The Telephone Girl true stories published in 1919...
The Hotel Fire
When fire broke out in the Jackson House, the leading hotel of an eastern city, Miss Martina Smith, the night telephone operator proved herself a heroine. By her coolness and courage she prevented a panic and almost certain loss of life.
The telephone switchboard was near the clerk's desk and within plain view of the hotel lobby. Standing at the desk were half a dozen travelers who had just arrived. In one corner waiting for taxicabs were a group of ladies and their escorts laughing and chatting gaily. The hands of the clock pointed to twelve and at that late hour most of the guests had retired for the night.
This was the scene when someone flashed word to Miss Smith that the hotel was threatened with flames. On receiving this terrifying news, the quiet girl seated behind the switchboard did not lose her presence of mind. She made no frantic gestures and no outcry. Her first step was to call the fire exchange, which she did in a voice scarcely audible.
Quick!'' she whispered, ''the Jackson House is on fire!"
Not one of the men standing at the hotel register heard her send in the alarm. The clerk, who was within...
Finish reading about the Hotel Fire ...and then read about the Telephone girl and the Bank Robbers
The Bank Robbers
If it had not been for the prompt action of Mary Elizabeth Neil, night telephone operator, the People^s Savings Bank at Westfield would have been robbed of a large sum of money.
Night calls were few in Westfield, and Miss Neil was permitted to sleep in the rooms of the local telephone exchange.
One morning about two o-clock she was awakened by a heavy report and the sound of broken glass falling from a window of the bank building across the street. At once she realized that something was wrong. A moment's thought told her that an attempt was being made to rob the bank. Quickly she seated herself at the switchboard and rang up the town marshal and the officers of the bank and notified them of the danger.
While calling them she kept thinking, What else can I do to foil the robbers?'' Her mind worked rapidly. In imagination she could see the thieves removing the contents of the great bank vault. There was no time to lose.... finish reading
