The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-06-07
The Reporter Ahead.

Among the bummers who entered Sa-
vannah with Sherman's army was we'll
known Boston reporter, who went through
the march with him, taking notes, and
contriving to steal enough poultry and
other things for his support. Tom Miles
though that was not his name-went
prospecting around the city, and by that
mysterious attraction known to print
craft, found himself in vacated printing
Office. 1t presented golden. opportu
nifty. There were presses and all the
paraphernalia essential to business, with
form on the press; and Miles, taking
out the editorial and other offensive mat
ter, filled its columns with healthy Union
sentiment with the aid of one or two of
the craft whom he had discovered in the
army. His leader was a rich specimen
OF Growing over the victory, in which he
extOlled General Sherman as the greatest
hero since Alexander, and his army the
finest and best disciplined that the world
ever saw. With this grand flourish of
trumpets the first number was issued, and
Miles lay back in his editorial chair, con-
templatine his work with the belief that
he had achieved the next triumph to
Sherman's, and wondered what the con-
queror would say when he saw the praises
he had heaped upon him. The next
morning as the General and his staff were
about taking breakfast paper was hand
ed to him-the Savannah Republican, /
think-and he commenced to read the,
leader which was so lavish in his praise.
"Look herer' said he, red and furious,
"what the ID does this meant Who
knows anything about this paper2"
His orderly, who had known something.
about its preparation, explained to him
that it was the work of one of the liter
airy gentlemen who had followed the ex--
petition.
"Well," said the general, Ego down to
the Office and tell him to discontinue his
paper or III put him under guard.
won't have such cursed stuff printed
about me when can prevent it. Abuse
is bad enough, but this is deused sight
worse"
Down went the orderly, and the con-
fusion of poor Miles was overwhelming
when he got the squelcher from the gen
eral commanding.
"Why, it was all praise" he said.
mo matter for that. If it had been
the other way, it would have been treated
just the same"
So Miles moved a compromise, and
urged the official to express his regrets
and beg the removal Of the injunction,
which was promised. The appeal was
successful, and soon the officer came
back to inform him that permission was
granted him to run his paper, on condi-
ton that he should never mention the
generals name again. This was agreed
to, and the paper appeared.
After day or two, an aide came down
one morning with an order from General
Sherman for publication. Miles glanced
over it, and handed it back"
at can't go in, sir"
"Why mott" asked the astonished mes
senger, who was a stranger.
because it has Sherman's name to ii"
was the reply.
"That's the reason why it must go in"
urged the aide.
"And that's the reason why it sha'nt-
He stopped my paper for praisipg him,
and promised him that his name should
never appear in my columns again, and
hang me if it shall"
Miles stood resolute, and the officer re-
turned for orders, expecting the ordering
out of a file of men aud an arrest, but was
astonished to see the general burst into
hearty laugh, and hear him confess that
the printer had the best of it. The mes
senger was sent back with conciliatory
note, and there was no more trouble.