“As a preliminary,” said Mr. Catlin, “I will take pleasure in giving our friends an illustration of how the Western Associated Press was worked in 1875. We will have Albert S. Ayres, whom you all knew as ‘Patsey’ Ayres, do the sending at Cincinnati and the following gentlemen will do the receiving: at Indianapolis, Milton Goewey; St. Louis, John W. McDonald of Texas; Louisville, Charles Newton; Memphis, Ed. Foote; Nashville, James U. Rust; Chattanooga, Jack St. Clair; New Orleans, Taylor Adams, and at Galveston, Alex. Sinnott.”
At the mention of each of these names, a shout of approval shook the audience, which indicated that all were well and favorably known.
“Patsey” Ayres had been fumbling with the key for several minutes, screwing it up until there was less than a thousandth part of an inch play, and then began a series of dots and dashes, fast and furious, but beautiful to listen to and like the music of a grand opera to the trained ears of the telegraphers present.
For an hour or more Mr. Ayers continued his tireless and musical performance on the key, but never once was it necessary for any of the receivers to break him. All of these operators were wizards with the stylus and many in the audience took back with them a manifold sheet as a souvenir of the occasion.
This was a particularly happy event and recalled to mind to many the great receiving of forty years ago.
“I find that you are so much pleased with this event that I shall take pleasure in giving you an illustration of how ‘C. U. B.’ was sent over the Overland in early days from Chicago,” said the president, “and I have called for the following gentlemen to officiate:
“J. De Witt Congdon will do the pitching in Chicago and the following will do the receiving at their respective offices: ‘Dad’ Armstrong at Omaha, John Wilkie at Cheyenne, George Merrifield at Denver, Edward C. Keeler at Ogden, Jack Wolfenden at Salt Lake, P. A. Rowe at Elko, Davey Crawford at Virginia City, Joe Wood of Boston and E. H. Beardsley at Sacramento, George Bowker and John Lowrey at San Francisco, John Donnelly at Los Angeles, Billy Leigh and G. W. Thurman at Portland, Sam McIntosh at New Westminster, B. C., and John Henderson at Victoria, B. C.
“Gentlemen,” said Mr. Catlin, “this is a long circuit and you see you can have any kind of weather you desire, from extreme cold to the torrid zone, almost, but this never interferes with a good operator, and now the performance will begin.”
While Mr. Congdon’s sending was not as beautiful as was that of Mr. Ayres, it reached each point from the extreme northwest down to the region of Catalina Island, each dot and dash arriving at its terminal in perfect shape.
This was certainly a great feat and it was much talked about by the happy visitors.