Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-02-23
Tolegraphisg against Time..sA Rich
incident.

VIC extract the following rich account
Of scene that transpired 10 telegraph
Office at Niagara Falls:
Bu, the reporters for the press not
only represent the character sites Of tho
country, but also those of the newspaper
to which he belongs. AT least three
fourihs OF the reporters for the New
York press are Englishmen and IRISH
men, and yet their reports are very diff
icrent from those which they would
write for the London or Dublin papers
Indeed, SO marked arc the distinctive
peculia,,ics OF different newspapers, and
80 strongly are I ey reflected IN The
style and department Of the employees,
that no professional journalist would
coniound a reporter for the Herald with
yeporler Tor the Tribune nor could
he 10 most instances, fail 10 indemnity
report written for one Of The c journals,
even though il should happen by some
accident TO be printed IN the other
Thus the reporters of one paper arc re-
markatle for audacily. enterprise and
independence hose of another paper
for eccept,icuy of dress, s,ylc and opln-
ion; those of third paper for their
sen,emany aud resor ed department,
their Industry, and the fairness Of Their
| articles.
Dung the Prince OF Wales visit to
this country some Of the best reporters
Of the New York preps were pittcd
| ava nst each other, al 4 mort intense,
bitter and often amusing rivalry WAS
maintained. At Niagara Fails an Incl
dent occurred during the PIN Is stay.
winch illustrates some u the PECULIAR
les Of rep rtets, and which has b en- ilc-
qnen,iy. but never correctly, reat by
the Eugl'sh papers as proof OF Amer
can enterprise. The special reporter OF
4 New York Journal had ordered the
tcegra b line TO be kept open, one Sun
day evening, when the Offices were usu-
aIly closed, and had engaged TO pay thr
.pera,ors literally tor their extra work
Before he had finished telegtaphlng his
usual reports, along came the reporter
4 another New Yoik journal, who, hav
ny obtain, some exclusive news, aud
fading the line in fine working order,
asserted his right to have ms dispatches
ratsntted to New loik also. Repor.
er the first resisted. Reporter The sec
ond insisted. Reporter the iifst appeal
ed to the telegraph operators, and aft,
great deal OF con .ersa,ion between
he Niagara and Rochester offices, the
operators decided that both reports
must be telegraphed. Reporter III,
second was calny triumphant and COOL,
yrepsred his notes Reporter the first
attempted TO Tribe he operators, al d
tinding them incorrnp,Llc, began lor I
aud dcsu,ory argument over tho wire'
IN order TO XIII Time and crowd ont hi,
pponent. Reporter the SC 'ond there
upon ob aimed an interview with the
Hon. John Rose, the Premier OF Caua-
liz, who sgnt down message 10 th,
operators that he was or had been P,csi
Int, Wee President, or q Ditcctor-b,
ealy could not tell whlch-oi the Tele
graph Company, and that by virtue OF
this authority he ordered both dispatch
es to be telegrapbcd immed ately. This
rider added fuel to the tite OF lndigna-
ton which glowed IN the bosom OF Re
oorter tho first. A Canadian official
dictate TO an American reporter I New.
81
Meanwhile the moments slipped hur
riedly away, and the hour WAS approach
ing when IL woul be useless TO attempt
to send dispatch to New York in time
Tor publication IN the mornirg papers.
Observing this, Reporter the nrst sud
lenly recovered his selt.control aud re
TERED all the parties concerned TO the
standard rule OF the Telegraph Comp.-
ny that "di.pntches must be sen, in tie
order in which they were received, aud
hat one dispatch must be flushed be
lore another could be transmitted '
This rule was acknowledged TO be tele.
graphic law. Reporter fist then claim
I'd pm ,rity for his report. This pon,
vas also conceded. The reporter then
briefly but eloquon,ly Informed the by
ISLANDERS that they might ~ well 20 TO
bed, as his report could never be- con
clndcd While chance OF dispat,l
reaching New \ ork that nigh, remained
20 his competitor. Immediately he set
to work TO telegraph against time. HIS
regional report having been dispatched
lie tied down every lien worth send.
NJ, and rsnsacked bis BRAIN for aay LIT
tie incident of the Pliuces doing,
which might po"ibly have been forgot
en-. HIS pencil flew over the pape,
like lightning. Click click chick -
the ops rstor hurried off psg after page
'imost as rapidly as tho reporter con'd
'nd.te them. Reporter the second STA k
cd up and down the office, dispalring bu,
uncopqnered. To him the inmate hand
81