The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-08
GREELEY'S DISCOVERY.
HOW THE TRIBUNE PHILOSOPHER
FOUND AMOS J.. CUMMINGS.
h Typesetter's First Interview with
the Famous Editor - Something The
Dana's Choice Obituaries.

Dana's Choice Obituaries.
The cleverest newspaper men, when pushed
into the walks OF craftsmanship, have rarely
fulfilled the promises Of their journalistic ca
reers. But | look for a different result in
Amos J. Cummings case. He has an Gbund-
ance of that rare mental commodity known
rs horse sense. There is nothing of the the
orist about him. He is emlnently practical,
earnest, energetic, courageous and honest. |
know of no young man who ever entered
congress with brighter prospects. He was
offered 5000 a years. much rs his con-
gressional Salary-to write over his own sig
nature one letter a week for a newspaper
about the doings Of the house.
Cummings name bring, 10 my mind his in
direct connection with the newspaper killing
OF a number Of American statesmen for
whom the last trump hal not been blown-or
played, whichever you prefer. When Horace
Greeley, one Of the best and %profanest OF
men, was editor Of The Tribune, Amos Cum
mings entered the employ IF that newspaper
as a typeSetter. He then lived in Newark.
One afternoon The Evening Telegram pub-
lished a report of the death of William
Wright, United States senator from New
] JfI~tNs IL WIS III tNfitL Ill tfF lIIlll'tl
world, and Greeley wrote an editorial upon
it. 1t fell to Cumming, Zoo to place a por-
ton of the article in type Having jus. come
from his New Jersey home, lac knew that the
report Of Senator Wright death was I'M
true, and 50 informed the foreman Of the
composing room, who told him that he siould
go down stairs and 'tell the oh, man"
INTERVIEWING HIS CHIEF.
Cummings, with hs sleeves rolled up, and
still wearing his ink smeared apron, walked
into the sanctuu. OF the Sage of Chappa-
qua, and in his blunt way said Senator
Billy Wright Is not dead"
Looking up, Greeley, in his peculiar fall
setto voice. exclaimed. "Who IN -- are
YOU
Il work upstairs in the composing roo-,r
was the quiet answer.
Young man. ,queaked out Greeley.
"you're a - fool Go read The Telegram
The young printer said not another WORT,
but walked upstairs and finished putting IN
type the editorial sermon over the living SEN
atOr's body. Two days aiterward The Trib-
une was obliged 20 correct its false state
ment of Wrights death.
Il did not take Greeley long 10 find hat
Cummings was not a fool, and il was not
very long before the typesetter was city
editor Of the great journal At that time
there were two New York congressman bear
ing the name Of James n. Humphreys one
was from Buffalo, and a Democrat. the other
was from Brooklyn, and "a Republican. and
was 40 one time postmaster of that city The
news editor. Otterson, IN recording IN the
columns OF The Tribune their votes On i'm
portant public measures almost invariably
mixed them mp m ono way or another and
led Mr. Greeley into mistaken criticism that
filled him with agony.
GLAD To HEAR IT.
One night the dear old man walked into
the editorial room and asked is there any
on which hccould make editorial COM
ment CONGRESSMAN Humphreys is dead.
answered Cummings
"ls he( sqIeakri Greeley. "Tm - glad
% hear No.. Now The TriuIne can Dee light
about his vote. What have you got about
him boz continued, turning 10 O|ttereon.
The news editor promptly rseici of what
he had before him about the BROOKLYN Re
publican. Greeley went down stairs and wrote
a strong editorial On the subject. The next
morning all the other newspapers contained
particulars OF the death OF the Buffalo Demo
crat. The Brooklyn Congressman was still
alive. When Gr.eicy discovered the error
be had been Jed into. the azure hue in which
distance robes the mountain is pale. indeed,
beside the sapphire atmosphere Of The Tri-
bme Office. After he had become 4 valued
attache OF The sun and one OF ID, stockhold-
Cummings had the privilege Of reading
obituaries of Daniel Manning and
Watterson, written by the nervous.
pen OF Charles \. Dana. They were
Put in type-at various times, of course-but
we're not published because the outstretched
of the angel Of death were again closed
in each instance and the shadow passed away.
Cummings thought 1t a monstrous shame
hat men in memory Oh whom Charles A.
Dana had poured forth his choicest utter
lnces should not hear them while. favored
above all others. they were alive % enjoy
hem Accordingly he hal proofs of both
struck and actually read 10 Manning
nd Watterson what The Sun had proposed
aging over their blers. 4 man who could
To- that will be able to hold his own, / think.
ven in the American congress. Cor Phila-
Press.