Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-06
A SMAk T REPORTER.

ILonis,iie Courier.Jou,pall

How He Learned the Secrets of LegIs
lativc Caucus.
lI.oui;,i, He Cuurier.Jou,ual1
Eakns was only ~ wears old then, but
he attracted the attention of Col. Kelley
of The Louisville Commercial When the
session of the legislature began in veto CT
tue colonel resolved to send him to FRANK
tort ~ that papcr correspondent lie
went TO frankfort with the determine
ton to uncarth SENSATIONS, and he sue.
cccded. Many were the devices to which
he had to resort to obtain the news in
spite OF the hostility Of the members One
OF the clevcrest and most amusing was
the way in which hc obtai.c ed the pro.
Cccdngs of the .cmoCratC caucus. For
the purpose of excluding him. it was re
solved to admit no newspaper M N. y re.
porter is not easily dauntcd however, aud
ratins considered that ali things were
fair in the enemy camp. The llrst even.
ing thereafter he went into the upper
gallery of the house and hid under a row
of back seats. When the caucus WAS as
scmbicd, however, a search was ordered,
and Joc's feet were discovered sticking
out from under the bench by Il sergeant
at arms The Official. with II laugh, ur-
dcrcd him to come out. AMI when he
emerged, coverc with dust and humilia
chorus of dclsVC cells.
He walked out, but he did not give IN
the fight. y pipe from The stove in the
house passed back into the cioak-room.
securing stcp.laddcr he mounted, and
placing his ear to the phi e, mcald every
word that was uttered. The V ices of the
members were perfectly familiar to him
by this time, and his dispatch was
unusually fun and complete. here was
great wonder the next day, AMI this was
intensified when that evening caucus pro.
cccdngs were also reported in detail. 1t
was at first thou rht that he was in the con
! tidcncc Of some member, but the next day
the secret leaked out The door in the
| cloak room was locked and the stcp-laddcr
removed Still, this did no good Eakins
found means to be- introduced into the
house early the next afternoon, and secret
! ing himself behind n book. case, where, at
the cost of some personal discomfort, he
remained during Tie caucus session. lie
was able to do 50 only that time, as the
person by whose Connivance he had
effected il was afraid to LONGER assist him.
Another resource was discovered, and
for two more nights the faithful reports
of the proceeding were kept up. 1he
| third evening after the roll had been
| called the Hon Laban 7. Moore arose
anu SldlCt lndl lllt ScCltbdlN lI'l'l pillltlIA
the name of one who had aiwa:s taken IA
deep interest in their deliberations. He
desired to suggest that the secretary call
the name of Joseph Eakins, member from
the statcat large. His words were
greeted with cheers and when the secre-
tary called out the name a voice said
Here from one of the windows Look
ing out they found the indefatigable
correspondent seated ON the limb of
hugh tree which grew AT distance
of forty or fifty feet from the window
He had climbed the tree and crawlcd
out on huge branch, whose extremity
almost touched the shutters. 1t was not
a comfortable position up there, but the
reporter had piece of soft paper and
was writing up the proceedings as the
went on. AS fast as sheet was finished
he dropped it to the ground, when it was
picked up by IA messenger aud taken io
the telegraph Office.
The spirit Of opposition had not quite
died out the next evening, aud guar,
was placed over the tree. The day fol
lowing, however it was resolved TO hoC
the session with open doors and, Whci
Ealin> came in Il little after c'oc', he
was greeted with "A perfect ovation OF
shouts, wells and cheers Ills piucky
fight had won the hearts Of all present
an he had much smoother sailing the
remainder OF the term.