12
TTIE OMATTA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, APKTL 8, lOOfi.
S EARLY OPERAT S
JWcoIUctioni ef Pioneer Worten at tU
Telegraph Key.
tfrECT OF THE SPEEDING YEARS
narat Baaeh at Trlerraph Taleat
Kve Ga their taj the Wtit-lme
HI! la fB HrMi, Soma
lrlft lata 0hv frofaaetoas.
A. reminiscent article by J. W. Hayes,
"Looking Backward at Omaha," published
In the Telegraph Age, recall by name
and Incident the splendid band of alorse
alphabet experts, who worked the keys In
the (ate city aome thirty years ago. "It
la eloquent of the fact," comments tne Age,
"that the telegraph has proved a valuable
Stepping stone In the Uvea of hundreds of
operators who have graduated from the
key Into the larger possibilities of life. Of
the, little band employed at Omaha In the
late seventies, it will be observed that a
number of them who left the service have
Ince acquired success and large wealth."
Mr. Hayes' articles follows:
It Would have been hard to find, outside
of New Tork, ns fine a lot of operators and
gentlemen as were collected In the Western
Union office, Omaha, In the late 70 s. The
work of the office was of such an ex:eft
nature that only the flowerpot the pro
fession was eligible for service.
Frnnk Lehmer, the manager, was well
liked by the public and popular with his
employes and was a good company man.
His father, William Lehmer, was receiving
and delivery clerk and Was a gonial disciple
of the old school. One of the best operators
In the country at that time was Frank C.
Knight, who was the day chief. Mr. A. O.
Drake was night chief, and, like Edgar H.
Beecher, the all night chief, performed
his duties to the satisfaction of all. The
operating force, as nearly as I remember,
was as follows: Willis J. Cook ("Bit"),
whom Walter P. Phillips hfls Immortalized
in picture and story; Court M. Cunning
ham, P. J. Tlerney, George W. Oardanler,
George McMahon, Judd 8. Thompson, Levi
8. Wild, James H. Largay, Edward J. Ful
lum, Nicholas C. Burke, George F. Stewart,
Clifford E. Mayne, Edward Kosewater,
O. H. Gray, Frank P. Williams, Timothy
Collins, John Kelly, H. M. Goewey, "Dad"
Armstrong, John L. Morris, Harry Nichols,
Thomas F. Kehoe, CroBby J. Ryan, Henry
Smith and others whose names have passed
from my recollection. George Gardner,
whose generous nature Is of fragrant mem
ory, was our lineman.
The employes at the Atlantic & Pacific
telegraph office were: L. M. Rheem, man
ager; Aaron B. Hllliknr, J. W. Ellsworth
and Miss Fannie Wheeler, operators;
George M. Myers was operator in Superin
tendent J. J. Dickey's office and L. H.
Korty was Colonel Dickey's chief clerk.
j Chan sea with the Years.
'Of the little band ot operators that were
In- Omaha at the time I write of there is
not one remaining in the old capacity. 1
Colonel J. J. Dickey, who was superin
tendent of the Westefh Union Telegraph
company at this point for a quarter of a
century, died on December 29, 1903. George
M. Myers is now and has been for many
years past, one of the leading capitalists
engaged In electrical enterprise at Kansas
City, Mo. William Lehmer was gathered
to his fathers soma ten years ago at a ripe
age. "Bit" Cook succumbed to the Pan
ama fever fifteen years ago. James H.
Largay and T. F. Kehoe died of consump
tion. II. Milton Goewey was a victim of
the dreaded fever scourge In Memphis In
'78. Harry Nichols died In the south many
years Ago.
Frank Lehmer has become a successful
'banker In Colorado. Frank B. Knight tied
up to the telephone service early In Its ex
istence and Is now abundantly reaping his
reward at Dallas Tex. A. G. Drake is
with the Postal Telegraph-Cable company
In Chicago and I hope Is doing well. The
most; unique figure next to "Elf" Cook on
the force wns Edgar B. Beecher, who wss
a man of varied ability and experience,
fte could turn nls hand to anything and his
arcompllnhments came In very handy In his
later life. Mr. Beecher Is now a prosper
ous business man In Los Angeles, Cal.
Court M. Cunningham went to New
Tork many years ago and Is still
there with the Western Union Tele
graph company. Nicholas Burke has
been a prominent figure In telegraphic
and newspaper circles In various parts of
the country. Timothy Collins Is a "big
policeman" now and dees duty In Buffalo.
Clifford Mnyne beenme a millionaire, went
to California and was lost In the crowd
of other millionaires on the Pacific coast.
Frank B. Williams has long been with the
Associated Tress In Louisville, Ky. Judd
B. Thompson Is In Wsshlngton with the
Western Union Telegraph company. Homer
Gray Is considerable of a tourist. He. wns
a brainy young fellow and should have
made his mark.
Growing Gray la the Service.
George McMahon has grown gray In the
service of the Western Union Telegraph
company and Is now stationed at Portland,
Ore., where he fills the position of chief
operator With much credit. John I Morris
Is still In telegraphic harness, being lo
cated with the Wetsern Union Telegraph
company fit San Francfsco. P. J. Tlerney
Is also with the Wetsern Union Telegraph
company In New York and holds a respon
sible position In tho Central Cable office
at 16 Broad street, that city. George V.
Gnrdanler rose to be assistant electrical
engineer of the Western Union Telegraph
company, but tiring of life, owing to con
tlnued ill-health, he committed suicide on
October 26, 1!K. Levi 8. Wild Is now man
ager of the Western Union Telegraph com
pany at Butt, Mont. Edward Rosewater
entered Journalism, a profession In which
he rapidly rose, and Is now the proprietor
and editor of The Omaha Bee. Crosby J.
Ryan is the manager of a branch office
of the Western Union Telegraph company
at Detroit. Mich.
Ills Five Drift Apart.
Of the - Atlantic & Pacific force Mr.
Rheem Is now a prosperous doctor of Min
neapolis; J. W. Ellsworth, who was the
youngest brother of George Ellsworth, the
celebrated operator, whose handiwork In
tapping wires was of great help to the con
federate. General Morgan, In his Invasion
of the north during the civil war, went
west and Is now ranching somewhere in
New Mexico. Miss Fannie M. Wheeler was
probably one of the finest women operators
and electricians of her day. She married
a Mr. Merryfleld, and later returning to the
telegraph service, is now - In Colorado.
Aaron B. Hllllker was' one of the1 greatest
characters ever known to the profession.
Ho was, a born actor, a minstrel singer, a
good newspaper man and a first-class tele
graph operator. I don't know his where
abouts, but I hope that prosperity Is at
tending him. L4 H. Korty was ever a kind,
affable gentleman and a thorough tele
graph man. He Is now and has for many
years been superintendent of telegraph of
the Union Paclflo railway, with headquar
ters at Omaha.
There was not much to amuse the young
man coming from the larger centers In
Omaha and after a year's sojonrn In the
then frontier town ok the Missouri most
of the operators whose names I have men
tioned took up their line of march toward
the golden west, some locating at Chey
enne, some at Salt Lake City and. a few
going to Virginia City and San 'Francisco,
at which I will speak of them at another
time.
About this time we had at Cheyenne,
Wyo., the following force: N. M. Snyder,
iranager, now deceased ;'V. DuCnmh Green,
George W. Jones, bearing the sobriquet
of "Nip,", given him because of his pro
clivity to nip or clip off his words In key
transmission, and W. A. Williams, opera
tors. "Comb" Green holds a responsible
position with the Bell Telephone company
In Toledo. "Nip" Jones Is a business man j
f Ogden, Utah, ami W. A. Williams Is a
wealthy cltlsen of Seattle. Mr. Charles F.
Annelt, now manager of 1 the' Western
Union Telegraph company at New Haven,
Ponn., was at tne time fnehfloned man
ager of the Atlantic St Pacific Telegraph
company at Cheyenne.
There was a strong1 bond of friendship
uniting the members ot our little com
mifhlty, which has lasted these many years,
and It will be a pleasure, no doubt, for
them to read the names of their old col
leagues once mora In this retrospective
glance.
WOMAN'S UNIQUE INDUSTRY
Breeding Gataea Plars fr Market
Prarea Proatable larter
taklnar. An Industry unique and profitable Is op
erated In Muskfgon, Mich., by a woman.
This Is the raising and breeding of guinea
pigs for the market, and the proprietor
ot the new and novel form of raising
money Is Miss Caroline E. Mosher. By pro
fission Miss Mnshor Is a stenographer
and has held the position of police and
Justice court stenographer In Muskegon.
Tiring of the montonous work of stenog
rapher three years ago she sought to find
en occupation more profitable and less
requiring. She considered the prospects
of a squab farm, but her attempts In this
direction were met with failure.
"Then," said Miss Mosher, "I conceived
the idea that the raising, of guinea pies
might be profitable.- Since then It has been
my occupation." Two years ago she made
her start with one pair of pigs. Now she
has an average of 600 pigs on hand all
the time. Easily cared for, the guinea
pigs are very profitable, as their cost Is
small and they sell for large prices.
The output of Miss Mosher's novel farm
Is sold mostly to universities and govern-'
mental hospitals, whore they are used for
laboratory purposes. The blood and or
gans of a gunlea pig are said to be more
like those of a human being than are
those of any other animal. Among Miss
Mosher's largest customers are the United
States Marine hospital at Washington, the
University of Wisconsin at Madison and
the Parke-Davis company at Detroit. The.
farm's supply Is oftert sent as far away
as Mexico. Miss Mosher also sells a few
guinea pigs as pets. They are said to
make a very quiet and cleanly domestic
animal. Last spring Miss Mosher fur
nished the stock for the tests made at
Grand Rapids In the city water supply ex
amination. For these little animals Miss Mosher re
ceives good prices. At wholesale they,
bring 75 cents apiece, while In retail lots
the price is $1.50 each. If she is able to
raise a pair of black guineas' she may re
ceive as high as $20' per pair. Miss Mosher
ships about 100 pigs a month. The 600
pigs are kept In a barn 12x20 feet In
thirty small pens, which are placed In
tiers. To feed them requires onefhour a
day. They take very small quantities and
eat hay, grain, corn, potatoes, carrots and
bran. The guinea pigs multply rapidly.
They breed every four or five weeks, are .
healthy little animals and live four or five
years.
Profitable?" said Miss Mosher. "Well,
they pay as well as stenography."
To .Make a Canary Mnar.
Generally any kind of soft, sibilant noise
will tempt a bird to sing. A canary nung
In a kitchen a111 usually start his song If
he hear, say., the: milling of a frying pan.
We utilise special devices to tempt the shy
singer, who is perhaps rendered the more
bashful by finding himself In novel sur
roundings. ' . For. this- purpose we employ
Whistles and sang organs, whloh artificially
reproduce the . ''tours" . of the roller. This
latter method la found to be irresistible
when all other-plans have failed. The bird
feels apparently that he Is being challenged
and forthwith responds to the challenge by
pouring forth the beat of hla song. London
Post.'
Who Does Your
Electro
typing?
OWE
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In The Furniture World
wmwm .1 'i. i inMii n Miwrnfflmnn maim n't eir i : initaxajvav, ! aws ira-awares vssa
From the far east to the far west the Hartmati concern is viewed as a
towering monument to progressive methods. This great business is
built upon the solid rock of honesty. Our broad gauge libsral methods
are responsible for our growth Into the largest Homefurn
Ishlnr concern on earth. The' Hartman firm has 22 great
stores throughout the United States. With such a tre
mendous purchasing power It's no wonder we can under
sell , every other concern in the business. They cannot
begin to equal our prices. Poeltlve proof of this may be
found In the following offerings t
All Goods Exactly
Like Cuts Used
0
r
-iVk .''iLj?
A NEW IDEA OF CREDIT-GIVING
Hartman's plan of credit la unlike any other In Omaha or
vicinity. It Is easier and grants you more privileges than
any other. It's the kind of credit service that appeals to
thinking people that appeals to those who want the best,
will appeal to yon. We require no payments when you are
sick or out of employment, we'll give you the help you need,
whenever you need it.
1 i
ALL
GOODS
MARKED
IN
PLAIN
FIGURES
AT
HARTMAN'S
NO
DECEPTION
HERE
wMmtMm b If
Go-Cart Special, exactly Hit t cut, metal
frame, reclining back. Thn greatent curt
ou ever saw lor tne money. CO er
Price only '
DKESSEK, like cut New spring design
large oval French plate mirror, top .drawers
swelled, made of selected woods, forested golden
carved standards, pries 0 75
COLONIAL LIBRARY TABLE. Made of Badger Oak
golden nnlsh. Made of selected stock, which shows a beautiful
wavy gTaln and flake. Has heavy legs and large lower shelf.
This Is a new spring design and at the price quoted Is one of
the best values over offered. 4 4 7B
Now only
Terms, $2 Cash, f 1.25 Monthly
Mm ureou
Jjlll Country
MAIL
ORDERS
FILLED
Quarter-Sawed Oak Extension Table
This dining table Is made of selected stock, which
shows a beautiful grain. It has large round top,
massive round pedestal with heavy legs and large
claw feet. Finished with a high polish, ft 7C
Special
GOODS
advertised
sold on
TIME
Our facilities for quickly filling
your orders in the highest type of
perfection are unsurpassed in the
West
i! V mf BY
m
--i.- 1 V5'- -).'
IT'S EASY
TO PAY
THE HARTMAN
WAY
THIS
STEEL
RANGE
ONLY
$28.75
YOUf
Money's
Worth or
Your Money
Back at
HARTMAN'S
Best
Treatment
Always
CHIFFONIER
Made of solid
targe pattern
SPECIAL, like
oak ' top drawers
beveled plate mirror.
deep, easy recHvlnn drawers.
cacn nitea with locks..
cut
swelled,
H:is few
7.75
SOLID OAK
EITEN'SinV TIRltr
fJKe cut, has five heavy legs securely bolted,
arge snuare ton. slse 12x42: rtnria n
Is highly polished; extra well made throughout
strong table
4.25
your opportunity to get a fine,
at an exceptionally low price
at Hartman a
STEEL RANGE SPECIAL. The celebrated Columbia, Lin
coln Range, known the world over, exactly like cut shown, guar
anteed both by us and the maker for 6 years; by far the largest
range selling In Omaha for less than $35; has a large square, non
warpable oven, deep Are box. and duplex grates; six holes on top,
pouch feed, elegantly trimmed In nickel complete 20 75
with high closet, as shown, for only aw.
Credit Tirmi: $2.75 Cash, $2 Monthly
Our plant is installed with the very
latest devices in modern machinery.
Our employes are competent and re
liable We insure you the most sat'
isfactory business relations C C
Great Western
Type
Fo tin dry
Omaha, Nebraska
Morris Chair Special. New
design. A large comfortable, well
made, neatly carved chair. Frames
are of solid oak, golden finish, ex
tra well made riinhions, covered
with flue vtlour. I'riced A 7c
for the week at V i 9
j!!! ' jl
ROCKER
SPECIAL
J2.10
I fee 'fev
Hartman's Special 3-Piece Parlor Salt Exactly like cut
shown. A new special spring design, made exclusively for ojr 22 great
stores. Frames are made of finest birch, finished mahogany so near
like the real that It la difficult to tell the difference, 'is. neatly and richly
carved, coverings are of finest imported velours, upholstering Is hair over
guaranteed springs. Hartman's special Ofl 75
price now only aw. a
REED ROCKER SPECIAL Like
cut shown. Largo- gentleman's slse, full
roll arm pattern, extra well made of se
lected reeds, strongly built, a bargain
special not to be overlooked, at Hartman's
all next week,
only
2.10
CHINA CLOSET Made of
solid oak. has fancy paiul on
tp, Is hundaomely carvt-1. It is
ot the bent end draign. Is fitted
with double strength k1hs, and
ha adjustable 0 "7 tt
shelves
CARPET SPECIALS
New elegant spring
designs. No old or
hop worn articles
here. New store, new
goods.
Heivr wefflhf Ingrain Car
pels, hod fasfco.
on, af
Best quality all wool In
gram Carpets, new CC
colors J
Tapestry Brussels Carpets,
new floral and Orl- ItZn
tntal colors UiC
Best grade Velvet Carpets,
border to match,
Axmlnifer Carpets, band,
some patterns and 1Q5
colors
Let Hartman Feather Your Nest
1 11 1 t
BED COMP.IXATION Complete as
shown Include nice strong bed and de
sirable size and color, pair of good woven
wire springs and soft top jymreas, well
made; entire outfit complete r 7
at Hartman's for only
RUG BARGAINS
Exclusive Hartman de
signs shown. Best
makes from America's
foremost mills.
27-nh Velvet Rug, heavy
f ringed on ends, J75
6x9 Reversible Ingrain
Rugs, any color, J95
9x10-0 Brussels Rugs,
great values tor 75
only .'
9x12 Vcvef Rugs, exquis
ite colorings and 1C.R1
effects IJ
8-3x10.6 bast grade
Smith's Mxminster
Rugs, only .
'2011
wmm'
r a
m
Massif e Solid Oak Sideboard
This magilflcent sideboard Is made
of soltfl oak with high polish finish.
It has spacious drawers and com
partments, and top is fitted with
urge French bevel Of TC
mirror Sm I X
CREDIT TERMS;
$25.00 Worth
92.60 Cash
$2.00 Monthly '
$50.00 Worth
$5.00 Cesh
$4.00 Monthly
$100 Worth
(10.00 Cash
98.00 Monthly
TTfiM TO
22 Great Stores Throughout the U. S.
ran,
nmw-
1414-16-10 DOUGLAS STREET
CREDIT JERMS:
$200 Worth
920.00 Cash
912.00 Monthly
Larger amounts propor
tionately easy terms.
Special prices and terms
on complete outfits.
