New-York tribune., 1879-02-28
NEWS GATHERING.
NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE IN 1916.

SIR: I'm this ago Of rapid transit and inter-com-
muncation few poople have any idea of the diff
culties with which editors Of newspapers had
formerly to contend in obtaining speedy aud rcia-
BILE information on public events. chapter from
the early history of THE TRIBUNE will serve to
show that dash aud enterprise were as much appre-
cated thiry-thrce years in these fast days oI
telegraphs. steam yachts, and mult.tudinou5 rail-
roads.
The result of the Rhode Island election IN 1876
was very close, not differing in this respect from
similar contests therc during several preceding
years Much interest was felt IN this city regard
ing the result in question, Wings and Democrats
being pretty evenly balanced in the State; but tee-
graphy was then IN it's infancy, railroads and steam
boats were in their childhood, and from three t
four days had hitherto elapsed before the Rho'e
Island returns reached New-Iork City. a number
of prominent business men, much lnterc ted III the
above contest. were chatting together the m0rHing
before election at the old Howard House, corner Of
Broadway and Maldcn-!anr, when native ol 1t
tie Rhody.0 but "A citizen of Now-YoTk, astonishcd
all present by asserting that If he Thought II worth
the trouble he could hayc the full returns in tins
city the day alter election. The speaker whom
/ shall simply name Mr.. c., knew perfectly wei
that par les were 50 nearly matched in the Stl'e
that the result in Block Island WoIid turn tl scale
one way or the other; bnt the latter place Is nearly
forty miles from the mainland, and ihr only mchod
ul obtaining intelligence from the island at THAT
period was by small aud uncertain sailing craft. MI
c. was unacquaintrd at the timo with Horace
Greeley: but a gentleman present, the late MI
William L. Burroughs. printer and publisher III
Fulton-st knew rhc Editor of THE TRIBUNE per-
sonay. and lost no tlme IN telling him what Mr. {.
asserted no could DO. Mr.. Greeley, always alive
to the importance of obtaining election results at
the earliest possible moment, replied to Mr Bur
roughs "Oh tell your friend to get the returns for
nc by AL means and don't forget to ask him by
what hour he Will have them IN this clty.'
Sir. G. engaged 10 have the Information at IHE
TuBU<r Office by 6 O'Clock che evening after eiec-
lou, and leit New Yor' on the night boat for SION
mgton. arriving there about 4 O'Clock next morn
ing. Alter some little trouble he managed to
awaken the owner OF Il sloop. and was soon on bis
way with a fresh and favorable breczo for Block
Island. will now continue the story ia Nr. C.'5
own worts
- reached the island distance OF some th'tT-eGht
niles about noon. ard after telling the captain not to
drop auc or. but keep cruising opposite the landing
SO that / mgut not lose 4 minute IN getting back 10
-OHiu-jOu pulia 90 shore IN llt boat aud nnt-
dat,ly engaged twO PousshoIemen to meet mo with
Their puaey AZ p. tho hour wAen the polls
closed. Then walked raWtly 20 the only p0lung-pace
on the i,iaud-thc meetinshouse-a distance OF one
mile ah' E"Ii' ana th'ie Io', "'-''''ou "o'''y "'
the "dMt male p'p'''''h VI div" ''''n'' 'o7' W. .'
Win q '"i S"f-hANhE '' "o"'n ''" 'l'', '''' ~.
inhabitants oil Block Island a. that pc Od wcro almost
solely engaged in h,hin., and their dress ana man
ners wcl, very pr'meva store cDth'-' were compara
lively uphno|h' 'Domr-Spnh was ''o ''"''"' uI'7''
and 20 few visitors came from the mainland that
ioosedtp them Ike an apparitoh' OF cnr.''F' e"ioo
OF t"em would e@amlne my coat "aA''- - ''Is i'"
roaicloth stri"g'rF "hii' others "o''' nan ''e my
INN. If zt4Ia wifi
-, ~, ..,,Iy nm ,.y.rvo,dy fi,re WAS hon
- .,',,,.t and ,y. .,., ho..,,,. t,. bf.r
of friends
,., ...n. , ,r,...o,, ,.,,o tl, t,vo nr,,cioal
cItzus OF the ls'and-heS-r>' i1'so anu o"ein' tue
latter OF wnom has several times been stao Senator.
, uctp.ss and order were maintained In the meet
''' 49,, a., ul.r.,or b,,os.l, tne ballot naper.
ing-honse 10y the M"ier"'or n'n''l'' THO '"o' P''i'
being deposited IN Two tt' Wl'ieF ms ih''''tc o"i
vson W1cn the polls wore about closing. the worthy
:, ., -, . '.,,,, ,,i,. . N.,,, ~ any or ,o,, nave
Doh'Di' S"" !" i""" % ~ '' , % I.,
not deposited your OhI"'' 'ah you - u' Joni W" -
God and your f.o~-,ltl1cu. by stepping forward I'M
,litsI and ,nti,-, i.f, anpc.rcd to be no Iiece,-
- a, 49,. ...,, ,,, .r,I,,,,,o ,.,,...l.
slty for iiis appeal t"d '"' ''S "''' ''r''"'" 'o'"
by the two hats being turned over on the table.
0,rns counting commenced rl,nt oH. and l. in ms
,'. I.,, .,.. ,.,, ,.,.I tb. ,,.,.,t.,.
hnii' 4" -'' '""' WIS" ',' '," 49, ''
to let me help them, iOr eit could a" the NoG 10
,prtb fine t,l,. they w, re- taking This. however,
"'' Z ia ~" ' ......
could not be permitted 50 watched 'h'm it'NuTrS
opening and calling ont each separate ballot with the
,, ,,oooton. Of an old Duch cloc, tclry But al
I'E"l'i "'o'o''"' ", @" WV D -, t,
thnSs human WiHt nave "h 'n"' r'.h bi''A l'i'""
elect ON cuuut aul az lcu-tI the official tie
-, ,-,,,, , mai mo, Il, th. VIII, ti,l..t ues,rs
'.''''' ,.t.,. . al 80. -, e..
SHERMAN an" h"-' ''n ''''''' ".' ' ''' '" ''' VI '
election. dIY crrtih"< pT fh"f s-Hatli's aud Wi--
,,, c ,rc..nt p,,d tl,y started ,n. hast. FOR tue
lHA %" P''
landing.
..Ouc of he kind-hPlrtcd ,ltnIc- had OF red the
,s,s ,,r. -, r,c ,o I'M, s,orr t,,ny ,cl trrr fl.
w." y. -. - Il, ,, -, ...,,, find he
animal admit IN arriving ana ne would t"eY hnH MS
,r,v huu,r [le Wa a bg iuWbCr7g Cray accustomed
"a ft.ff fl llff "a
,.uV rnyrs IN ms ;Inib, ana li.nkS Rs nintr II
- v.r,d fu,1ory: and had not ridden than
800 tr, from, tnr nIeet ugIuu,. before dl,uouut,i
kCntl" I'm ;lr shape 90 SioUG