Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-01-27

carefully scfutin ID the article. and As
be WAS about finished editing 1t ho~l
came down the pipe from Alsck'
for more copy. About twenty
four closely written psges by Miss
O)chrane lay there before tbs managing
editor. Head and all was written; the ar
ticle WAS edited and ready 10 send up
Stare. but-a name must be signed.
What shall it b.? Mr.. Madden. scratch
ing his head, consulted the 'Qaie. OBJ.
server and also asked Miss Cochrane's
opinion about the matter. Dozsns Of
names were suggested, but they were all
found wanting. Another rap at the box
informed the managing editor that the
printers were stilI hsrping for copy. 'Ob,
suppose we name 1t Nellie BLY,, ssid Mr..
Madden. These who were doing the sUg-
Resting readily acquiesed, so Mr.. Madden
hastily wrote the words. Nellie
Biy' at the bottom OF ths
letter and from that day until now the
nom de plume has cluug to the listle lady
and brought with it unlocked for success
and fame. Il was not long until che
soon learned the ways snd workings OF
a ne wspaper Office and set 10 work az writ
ing articles about Women Workers.' Au
artist named Webster wss then on the
paper and be accompanied Miss Cochran
about the two cities and sketched the girl
workers while Miss Cccbrsne, or ss We
will now call her, Nellie By wrote col
umns and columns about them. For
year or more she was engaged on society
news and specially articles. To Nellie's
manner of thinking writing society news
was too dull. When the Mexican dele
cation visited Pittsburg, Nellie was as.
signed to write the matter up. While
among the gentlemen from MEXICO she
formed the idea that the land of the greas
ers would be quite plscs to visit, aud ss
many of the visitors had encouraged her in
the matter, she finally decided to 20, 81
though the Dispatch firm opposed the trip.
Miss BLY, secured passes, and in company
with her mother departed on her journey
Her letters were quite interesting and
graphically described the bnll fight which
she had witnessed while there, aud also
dwelt on the qusiut and curious Customs
of the greasers. When she returned to
Pittsburg she became dramatic editrtss OF
the Dispatch q position abs held for over q
year. In conjunction with this she also
wrote leading society events. such as re
ceptions given by the Pittsburg Club, Du
qu' sne and others.
Finally che became displessed with
some portions OF her work and rather tui-
denly departed from the editorial rooms OF
the Dispatch. Nothing more was heard
about her whereabouts until 1t Yves an
nounced that she was in New York. So
YOU DOW know how the famous Nellie
Bly, started IN the ournslis,ic field, and
how she mss succeeded in that field up to
date, which 30 far caps the climax Of her
career of five yeara in the newspaper bnsi-
ness
'I was awfully scared when / went to
the Dispatch q tfice the first time," she said
afterward. 'Do you know | expected the
managing editor to be great big man
with a bushy belrd, who would look over
the top Of bis specs and snap out, What
dive wanl?' And the Qdiet Observer,
whose pieces have beeu reading for
long time, had pictured out IS little,
gray haired, sharp nosed, sour-yissged
chap, who could look clean through
you. You can we'll imagine my sur
prise when found the managing editor
a mild-msnnered, pleasant fIc,d boy, the
Qaiet Observers great big, good-natured
fellow, who wouldn't even kill the nasty
reaches that crawled over bis desk. There
wasn't an old cross man abont the place.
Then was glad was going TO he a news
paper man.
Oae day she didn't come TO the office and
no one knew where she was until tue fol-
lowing note was discovered:
DEAR Q. OIL am of for New York.
Look oct for me. BLY.
Her madhouss adventure introduced her
10 the readers OF New York papers, and
her subsequent history is well known
throughout newspapsrdom. ne