Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-21
A GREAT NEWSPAPER ExpLoIr.
Major Handy and the Virginfus At
fair.


e. v. Smalley In the Chicago Times Herald
1 heard in Washington lately from a
naval officer the story of how Major Handy
scored a beat the other correspond
ents in managing to be the only newspaper
man who witnessed the surrender of the
Virginius by the Spanish authorities In
Cuba 1 have heard il told at Press Club
meetings and it has no doubt been in print,
but it is well worth telling again as an
illustration of the remarkable energy and
resourcefulness of one of the best journal
lists of our day. When Handy came I'D to
New York from Richmond and was given a
position on the Tribune he was eager to do
special work, which was then the best
heid for young man to gain distinction in
The Spaniards had captured a steamer
called the Firginius on pretense that she
vas about to run their blockade and land
supplies for the rebels in Cuba The cap
trre was contrary to international law. as
II took place on the high seas and General
Granl. VINO was then President. made a
Perenptory demand for the surrender of
the vessel The Madrid government knew
tnat Grant was not the sort of a man who
would stand any diily-dallying or delay.
aau 5hey at once made an apology and
agreed TO turn the vessel over to any man
oI-War Grant would send for It, Handy
was directed to go to Cuba and report the
event for the Tribune. He hurried down
MY "cSt Will the luea OF taking the
view orleans steamer for Havana but
There lie learned that the willy Standards
old not intend to humiEate themselves in
.ne eyes OF the Havana populace by turn
ing over the captured vessel in the harbor
OF that city. They had named a lonely
pay on the north coast of Cuba as the place
LOT the surrender. Lying in Kew West
ready to sail was the United States war
ceive the Virginius.
correspondents of other papers had pre-
ceded Major Handy to Key West, but thew
.ere aii IN despair for means to get to that
remote pay and get back to a telegram
WIRE The captain of the war shin had re-
ceiNed strict instructions from the naval
department to allow no civilians to 90 on
Us raS snip. lie told them ali that he was
10y sorry, put he had his orders. The New
1ofk Herald man chartered a schooner
anu started for the bay. The Times MN
went over to Havana with the intention of
t t.lahs ms way on horseback across the
IUuHtry 10 the scene of the surrender
mandy said nothing, but matured a nlan of
ms own; The officers of the man-of-war
gave dinner party on board the evening
Se,yie sailIhs- Their ship was to start at
uayi mandy had no trouble In getting
an invitation to the dinner Toward mid
night he left the abin apparently a GOOD
Geal under the influence of the wine he had
drunk, and slipped into the state room ~
one OF the officers whom he knew very
Wen, There he stretched himself on the
punk and was soon fast asleep All the
otner guests were put ashore The officer
h Snosi state room Handy mad appropriated
hdu the watch on deck, and at daylight the
vessel got under way. By the time Handy
was discovered Handy was well out to sea
The presence or board of the Tribune
coiIespohdent was reported TO the captain,
VINO summoned the stowaway before him
ana performed vigorous feat of naval OBJ
Jursatlaa- The major explained and apol-
ogized in his softest voice and sweetest
manner He really did not know what he
. into
room. He must have taken too much wine
1Well, We cannot go back TO Key West to
put you ashore" said the captain, and do
Tot want to throw you overheard You
VIII nave to stay on the ship" 1t turned
cut afterward that Handy was the only
correspondent who witnessed the surrender
OF the NirginiUs. The Herald schooner did
not reach the scene in time, and thu Times
man got lost in the mountains and tnrned
back TO Havana The Virginius was taken
70 Key West, and the return VOYAGE
RANDY wrote a capital account of the af-
idlr, ana had II ready to put on the wire
as soon as he got ashore. 1t filled an entire
page In the Tribune next morning and was
lhe greatest newspaper beat" of the year.
Ihe other New York papers did not have
line about the event, and were obliged to
stop their presses and make I'D an account
from the Tribune.
Maj. Handy's exploit made a great stir In
newspaper circles in New York, and con-
WINGED Whiteiaw Reid that he had secured
treasure in the pale. slender air-haired
young man from Virginia. He gave him a
good position on the editorial staff of the
paper. and the major found himself at ono.
recognized among newspaper men as a man
OF ability and distinction. At that time
there was an intense rivalry between the
leading papers of New York for special and
exclusive news. The Tribune Herald and
Times We're the chief competitors The
World was poor and not enterprising. and
Inc sun had not attained the national i'm
portance 1t has since achieved. The Asso-
ciated Press was run In a routine woodeny
way. and was not depended on for news
or really great events. Maj. Handy's Vir-
girius exploit was rightly regarded as one
OF the most brilliant achievements in the
held OF special correspondence. In its way
II was as good as Archibald Forbes hun
dred-nile ride in ZuIuldnd to reach a tel
egraph office after a fight.