on my book when I get here. I
have sometimes thought it would be a
good idea to open at half-past 7 in the
morning and oloso at 8 p. m. sharp, bnt
tho manager wouldu’t consent to it. You
see, like all lady operators, I am very anx
ious to please tho company. You kuow
how hard we had to work to get anything
to do in the first plaoe.”
“No, I don’t kuow anything about it.
Tell me.”
“Why, when the Western Union first
gave a country office to a lady manager
there was such a ho.wl of iudiguatiou
from the men as would have done credit
to a menagerie of hyenas. Any one
would have supposed they owned tho lines
and wore the sole proprietors of quick
fingers. LAter ou, when they began to
try us in the city hero, the silly fellows
actually talked of getting up a strike,
wish they would do it now. We'd soon
show them that lady operators can be de<
pendod on at all times.”
“But they say you are careless in read
ing messages.”
“Who—I?”
“No, no. They Hay that women are
lesB reliable in rending thnu men. How
is it?”
That’s nonsenso. A oaroless man is
as bad as a careless woman. What differ
ence does it rnnko to you whether your
message is wired by an operator in pants
or in gown, so long as it’s wired right ?”
“Exactly, aud that’s tho point.”
“Well, point or no point, I kuow men
who arc oaroless and ladies who are cor
rect, and I should think it very silly to
condemn the one and prniso the other
simply because single operators were
either bad or good.”
“What effect has tho employment of
women had?”
“It hud threo good effects. Iu tho
first place the companies are no longer at
the moroy of a lot of selfish men. Why,
do you know the operators used, literally,
to tyranize over tho companies ? They’d
do just ho much work and no more. Why,
they used to let messages ncoumulute and
pile up so that the manager would bo in
perfect despair. You don’t hoar so much
independence talk nowadays. ”
“So you think tho companies are bene
fited ?”
“Certainly, nnd then tho stockholders
are, or should be, for you know so long as
men control tho money chests women will
never bo overpaid. Tho men who throw
away hundreds and thousands at home,
are not at all sensitive about paying star
vation wages to girls in their employ. Not
that we have starvation wages by any
means; but telograph pay is very much
less now than it would have been if acci
dent hadn’t demonstrated the peculiar fit
ness of women for the nicest kind of tele
graph work. I claim that our ears uro
quicker, our fingers more useable.”
H§“ Well, what is tho second point ?”
“Thqfecond point is that thousands of
women are able to earn an honest living.
Take my curb. My husband was killed at
Antietam. Because his discharge was
made out and he fought as a volunteer a
week after his time was out, I cun get no
pension. My babe was born two weeks
after her father died. I had no parents
and no near relatives. What oould I have
done ? I wont to President Orton, lie
knew ray father. He gave me an oppor
tunity to study. I was quick, and my
baby’s needs stimulated mo, you can well
believe. I felt that I was iu the way but
I kept at it, and I thank God to-day that
I’m us independent as Mr. Orton himself,
as long as my health lasts. Could I have
sowed ? Not and lasted till now. Nor
could I have endured tho terrible wear
and tear of a store. Tho field is just the
field for women who are willing to make
themselves useful. All along the lines of
railroad aud telegraph hundreds and
thousands of women aro saved tho degra
dation of marriage without lovo, nnd liavo
opened to thorn a door for solf-rospectiug
industry.”
“Aud the third point ?”
“You’d never guess it. I contend that
wo have made men out of monkeys. Why,
sir, you have no idea of the way in which
malo operators used to pass tboir idle
time. I hove heard messages passing
over every wiro, whioh would make u brass
dog blush in his sleeve. Tho profane and
indecent messages they used to send woro
disgraceful. If tho manogomout had
known a tithe of tho filth wo girls used
to bo compelled to hear, it would havo
broken ovory malo operator on tho lino.”
“How is it now ?”
“All changed. Onoo in a while n private
flirtation is carried ou. Now and then a
rough story is told. But altogothor, tho
service is roforinod.”
“Do you think you interfero now with
male operators ?”
“Of course we do. That’s inevitable.
Wherever a lady is employed, the number
of plaoes for the lordH of creation iu re
duced. But we can’t help that.”
“I suppose you come across queer cub**
tomers now and then ?”
“As a rule, everybody is queer. It s a
bad place for any ono who has faith in
human nature. I see so many lies writ
ten, come across so many coincidences of
deceit, that I really think I’d believe every
body was bad if I didn’t know bettor by
experience.”
“Do you always read messages for
sense ?’’
“I can’t say that I do. It would ho
useless, for a great many have no senso to
any but those concerned. No, I make it
a rule to road messages literally, nnd bo-
foro the writer loaves the desk. If you
telegraph, ‘Two and two mako five,’it’s
not my place to tell you they make four.
I did that ouoe. A tall old man, with a
oigarette in his mouth and a
tremendous weed on his hat, gave me
this mossage : ‘The Fall Kivor boat leaves
tho foot of Twenty-third street at 4.
Send tho doukeys by mail.’ I said, ‘You’re
mistaken, sir; the Fall River boats leave
the down-town pier at 5 o’clock, not 4.’
I never shall forget the look he gave me.
Said he: ‘Young woman, you ’tend to
your business, and I’ll ’tend to the Fall
River boat.’ After that I’d have sent the
Bible backward and oalled my baby a bear
if a customer so wrote it on the blank.”
“Are you paid by commission ?”
“No, and I’m glad of it. We used to
be, and between you and me, a smart girl
oan make a donble salary almost, espe*
oially in a place like this, where there are
so many regular customers. But it opens
the door to insult. Now don’t make a
mistake. I’m not the kind of a woman to
bo insulted. Gross insults are rarely
offered to a woman if she respeots her-
self. These women who Are alwaya being
insulted give themselves away. But
here’s a case. A man came in one eve
ning just as I was closing up. He had
what appeared to bo a trifling message to
sond to Forty-Second street. The charge
was twenty-three cents. I said: *1 can
send if, but wou’t the morning answer?’
Ho said: ‘Going home?’ I said: ‘Yes.’
Well,’ said he, ‘yon send this and I’ll
giyo you $5,* And we’ll stop in at Bigot’s
and get some supper besides.’ I took his
message and the twenty-three cents with
out a word. He hung around for a few
minutes. Then ho said: ‘You get paid by
commission, don’t you?’ Itold him I did.’
Well,’ Raid he, ‘I Hond, as you know, a
great many messages, and after this you
charge double and keep the extra for
yourself.’ I didn’t know then, and I don’t
know now, that he meant to bo rnde, but,
if ho was honest and fair, if he could have
known how bitterly ho hurt me by talkiug
so, ho would never have said another
word to me. As it was, I very qnietly
showed him that we had a regular tariff,
that if I should overcharge I should get
into trouble, that I was content with what
I had and that I desired no acquaintance*
on tho other side of tho desk. He seemed
to bo a kind of rough diamond, after all,
laughed aud wen* away.”
“Do you ever have very long mes
sages?”
Yes. One day, or rather one night,
I sent fivo messages, each over 800 words,
to The Sun. Jay Gould’s Socretary sent
1,500 words to Washington, and I often
havo oity messages of COO or 700 words. I
sometimes think it would be quite as well
if the senders were to hire a district mes
senger; but that’s their business.”
“How about women customers?”
“I have very few. Now and then one
comes iu to send word about dinner or the
theatre to her husband or friend
down town, but I don’t have many.
There’s one nice little dumpling of a girl
who is possessed about matinees. Reg
ularly every Saturday about noon she
comes in and sends word to a gentleman
in Beaver street. ‘I Bhall be at such or
such a theatre matinee. Don’t fail to
come.’ She always pays, says ‘now send
it quick, won’t you?’ smiles and runs off
to her ooupe like a little rabbit. One
day, not long ago, we had seven or eight
West Point oadets here, and you’d have
died to see those boys act. If they sent
ouo they sent twenty messages apiece.
Some to the Point, some to
Brooklyn, somo to young ladies,
some to tailors. Oh, it was too funny for
anything. I deliver many a love-sick
message. Some fellow down town hasn’t
seen his ‘birdie’ since the .night before,
and ho must know how the darling is.
Now and then they wire for thoir friend
to drive down to the office at four. Any
number of dinner • appointments and
theatre engagements aro made. The
jueerost thing of all is the carelessness
of the people who write the messages.
Don’t talk to me about operators. Why,
bless my heart, if wo were to make one
mistake, where they make fifty, we’d be
turned adrift in less than no time at all.
Tho man sent: ‘Send mo a dozen eggs.’
His correspondent asked to have it re
peated. I repeated it. He, supposing it
a joke, sent tho eggs. I was hauled up.
I showed tho copy. lie mount a dozen
engravings, and ‘supposed the operator
would know euougli to mako engravings
out of eggs’—the word he wrote. They
write absurdly, and in their desire to save
two cents leave out a word that is essen
tial to tho meaning. Half a dozou times
this summer men havo telegtaphed their
wives : ‘Meet me at Coney Island boat;’
bnt as they didn't mention boat, time or
pier, they doubtless went alone—proba
bly they meant to all the time.”
“What improvements would yon sug
gest as an easing of your lot here ?”
“Well, I think it would be a good idea
if tho hours wore different. If the offices
woro to open at eight in tho morning and
bo kopt open till ten P. M., two operators
would find profitable employment for the
company. For instance. I could stay
from eight till threo and the other from
throe till ton, or vice versa?”
“What do you do in the idle time?”
“Read aud write. Here’s a story I’ve
just finished. I wonder if I could havo it
printed?” Too long? Do you think so?
And here’s some poetry—’A Glimpse into
Future; or, Our Land in 1990.’ Now
don’t laugh; why shouldn’t I try, as well
as any ono else?”
“Yon should.”
“A woman who telegraphs has to do a
groat deal of thinking. She thinks when
a customer comes iu aud when he goos
out. His meHHago is a text for more
thought, and queer messages need curi
ous fancies. ICh a pleasant life, after
all.”
Tho telegraph authorities say that
women operators are of groat advantage,
but they will get married. Just as soon
ns a woman develops into a first class
operator, she’s too smart to bo contented
with hor sphere.
A Mull Willi a KtomiM’li Full of
Hm** Jewelry.
Now York Evening Post.]
A South Amerioau newspaper reports
on interesting instance of the removal of
foreign substances swallowed by a pris
oner now in jail. The jailer is said to
have in his possession a collection of
Albort chains, penknives, brass rings,
eto., whioh, he says, ho caused the man
to vomit by means of emetics. The man
is a traveling mountebank, who gave
performances, during which he of
fered to swallow anything his audi
ence might select; and he now has in his
Htouinch a steel watch-chain and a large
brass ring, which hove been there nine
months, lie asserts that he has had two
pounds of jewelry in that receptaelo at
one time, and that he has kept watches
there for 24 hours. The release of a fork
by tho French snrgeou, Dr. Leon Labbe,
from similar confinement will be remem
bered by many persons ; and the South
American case just quoted, if correctly
reported, presents, according to the Lon
don Lancet, “features worthy of being
studied from a physiological point of
view.”
Foncjo, ill South America, Hu rued.
New' York, September 20.—Panama
advices report tho burning of the town of
Couejo ou the 15th of August.