The daily critic., 1890-09-19
WHO BROUGHT IT?
A REPORTERS ASSIGNMENT AND ITS
STRANGE, WEIRD FULFILLMENT.
sent on Mission aud killed In an Ac-
cident--His Copy" Furnished,
with Full Account of It.
E0M ~ " ToLL TLIlM..

Fl0m ne Ns,g YORK Tribune.
"Mr. Wilson, how soon can you get
ready to start for IL, Illinois 3"
I'm an hour, sir"
This conversation took place In the
Office Of the New York Chronicle one
morning as The men on the stalT came
TO receive their assignments. If the
city editor had asked Wilson how soon
he could get ready TO start for Alaska
he would have received precisely the
same reply.
Edward Wilson hurried off to his
rooms, and, hastily packing few
necessaries In valise, reported back at
the Office In exactly an hour.
He was a paragon of reporter.
you will say, this Wilson. But he
was merely an ordinary city staff re,
porter, who. like thousands Of others
on the big dailies Of America, stand
ready at an hours notice to start for
any part Of the world.
This Illinois story viii bring two
columns, even II I'm recalled immedl-
ately," he mused as he ratified up TO the
Grand Central Station In a hanson
two columns will bring my bank ac-
count up 10 500, and 500 will bring
the wife and little one 20 New York. "
Wilson thought with delight how happy
they would be In his comfortable little
Lexington avenue Hat Ii was a pleas
ant little day-dream.
In fifteen minutes the Buffalo express,
bearing the newspaper man 10 his des-
tinaliOn, rushed snoring ont Of the Har-
lem tunnel, like another earth bound
Thor rejoicing al his freedom. Past the
end OF Manhattan Island, past River
dale, lonkeTs and all the lovely north
eIn suburbs of the city, along the rolling
Hudson, past the muddy Mohawk, then
as night fell, screaming past the little
bamlels sleeping under the hills Of Cen
ual New York, and on, on, on, TO the
great lakes.
There was nothing in the car 10 In
teTest Wilson, and as the sun sunk be-
hind the Tlpening wheat hills he doZed
hliuilly and waking, would sleep again,
waking and sleeping by titful starts aud
wondering what 10 was that kept him
In a vague but an the more fearful ter
TOr. Finally be slept, and Il was while he
dreamed that a terrible accident hap
pentd. The tTestle bridge over a
swollen creek, weakened by the rush of
waters had given way under the adj
yanCiug train and 900 people were
hurled into The creek.
Three or four men huuiedly duish
waking every few minutes % glance az
. vi .HH h a
freedom The night desk Uttered with
proof slips and held over goUy. no
sound blt lle operator lickiug good
night 20 bis farO1 brothers and an
occasional shout 0l Copy. from the
desk
"A tall figure 10 a capped oyercoat aud
travelling cap enters The room aud
silently walking up 10 the night desk
LAYS some copy before the editor
The men IN The office, bending over
their work, do not see him pass, but the
Office boy, brushing his hat, yaWns
Good morning, Ar Wilson, but the
form goes straight on.
Cant use this Sir Wilson, says
he editor locking al the clock. Why,
h.s 100 the paper going 20 press.
IN hat Is 20 anyway
! N1H I'd A.AaA-AH WN VIII HtH AtH
lie continued eXcitediy. jim stop the
presses.
Then % the operator Have you an
accident on The New York and Buffalo
yeIs
NO, Sir.
How ala you get n, Wilson,
But The form had gone
My God. listen % this SAYS The
9 Z. q Ia
occurred at $50 exactly. Among the
dead was Edward Wilson. q reporter on
What was IN then that brought this
copy iut
4 don't kuuw replied The editor iu
8 LlsLed voice. send the story up
ius- rs it is. lL runs exactly tW0 l5l
-ELs