Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-12-29
\ REPORTERS CHRISTMAS.

4 REPORTERS CHRISTMAS.
1t was the night before Christmas and
| the streets were thronged with people
| hurrying hither and thither, their arms
laden with bundles for the loved ones
at home, their faces beaming with
smiles as they thought of the joy and
pleasure the morrow would bring. But
what did all this matter to Billy Ken
nedy as he impetuously rushed across a
crowded thoroughfare, and drawing his
| coat closer around him, darted down a
side street towards his Office to prepare
| for long nights work.
| The coming of Christmas brought no
| comfort to his soul, for Billy was night
police reporter on one of the large
metropolitan dailies and a holiday
meant an unusually hard nights work
for him. Furthermore he vas the sole
support of widowed mother, and for
ever year it had been hard struggle,
for the mother he loved so we'll had
| been sick for several months and he had
been compelled to deny himself even
the actual necessities of life to provide
medicine and delicacies for the sick
woman. It is not to be wondered that
his heart was heavy as he tramped up
the long, dark stairway to the local room
| to receive his instructions for the night.
"Get good, first-rage local story to-
night, if you can, Billy" was the last
Injunction of the city editor as Billy
went forth again into the night air, the
wind biting with chilling keenness
through his well-worn garments.
| The weary routine OF they early night
was almost finished. Every channel in
| x,hi Oh, IF irh 01r1rl
was carefully traversed and all the
| police stations in his district had been
visited A ''tough" murder and a few
| minor accidents had been put in read
| able shape and sent to the Office, and
| Tor the first time since he had left the
| Office, early in the evening, Billy found
| time to think of the loved ones at home.
| The streets were now quiet and desert
| ed. The theaters and dance halls had
| dismissed the crowds of mirth-seekers,
| and save an occasional policeman who
greeted Billy with a nod of recognition
or stopped moment to chat, there was
having sent even the tramp to find
F! shelter behind friendly doorway or
/ beneath an empty packing case.
Walking briskly along to keep him.
self warm, with his thoughts constantly
| reverting to the sick mother, Billy was
| suddenly startled by the harsh Changing
! of bells, as an engine and hose cart
dashed by, leaving a trail Of glowing
sparks along the street. To the nearest
| police box he ran, and, calling up the
operator, he received the answer,
"'4-11,' at - avenue and - street"
| Calling passing cab he jumped IN and
| was hurriedly driven to the fire, whose
| bright red glare was lighting up the sky.
mi. 10 W nf hN
| featuring district and WAS involving
thousands of dollars and the lives of
! scores of brave men, who we're fighting
! the element with a desperate energy.
! It was not time when the police re-
| porter could not stand by in q place of
safety, for the hour of going to press
was near at hand, and he mast throw
himself into the fray to gather the news
which would be devoured a few hours
later with avidity in thousands of
!, homes. ALI thoughts OF poverty and of
! trouble at home were forgotten for the
| moment in the desire to faithfully per-
form his work, and scarcely needing
! the mods of recognition on every side,
| he plunged into his work.
Suddenly there came ashout OF warn
ing which terrified even the brave fire.
men, and they struggled back to place
of safety. Poor Billy he had not
heard the warning, and when, a few
minutes later, they dug him out from
beneath pile of brick and timber, bad
ly crushed but with the breath of life
| still in his body, many a strong heart
turned faint and sick. Men who knew
his bright, cherry disposition in spite of
his troubles, wept as they tenderly car
ried him in an adjoining building, while
messengers were dispatched in every
| direction for physicians. Only once
did the poor fellow open his eyes when
rough hands made tender by the awful
scene, moistened his lips with liquor.
For a moment he seemed to revive and
although the effort seemed to cost him
untold agony he feebly asked that a
messenger boy be called quickly. Then
he drew from his pocket some copy
paper soiled with smoke and water and
hastily scrubbed q few lines. Rush
this to the Daily" he .gasped;
'it's nv last Christmas story" he MUIR
INJURED and sank back.
There was a trembling of the eyelids,
scarcely percep+ibIe culver Of the
mutilated form, and the reporters
Christmas Day had daWned.-W L.
Cornell.