A CLEVER TELEGRAPHIST.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1159, 17 March 1874, Page 3

A CLEVER TELEGRAPHIST.

One of the most remarkable illustrations of the power which the telegraphic operator acquires to distinguish individuals by their touch upon ; the instrument has just been afforded by Mr Hempstead, one of the operators in the Western Union Telegraph Company's ohice in Hartford (Conn.) About four weeks ago Mike Thcrman, formerly an expert and well-known operator, escaped from the Middleton Insane Asylum, where he had been confined, and though search has been made for him he successfully eluded the people who were on his track uutil Monday night. AVhile Hempstead was at work in the office that night he suddenly recognised, among the score of messages passing over the wire, a, sound which he at once declared was the touch of the missing Mike. It proved to be a message from Wallingford, and an investigation showed that Mr Hempstead was quite right in ascribing it to be the insane man, who was found there the next day, he having dropped into the office in the former place on Monday night and taken a hand at ins old business.

Bridget sometimes knows how to put down "impudence." The wife of a legislator, hiring a servant, objected to a reference from an hotel. " Oh, ma'am," said Bridget, " poor sarvints has to live in all sorts of quare [daces. I've been in hotels ; and I've been in gentleman's houses, and I've lived with members of Parliament, and thought no worse of myself." The " number's missus" stood rebuked.

[For remainder of news see 4th page, .]