The Republican journal., 1885-08-27
A Reporters Special.
By W. H. TAMMEN.

Halt dozen newspaper correspond
ents aighted from the Western express
train at the depot at Wilkesbarre, IA.
just as the sun was dropping from view
| behind the Alleghanios, on Decembe
| afternoon. They were the only passen
gers that left the train at this point, and
securing an old carryall, they jumped in
and told the driver to hurry his team
over to the little mining town of B
about twelve miles distant
Trouble was expected in the Corning
! district, between the old regulation min
ers, who had been ont on strike iol
several weeks, and Il lot OF lIungarians
whom the operators had imported tt
work in the mines at the reduced rates
The union miners had made threats o
violence to the foreigners, and collision
was almost hourly expected.
The party of newspaper men repre-
scnted different papers in Philadelphia
and Baltimore despatched to the scene
Of the expected outbreak by their re-
spective journals. 1t was about mnt
O'Clock at night when the party arrived
at the village. 4 furious norther hac
set in, and the wind whistled and roarec
over the mountains and through the one
street OF the town in q way that made
the journalistic travellers hastily seek the
shelter OF the only apology for hotel il
the place.
After learning from several Of the lead
ing miners that there were not likely tc
be any conflict that night, the core
spondents had supper and proceeded W
stairs to the big room where they were
all compelled to make their quarters fol
the night. A log fire made the room
cosy and cheerful. Pipes, tobacco and
cigars were produced by the boys, and
viii Kennedy drew a well filled flask
out of his overcoat pocket, had the trim
little servant maid bring up kettle OF
hot water. lemons and sugar, and in a
few minutes Kennedy was passing around
sleamlng bowl OF punch to his brother
scrlbes.
We'll, this isn't such cold comfort attel
ALL remarked Fred Lansing, a society
reporter, who had never before worked
any rough assignment like miners riot
or prizehght.
Nothing of picnic, though said
Frank Norton, one of the Baltimore cor
respondents. It's mean job to send d
fellow up in this wilderness a few DAYS
before Christmas, and probably keep us
here until after the holidays; but We'll
make the best Of it. SO, here's to the
man who gets the first good special
The word special always brings JOY
to the mind OF a newspaper man when ii
refers to his own good luck or enterprise
in getting an exclusive piece of news, but
sadness to his heart when it means his
loss and some other reporters gain. The
party, between their whitfs of smoke and
sips Of punch, talked over the adventures
they had passed through in their news
paper experiences.
Frank, you are the best man Of us all
IN working up mystery sad one Of the
boys to Norton. no wonder, chmed in
Kennedy : Frank is born detective
His father was one OF the best in that
line in London. Norton, tell the boys
about the garter episode
After much persuasion, Norton, apollo
getically, remarked that he could write
d story better than he could tell one, and
proceeded
We'll, boys, there was great excite
ment in London-eXcuse the regulation
newspaper phrase-when Nora Hastings,
the only child of Arthur Allen Hastings,
VI. F., and a wealthy retired ship-mer-
chant, eloped with Lemuel Merker, a
lawyers clerk, who, when he left with
the girl, took with him T. 900 OF his
employers money. He was as handsome
as he was villainous. and easily fascin-
ated old Hastings daughter she having
Just entered into society but 4 short time
before the elopement, and being but
seventeen years of age Her father was
beside himself with grief for her and rage
at her lover. He employed the private
detective firm of Norton, Sharp Il Co.,
OF which my father was the senior mem
Der, to try to find them. The govern
ment detectives were also on the case
| have often heard my father tell of his
untiring efforts to find the couple. They
eloped at night, the girl leaving hel
fathers country house, which was a few
miles outside of London in highly re
mamie style, climbing ont of her bed
room window and dropping into the arms
of her lover.
When my father was summoned by
MIR. Hastings the next day to take charge
of the case he made an examination OF
the girls room, selecting miniature por-
traits OF her and her lover, which he
found in her jewel case, together witt
several letters and other articles, which
he hoped would aid him in identifying
the parties. AS he was leaving the house
he picked up a fancy blue silk garter
with silver clasps, on which were engrav-
ed the initials of the girls name. The
match to it could not be found in the
house, and it was obvious that the young
woman had dropped it in her flight
Well, though my father knew that tho
fancy stocking holder would not be like
ly to aid him in his search, he, neverthe
less, carried it away with him. He fol
lowed the eloping couple to Liverpool
! but there lost all trace of them. lie
came to the conclusion that they had
embarked for America, though it never
was learned on what steamer or vesse
they sailed. Search was also made il
America, but without success.
Several years later old Hastings died
and left will placing the estate in the
care of trustees for his daughter or he
children, if they should ever be found
The estate was valued at about f30O,
600. Soon after Hastings death my ia
ther came to America with his family
He started in business, but several year.
later drifted back into his old profession
and became member of New York de
tective firm. He then was re- engaged
by the trustees of the Hastings estate tC
continue his search for the now missing
heiress. He went to work again com
municating with leading detectives il
every city in the country advertised il
the newspapers, and did everything
known to a detectives art to find trace
of the couple, but all to no effect. O.
course, several enterprising detectives
claimed to have found the woman, an(
in couple Of instances the claimant they
produced to the English fortune was
strikingly like the original Miss Hastings
| in appearance, but none of them coul(
thoroughly prove their identity. Finally
my father virtually gave up the hunt
though even after he had ceased to worl
on the case, other detectives were EN-.
| ployed from time to time in this country
and in Europe, but with no better sue,
cess.
1t is now ten years since my fathers
death. was in my last year at college
when he died. He left large collection
of photographs and trinkets, which he
had used to guide him in tracing crimi
|