Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-09-19
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BODY guaruSMen slA leeb W eno " BIC,
with loaded muskets and fixed bayonets,
he was in o position to bring the average
news-gatherer to his own view of the case.
The best and sharpest New York report
ers were put on the assignment. They Sc
cured places as walters, but he had his
own table servants; they hired out as
chambermaids, but the grooms of the i'm
perial bed chambers were not to be ousted
from office; they engaged rs cabmen, po-
lieemen, ~bartenderS, and threw themselves
in the path of royalty at every turn, but
all in vain.
At last came the time when Pedro
pointed his royal nose toward the receding
star of empire, and left New York. He
journeyed by special train, accompanied by
his suite and watched by his faithful
guards. Attached to the train was q gilt
edged lot of correspondents, not one of
whom had ever been within reach of the
royal boot. The train came west via the
Erie and the Atlantic and Great Western,
now the New York, Pennsylvania and
Ohio roads, and near Youngstown the En-
perOr met his fate.
The city editor of the Youngstown Seirs
was then a man named Fassett. He had
represented his paper at Columbus, and
hit so hard ut certain statesmen us TO come
within an ace of losing the privilege of the
chambers. He had a scent for news that
was something wondertul; n faculty of
production appalling, and he wrote a hand
OF which it is true, rs we said of Horace
Greeley's, that no editor or compositor
could handle it. He dressed like a reduc-
ed old clO' man working off his dead stock,
and his hair and beard suggested 4 hay
stack rs his habitual couch. With it all
he was a good reporter, a good fellow and
every one ave the victims of his terrible
pen thoroughly liked him.
1t CHANGED that Tod, the war Governor
of Ohio and a citizen of Youngstown, had
been the representative of the United
States at the Court of Dom Pedro, and that
the Emperor held him in the highest
esteem. Now FaSSctt happened to possess
one of Tod's visiting cards and n brilliant
idea struck him. He wrote his name on
the back, ran out to the junction and await
ed the train. When ii came he mounted
the platform of the imperial car and EN-
deavored to enter, but was halted by two
crossed muskets. Then he handed the
card to one of the soldiers with Tod's
name exposed. After IA short consultation
in choice Rio Janeiroese the Captain of the
guard was summoned, took the card, dis
appeared, returned, the muSkets were rails,
ed, and FasSett was obscquiOusly ushered
into the presence.
Dom Pedro was standing in tn, middle
- thn ,nr ,A,th a Snil, nf ,ynl.nn,a ON hi.
face, As he saw his caller it faded into q
look of puzzled surprise.
I" | thought it WAS Mr.. Tod" he said.
"No,n said FaSsett, IL am-"
"A friend of his, no doubt; he seated. y
SO the two sat side by side. The En-,
peror asked FaSSett what tribe he belonged
to, and. finding he was not an Indian, In,
conversation turned to the matters Brazil
ian-the resources, railroads, parties, reli
gion and prospects of the country
the very pink of u perfect interview
So it went on for an hour, rs tn,
train sped toward Cleveland ant
might have continued to the journey end
had not the Emperor fired Il lot of statistics
at FlsSett, which the latter WAS afraid h,
should forget. Just then Dom Pedro turn
ed his back for an instant, aud in an eyi
moment FaSSett tried to take the figure,
down on his cuff, and was detected by
sudden movement of his companion. Thu
anger of the Emperor was something terri
bic.
"Are you n reporter" he asked savagely
Eyes, your Majesty" was the quite I'm
abashed answer. "My name is FaSsctt.-
| am city editor of the Youngstown NerS
Here is my business card. intended II
tell you at first, but you took the word
out of my mouth, and ! didn't like To ron
tradict You.
Miguel" shouted his Majesty. stop
PEI ell ~trancanO ct fire. &C trandetore!"
1t was done. Fassctt was dropped he
tween stations, but he caught on 10 TIM
platform of the press car, and there he wa
a lion. Joe Howard offered him $500 anC
Howard Carroll q staff position, TO dupli
cate his matter, but he was adamant. and
so the Youngstown Ncirs ''Scooped' TN,
country. 4 few years later the people 0
the Mnhoning district arose in their might
and made FaSSctt a State Senator