Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 174, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1910 — HEARS THROUGH HIS FINGERS [ARTICLE]

HEARS THROUGH HIS FINGERS

Telegraph Operator a Valuable Man at His Instrument, Though Completely Deaf. ’ ' A Peter A. Foley of Portland, Me., Is a telegraph operator, though totally deaf. Since he became deaf, however, he has developed so wonderfully the senses of touch and sight that he can detect the finest movements of the instrument and correctly Interpret them. His nervous system Is a part and parcel of telegraphy and by the sense of touch In his finger tips he takesmessages transmitted from- the ends of the continent. He can also read a message by Watching the sounder. With his left forefinger placed lightly on the sounder he can by his wonderful sense of touch take a message as accurately as aity man In the office. He insists that he needs no more consideration than any other operator, for he can read the fastest transmitting without the slightest difficulty, and his record of mistakes in a year Is said to be smaller than that of any other operator in the office. Mr. Foley’s hearing began to fall rapidly eight years ,ago. He was then considered the best operator in the Portland office and every effort was made to help him. The manager of the office arranged the receiver so It would make a louder tick, but in a short time he was unable to hear even this. There appeared no alternative but failure. No operator In the world had been able to work after he had lost his hearing. The manager didn’t wish to send a good man away, so he was set to doing common work at the same salary he had received as an operator. One day he announced that he Would soon be able to go back to his old position. The 'manager was surprised. That a deaf man could be a telegraph operator was too much to credit, but Mr. Foley was able to prove that he could do It.