Western Union

Nevada is one of the grandest, and it is destined to become, some day, one of the greatest states in the union. It has reared a number of men, who in later years have become identified with the progress of the telegraph and submarine cable. Notably is this the case with the late John W. Mackay, who has done so much to bring these great agencies of human civilization to their present efficiency.

As long ago as 1877, Mr. Mackay was wont to make the Western Union office at Virginia City, Nevada, his rendezvous after office hours, and every operator and messenger was on easy speaking terms with him. His friend, George Senf, recently deceased, familiarly known all over the Pacific Coast as “Graphy,” was manager at Virginia City, and through his own sagacity as much as it was by Mr. Mackay’s suggestions, amassed fortune after fortune, only to lose them again by unfortunate investments.

Virginia City, it may be remarked, is located on the eastern slope of Mount Davidson, overlooking a vast waste of country to the east. Mountain peaks are visible from this spot fully two hundred miles away.

Among the operators who came and went from Virginia City about this time were the following:

A. B. McCoy, whom everyone affectionately called “Baldy;” William H. Murphy, Thomas W. Booth and his brother, A. J. Booth ; Edgar
B. Beecher, Egbert A. Brown, Edward Kearney, Eugene H. Sherwood, Samuel B. Rankin, Thomas J. Baldwin, James C. De Long, Newton L. Boydston, Andrew C. True, David Crawford, Samuel Kimber, John Skae, Robert Pixley, John Yontz, J. A. Morison, John G. Blake, and the writer.
Of these, John Skae became a multi-millionaire, and for three years kept all the wise heads in the stock market a-guessing; but he died a few years ago at Tucson, Ariz., in straitened circumstances. Samuel Kimber, Robert Pixley and A. C. True also acquired large fortunes by judicious investment in mines.

Samuel B. Rankin was the chief operator, and was a genial, whole-souled man. There was a spirit of freedom existing in this office probably unknown in any other telegraph office in the world. I mentioned this fact in my book, “Tales of the Sierras,” in the sketch entitled “The President’s Visit to Virginia City.” Of the people I have mentioned, many have passed on to their last home. These are: John Skae, Robert Pixley, John Yontz, George Senf. Edward Kearnev, Thomas W. Booth and John G. Blake.

Thomas J. Baldwin, whom we all called “Lucky” Baldwin, was one of the most accomplished linguists in the profession, and would have been an acquisition in diplomatic circles. “Lucky” is still with the Western Union at San Francisco. A. B. McCoy is in the main office of the Western Union, New York; W. H. Murphy is in the cable service of the same company at New York, while Abe Booth is employed with a Wall street broker, and J. A. Morison is now in the New York “Sun” office. Newton L. Boydston, who is with the Western Union at Chicago, was also an accomplished scholar, miner and electrician. Eugene H. Sherwood is manager for the Postal at his old home in Fremont, 0. Being stricken with paralysis some twenty-five years ago in San Francisco, he devoted much of his time to the study of music, and has achieved an enviable reputation as a performer on the guitar. Samuel B. Rankin was superintendent of the fire alarm in San Francisco until recently. David Crawford went north to Seattle, where he is in business in that bustling city. Egbert A. Brown mysteriously disappeared ten years ago from Portland. Oregon, and nobody seems to know whether he is dead or alive.

This sketch would not be complete without the mention of other well-known men, members of the profession who were located at different points in Nevada. There was Samuel W. Chubbuck, manager at Gold Hill, who had made and lost several fortunes, and who is now passing his declining years in peace and comfort in Oakland, Cal. James F. Farrell, a Canadian by birth, and one of the best of operators, was manager at Carson City. He died some fifteen years ago. Joseph Sears was a man well known in Chicago years ago. He was manager at Pioche. Nevada, and acquired a fortune, but died of pneumonia before he could enjoy it. His successor at Pioche was Alex. Morison. Joseph Heenan. cousin of the once famous John C. Heenan, of international pugilistic fame, was for awhile manager at Austin, Nevada, and was succeeded by George E. Millar, another old timer of the telegraph, known from Buffalo to the Pacific Coast. William Spinner was manager at Eureka, Nevada, in 1877, and I believe he is doing business at the same old stand yet. He was the most patient and painstaking man I ever knew. There was an operator at Diamond Springs in those clays named Cox. No one knew where he came from or where he went after the office was discontinued. At one time during wire interruptions he worked continuously for seventy-two hours, relaying west bound business and exhibiting a degree of telegraphic ability that could not be excelled. Many thought he must be the original John Clark, incognito.

William D. Linton, an old time Atlantic and Pacific operator, was keeping a hotel at this time at Wadsworth, Nevada. He will be remembered by the Cleveland and Buffalo contingency of thirty years ago. Linton got rich developing borax mines in his adopted state. John L. May was manager at Winnemucca, Nevada. He distinguished himself during the recent trouble with Spain and was made a captain in the regular army, from which post he resigned to accept a position with the Southern Pacific as train despatcher. Peter A. Rowe, and his brother John, were manager and operator, respectively, at Elko, and were much in evidence on the line. James V. Lovell afterwards succeeded Peter Rowe as manager. His father, Peter Lovell, was the assistant superintendent of telegraph for the State of Nevada. He, too, has passed over to the great majority.

Frank Bell was superintendent at Reno, and a most active and energetic man. Ben C. Shearer was the manager at that point. Mr. Bell had no hesitancy about getting out and repairing the line in company with his humblest lineman. He afterwards served as warden at the state penitentiary, finally serving a term as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of the state. At eighty years of age he has retired from active work to his ranch in Butte County, California.
Most of the men I have mentioned were largely different from the general run of operators. They were enterprising, daring, men of large and strong physique, and with an education much above the ordinary.