From Another Planet

1901

William A. Eddy Receives Mysterious Electric Signals

NEW YORK, Jan 14. — William A. Eddy of Bayonne, N. Y. says that since 1892 he has drawn from his kite wire hundreds of electric signals, both regular and irregular, which may have come from some planet and that the signals have been usually in groups of three, regularly timed like a Morse sounder. When the ends of the kite-sustained steel wires are separated by silk strands the sparks jump at 12-second intervals. Then there are mysterious disappearances of all electric action for several minutes. These electric sparks come from a high point in the air not near to the low tension electric currents and live trolley wire.

—Emmetsburg Democrat, Emmetsburg, IA, Jan. 16, 1901, p. 2.

Boyhood Chum of Andy Carnegie Passes Away

1915

"Thirty" Comes to "Dode" Moreland, Veteran Telegrapher, Once Captured by Mosby.

PITTSBURGH, Pa., Dec. 16. — Theodore ("Dode") Moreland, aged 72, a patriarch among telegraphers here, and a boyhood friend and fellow-worker of Andrew Carnegie, the multi-millionaire, died in a hospital here as the result of an accident which occurred several weeks ago.

Mr. Moreland, like Carnegie, became an operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company and it was while following this work that the two renewed their boyhood friendship. Later they served as members of the Signal Corps during the Civil War.

At one time during the hostilities Mr. Moreland was captured by Mosby, the famous Confederate guerrilla leader. Mr. Moreland's mount was a better horse than that of Mosby, but the telegrapher was surrounded by rebels. Mosby, after detaining Mr. Moreland for some time, contented himself by "swapping" horses with the Northerner and then permitted him to ride his inferior mount back to the Federal lines.

After the war, Mr. Moreland and Mr. Carnegie drifted apart, Mr. Moreland continuing to make dots and dashes, while Mr. Carnegie made millions.

Several years ago, however, when Mr. Carnegie chanced to hear again of his erstwhile fellow-worker, he ordered that a pension of $50 a month be paid him. This was done for some time, tho the pension for some unknown reason ceased two years ago.

Mr. Moreland continued his work at the key until he had reached the maximum age of 70 years, when pensioned by the Western Union Company, being one of the first operators in Pittsburgh to be retired.

Instant Messaging Helps Actor Name His Price

1903

The coolness and self-control which have always been two of John Drew's most marked qualities, both off and on the stage, stood him in good stead once in the early part of his career, says Frank Leslie's Monthly.

It happened that Drew for some reason or other learned how to take and send messages on the telegraph ticker. Harry Vernon, a friend of his, and a skilled telegraph operator himself, was working that time in the office of a certain manager who was negotiating with Drew. When the talk between the actor and manager worked around to the question of terms Drew hesitated to stand out for what he wanted. Finally the manager made an offer. The actor was on the point of acceptance when the ticker began to sound. Vernon was the operator.

"Drew, Drew, Drew," it ticked. "Listen, listen. Hold off terms a minute. Ask for ten more. He said he'd give it before you came in."

With a calm and impassive expression of deliberate consideration, Drew looked thoughtfully at the manager while he rapped with a pencil on the desk the dots and dashes which were good Morse for "Vernon, are you sure?"

"Sure," came the clicks.

Then Drew spoke and got his price.

—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, March 4, 1903, page 5.

Comment: So Vernon was in the same office as Drew at the time but sent the message over the ticker, yet, being present, was able to respond to Drew's taps on the desk.