The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-15
MAJOR HURLBUT EDITS.
Man of Palpitating Sensibilities Tells
Thrilling Catastrophe 1t Should Be Told.

Major Hurlbut is the receiver and manager Of
the Chicago Times. The Major is an excellent
business man, and at one time in his life was
druggist While proceeding from his residence
to the Times Office the other day he witnessed an
exciting accident, in which a runaway horse,
furniture wagon and a small child figured to n
startling degree of prominence. He determined
the thrilling catastrophe should be detailed at
length in the columns of his paper His sympa-
thetic nature was stirred to its depths, and he
narrated the circumstance to the city editor TO
be written. When the article came to him in
the proof he was shocked at its fippaut brevity.
1t read:
PATSY Boliver aged three, was knocked down
and seriously hurt yesterday by Jack Hogans
runaway horse, corner of State and Indiana
streets"
This was wholly unsatisfactory to Major Hurl-
but. Within the next four hours, by request.
Major Andre lIatteson, the heavy editorial
writer, and Major Frank McClenthen, the genial
humorist, had tried their hands on the article,
but neither gave satisfaction. He determined to
write it himself and in four hours called in Ma
jor bennett the managing editor, to read him
the result of his labor The humorist of the
Chicago News, Eugene Field, who has given the
foregoing facts more ditfusely, continues the
story as follows:
Major Dennatt said nothing. but, deep down
in his inner consciousness, he harbored the dim
and twinkling suspicion that he would indeed
say the work was we'll done, and this Suspicion
was confirmed by an Immediately recurring con
NlCllOu Ildb he WAS Ill no nOOO 10 D6 Seu
In the meantime Major Hurlbut took up
ponderous pile of manuscript and commenced
reading:
LAS we were coming from our breakfast to
our office about o'clock on this morning"
You mean yesterday morning" suggested
Major bennett
"Oh, no; it was this morning. said Major
Hurlbut
Eyes, but you should write of it as Yesterday
explained Major bennett, for the article will
not appear until to morrow
True enough" said Major Hurbut So he
made the correction and resumed reading:
'As we were coming from our breakfast to
our office about o'clock on yesterday morning
horse belonging to Mr.. John Hogan our es-
teemed fellow townsman with blaze on his
forehead and a white tail attached to a furniture
car IN which there was piano that had been
rented by well-kuown PraIre-ave-
nue. belle with carved legs became
frightened and rushed madly down
the street where there were many people scat
tering alarm and destruction broadcast. On the
corner of State street and Indiana a child of
Michael Boliver Esqr our esteemed fellow
townsman three years old ard wearing panta-
lets was playing in the crowded thoroughfare
Young, beautiful and innocent this unhappy
child who was called by all who knew him Patsy
although his name was Patrick. was overtaken
by the bitter pill of adversely for in the midst of
his childish play the pale hand of death stalked
in and babe him go with him to that bourne
from which no traveller returns"
saw he was weeping softly to himself Itargues
volumes for Maj. Dement'S discretion that he did
not volunteer an explanation why he wept.
Il hatter myself" observed Maj. Hurbut,
''that no one could have made more delicate al
fusion to my old profession as druggist than l
have done by mentioning the bitter pill of ad-
versity seeP
The child did not see the approaching horse"
resumed the receiver journalist. but we cried
viii no one save him from the iron heel of the
dpathF
ere we could interpose, the horse was upon the
unfortunate babe and before he could evade the
cruel fate which strobe after him swift and
noiseless wings he fell to the earth and was
picked up an unconscious corpse from which condi-
ton it has been impos, bile TO. revive hun up to
The hour of going to press. We extend to the
family our deepest sympathy and are informed
upon reliable authority that no damage was
done to the piano. Truly in the midst of life
we are in death and let us all be more careful
about letting our children play in the street
where danger turks and they so liable to die
without medical assistance"