The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-05-11
JAMAICA JOURNALISM.
How the Reporters Of the Cleaner
Got a Scoop.

ON THE FIGHT BETWEEN U. s. MA
RINES AND NEGRO GOLFERS.
The Negro Typesetters Kicked at Work
ing After p. M.-For News Gather
ing Stops at p. M.-The Cleaners Tel
ephone Under the Back Stairs etc.
We were sitting in the editorial den of
the Daily Cleaner in Kingston, Jamaica,
one day last month at between seven and
eight O'Clock in the evening. My friend,
one of the staff of four reporters. was a
young Englishinan named Goowin, who
had come out from mis- home in North
Wales, but month or two before. He was
| reading the proof. 1t was his turn that
evening. That was all their was to do in
the evening, because, although it is morn
ing paper, the neWsgathering steps ut SIX
O'Clock p. m. and the forms go to press be-
fore nine o'clock p. N. Very little takes
place in the evening in that hot climate.
Everybody enjoys the cool trade winds and
the bright moonlight in a quiet way. the
| main street is deserted after nine oclock
| and the mule trains that take the place of
street cars cease their trips by that time.
If there is a lecture or concert or any SINH
| lar event in the evening it is written up
the next day and the report is printed the
next day. Sometimes on special occasions.
AN evening event is reported the next
morning, as was the case when the great
10 in nf fho 1icl, vii I,
Club took place at the Constant Spring
hotel. mentioned in last weeks article.
But my friend Goodwin was reading the
proof on this evening between seven and
eight O'clock and was helping him SO that
we might get away by eight O'clock in time
for a social engagement.
AT about 7.S0 O'Clock man entered rand
asked Goodwin if he had heard of the fight
that was going on between the marines of
The United States man-of-war, New York.
then anchored in the harbor with three
Others of she United States squadron. and
number OF Negro golfers. He thought it
was happening down GA The market wharf,
about five minutes walk from the Cleaner
Office.
Goodwin hadn't heard of this big f ght and
he kept on reading his proof very uietly
and the man went out. In a minute OF two
Goodwin said to me Cant you go over to
lie wharf and see what is going on and I'll
join you as soon as finish this proofa"
didn't understand then. as l did later,
why it Yves SO necessary to finish the proof.
l went out and questioned the first man
| met, at the corner of the next street.
He seemed to collect bis thoughts for. a
moment and then said, as if lie were speak
ing Of some fact of history in the Middle
| Ages. that that fight occurred at five
o'clock that afternoon. 1t happened on
board the Amelic schooner Ellen j. But
Ter. that was made fast alongside the New
| York. delivering cargo of coal. The crew
| of the schooner and the Negro GOLFERS who
were transferring the caro-. got into free
fight. The sailors were getting the worst
of it. being largely outnumbered, when the
marines of the New York came to theirsaid
and routed the Negroes. Chunks of coal
and marlin spikes were used and three of
the Negroes wers SO hurt that they were
taken TO the hospital.
l returned to Goodw win with this informa-
tion. He betrayed no particular interest
but calmly said Just write that out
for US will you. Give us three or four lines
about it." Then he resumed the reading
of his proof.
"Three or four lines." 1 exclaimed in
| establishment. Aren't you going to get
the story-how it happened. what started
it and all about itl Are't you going up to
| the hospital and see how much those three
Negroes are hurt and get their storys''
| "But it's mile or said he. land they
wont wait"
WHO wont waltz said l, beg inning to
| feel that wasn't sure of my bearings and
that though The place certainly looked like
the Cleaner Office and my companion like
my good friend Goodwin. yet be had begun
o talk in riddles and didn't seem at all
natural. "Who wont waltz" I repeated. ex-
| titedly.
1.-THE typesctters." said he, apparently a
| little disturbed himself.
| 1.-THE typesetters!" I almost shouted
1.-The typesetters wont wait for you to get
such story as that, before eight
o'clock in the evening! Why7you must get
it! The other papers there were three other
daily 2aperss have got the whole thing by
this time and you'll be awfully scooped."
That's all right" said be ''they wont
i have a line about it. They've gone to press
| Wy 'ni' oiine. o"l CSpESetters aio ny NAL 5
because they're Rept here later than usual. :"
sure enough, there was good deal OF
loud talk in tie composing room just ad.
joining the Office, where some Is or 16 Ne
sroes were just finishing their work. The
foreman's all right" added Goodwin but
most of the typesetters are apprentices and
they want to go home.'' I had seen 1.-THE
foreman. He was very intelligent Negro.
who had learned his trade in Philadelphia.
1 urged that his was special event. that
when general conflict like that took place
between natives and foreigners 1t was