Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
The Newspnpermen's share How nm Editor
Was Nearly Drowned.- G ossip of Several

The Newspnpermen's Share- How nm Editor
Was Nearly Drowned. G ossip of several
Sorts.
EVERY newspaperman in the city, from
editor-in-chief to the newest reporters, have
known what it is to work double turn during
the last two weeks. The consequence is that
most of them are decidedly the worse for
wear. Naturally those who were assigned to
duty at Johnstown had the greatest hardships
to undergo. l have not yet met a man-with
one exception---to whom the experience in
Johnstown has not done considerable damage.
Most of the reporters in the devastated dis
trict complain of acute dyspepsia or stomach
disorders. The diet of hard tack salt beef, ham
and such things and the irregularity of meals
in fact in the first few days after the flood the
reporter who got meal a day was considered
lucky-very naturally played havoc with diges-
tions.
Almost every reporter in the field will have
something in the way of physical distress by
which to remember the first two weeks of
June. 1889, for several years to come. But they
earned heap of glory, and most of them have
practical evidence in their pocketbooks OF their
employers appreciation.
#x#
THE men who worked in the newspaper
offices in Pittsburg did not taste somuch glory,
but then they didn't acquire dyspepsia, rheu-
matlsm, or pneumonia, either. But they
worked very hard-I know they did in one
office, and the appearance Of my friends in the
other offices told the same story.
So tired was a certain managing editor when
he arrived home day or two after the birth of
the greatest sensation Pittsburg has ever
known that he almost drowned himself. Mind
you, he did not attempt to commit suicide. He
simply filled up the bath tub with moderately
hot water and laid himself down in it, to soak
out the tired feeling in his limbs and bring the
joys of cleanliness to his epidermis. No sooner
had he sighed one sigh as the languorous sense
of intense comfort crept oyer him. then his eyes
closed. He slept As he slept he slipped gradu-
ally down the sloping end of the tub. First his
chin was under water, then his mouth, and at
last his nose disappeared.
1t was dollar even whether he would wake
and live or sleep and drown. Happily the taste
of water was unfamiliar to him. His aston
ished palate sounded the alarm. His lungs
seconded it weakly, and spluttering and kick
ing with excited life the editor arose from a
watery grave, with vivid visions of the Johns
town flood crowding upon his mind.
=x&
THERE has been some remarkable speed
SnoWn III all SOrIS OI WOTk 1or inc Eelle1 VI
Johnstown.
For instance, ON Tuesday at noon, the Cham
Der of Commerce Committee notified Mr.. Hop
per the lumber man, of this city, that he could
have the contract for delivering 25 carloads of
lumber at Johnstown to their order if he
would have the whole amount shipped and in
order for transmission by Wednesday at noon
Although Mr., Hopper is no longer young
man-he is half way between 60 and 70 1 think
he took the contract, and working all
through that night had the Is cars loaded up as
required by 1l30 on Wednesday morning
The gentleman who told me this said that the
time made by Mr.. Hopper, considering the diff
fculty in getting cars, was most remarkable.
*s*
AN actor in New York writes to me to say
that the story of the engagement of Miss Min
ME Madden to Mr. Harrison Grey Fiske is
founded on solid facts. According to my in
formant the courtship has principally occurred
since Miss Madden has been playing the lead
ing character in "Featherbrain" at the Madison
Square Theater. But no public announcement
has been made by either of the contracting
parties of their approaching alliance for life.
Miss Madden is hardly likely to leave the
stage if united to such a staIwart admirer and
ally of the stage as the talented editor of the
New York Dramatic Mirror. They will make
avery remarkable couple. Miss Maddern is
one of the greatest actresses we have, and it Is
pleasant to know that she is not going to throw
herself away as so many of her sisters in the
profession have done.