Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-06-18
A SMART REPORTER.
How lie Learned the Secrets of a Legisia-
tive Caucus.

tive Caucus.
The Louisville Coiyicr-JoH7aa!, in a
sketch of Joseph j. Eakins' a young re-
porter who has been made clerk by the
new MAYOR, relates some illustrations
of Eakins' journalistic enterprise while
he was serving at Frankfort as capital
correspondent of the Louisville COM
meTciai:
"He was only 10 years old then, but
he attracted the attention of Col. hel-
lev. When the session Of the leglsla-
ttire began in October the colonel re-
solved TO send him to Frankfort as that
papers correspondent. He instruct
ed him to 90 there at once and make a
red-hot partisan fight for "the only re-
publican daily" in Kentucky. There
was never better show for an active
reporter. Col Kelley told Joe that
previous correspondents had always
been afraid to attack the state govern
ment, and that he wanted him to make
no such mistake Joe was Democrat,
and all his people were before him, but
he knew what his duty to a Republican
paper was, and he promised to carry
out the colonels instructions. If he
made any mistake in his vigorous fight,
he did so because he was obeying or
ders He went to Frankfort with the
determination TO unearth sensations,
and he succeeded.
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 cleyerest and most amusing was
the way in which he obtained the pro-
ceedings of the Democratic caucus.
For the purpose Of excluding him, it
was resolved to admit no newspaper
men. A reporter is not easily daunted.
however, and Eakins considered that
all things were fair in the enemys
camp. The first evening thereafter he
went into the upper galleryot the house
and hid under a row OF back seats.
When the caucus was assembled, how
ever, search was ordered, and Joe's
feet were discovered sticking out from
under the bench by asergeaut-at-arms.
The official, with laugh, ordered him
TO come ont, and when he emerged,
covered with dust and humiliation, he
was greeted with an enthusiastic chorus
of dcrisiye yells He walked out, but
he did not give up the fight. A pipe
from the stove in the house passed back
into the cloak-room. Securing a step
ladder he mounted ard placing his ear
to the pipe, heard every word that was
uttered. The voices of the members
were perfectly familiar to him by this
time, and his dispatch was unusually
full and complete.
There was great wonder the next
day. and this was intensified when that
evenings caucus proceedings were also
reported in detail 1t was at,first
thought that he was in the confidence
OF some member, but the next day the
cloak-room was locked and the step
ladder removed. Still, this did no good.
Eakius found means TO be introduced
into the house early theneNt afternoon,
and secretiug himself behind book
case, where. at the cost Of some person
al discomfort. he remained during the
caucus session. He was able to do SO
only that time, as the person by whose
connivancc he had effected it was
afraid to longer assist him. Another
resource was discovered, and for two
more nights the faithful reports of tho
proceedings were kept up
The third evening, after the roll had
been called. the Hon. Laban L. Moore
arose and stated that the secretary had
omitted the name of one who had al
ways taken a deep interest in their de-
lberatiuns lie desired to suggest that
the secretary call the name of Joseph
Eakius. member from the state-at-large.
His words were greeted with cheers,
and when the secretary called out the
name voice said Here from one of
the windows. Looking out they found
the interchangeable correspondent seated
on the limb of huge tree which grew
at a distance of forty or fifty feet from
the window He had climbed the tree
and crawIcd out ON huge branch.
whose extremity almost touched the
shutters. It WAS not comfortable
position zap there, but the reporter had
a piece OF soft paper .nd was writing
up the proceedings as they went on.
Astast as sheet was finished he dropped
1t to the ground when il was picked
up by a messenger and taken to the
telegraph Office. The spirit of OPPOSE
ton had not quite died out the next
evening, and guard was placed over
the tree. The day following, however,
II was resolved to hold the session with
open doors, and when Eukins came in
n little after S o'clock he was greeted
with perfect ovation of shouts. wells,