The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-25


made for special train in case their in
terview with the Governor confirmed the
alarming report.
1t was then O'Clock Sunday is
usually very quiet in a New York news
paper Office. Many Of the reporters and
the CITY editor are away, and the respon-
sibility Of getting out the next days
paper rests upon substitute editor and
small staff OF reporters AS rule, even
these have very little to occupy them and
st is very rarely that anything startling
occurs to shake them up. The acting
city editor felt uneasy at the eomplica-
tions that were threatened and sent an
other reporter to explain the situation to
the publisher, while he held two more in
readiness for any emergency that might
arise. The latter busted themselves
while waiting in hunting up maps and
time tables, and laid out a plan for ac-
ton IN case its was decided to send q
special train
Ia the meantime, the two reporters
who had been sent to Gov Albeit had
sound him at his house in Jersey City,
which he was possessed. This consisted
Of numerous kilograms from a retired
lieutenant of the United States Army. in
which he asserted that = gang OF Italian
1aborers had taken possession of Barnegat
Park and threatened fire, rapine and muir
der. The men, women and children who
belonged in the park had taken refuge
in the hotel, which had then been
besieged by the Italians Requests
for aid had been sent to she sheriff of the
county, bat he had been unable to RAJ Q
a big enough posse to attempt the rescue
of the besieged The Lieutenant wound up
each telegram with an urgent request for
military aid, lest he, his companions,
theiE wives and children should ali perish.
The reporters saw at once that the situa-
ton at Barnegat Park was extremely in
Teresting, even If the Lieutenant had ex-
Rggerated, and they accordingly hurried
TO the depot of the Pennsylvania railroad
and asked what it would cost to get r
special 60 Barnegat Park and return. The
officials in charge were all subordinates
and were 10th 70 send out a special train.
The reporters had to exert all their per
suasive powers to induce them to answer
fheir question. 1t was finally learned
that it would cost $500 to get large en-
iEine and one passenger car, with a crew
consisting Of an engineer, fireman, con-
ouctor and one brakeman The reporters
preached their ofice at o'clock and ex-
Iplained the situation TO the city editor.
The publisher was then in telephone
communication with the Office and the
city editor Informed him of the situation.
1T is your place to get the news, s" was
zhe publishers laconic reply.
Five reporters were accordingly hurried
over to Jersey City with Instructions to
get the news at all hazards. One carried
a telegraph instrument, SO that he might
tap a wire anywhere and communicate his /
story to New York, in case it WAS found
Impossible Co get it through in any other
way. They reached she Pennsylvania 1
depot at 4:30 o'clock and their troubles (
began Immediately. The officials were
unwilling TO send ont a special train /
without being paid in advance, an obsta-
Gle that had not bsen anticipated. and T
probably would not occur again. railroad
snd telegraph officials usually being will /
ing to give credit to a reporter on the /
assumption that he is acting within the I
authority conferred upon him by the
newspaper he represents. On this occa-
sion the reporters had to use persuasion .
anu strong language for some time before
the scruples of the railroad men were re
moved. Then it was discovered that
there was no engine in the ward with
steam up. and that car would have 70
be secured from the sheds some distance
away. By the time steam had been ac-
quired in the engine, the car had been
hiyched on and the crew had been put in
command it was after o'clock. and the
prospects OF returning il time to get the
story in the next days paper We're grow
ing less every moment.
II was found, too, that the train could
not 80 10 Barnegst PARK as ali, but would
have TO so to Toms River station. some
distance away. As the sheriff. who was
supposed 10 know all the facts lived at