The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-08
SCENES THEN AND NOW
How Wichita Received the
Word From Dewey.
TALE OF THIRTY YEARS
Incidents of the Rush About
Eagles Bulletin Board

The last word on going to press yester-
day morning from Key West, from Wash
Ington and New York was the word
nothing There was nothing from
Dewey. nothing from Sampson. nothing
from the West Indies or Philippines. The
Eagle having gone to press. its force went
home and to bed At twenty minutes past
8 o'clock a bulletin was received announc-
ing that Dewey had been heard from.
Hacks were started and telephones put
into requisition to gather up editors, re-
porters, foreman, stereotypers, engineers
and pressman. In the meantime word had
gone out that Dewey had been heard
from. A thousand men gathered in front
of the Eagle Office. where chimes were set
going.
The word few along the streets. over
the telephone wires-everywhere It was
in the air. Dewey had been heard from.
Americans were sick with anxiety waiting
20 know just what had been done to
Manila, the Spaniards and 10 Dewey. The
first word confirmed the report of a COM
plete American victory. But the crowd
was ravenous for detail. The Eagles
front door was besisged. The excited
crowd surged in till the front doors had 20
be locked. Up and down the pavement
past the Boston Store and past Fletcher's
the surge enmassed. Out across the street
to the electric tracks people stood and
clamored and pushed
In the scramble a hundred newsboys
ducked under and squirmed through the
crowd and leaned against the Eagles
front door. every one eager to get the first
OF the extras with Dewey's own words.
Bells Ginning Of the victory, car bells
changing for the mob to give way TIL the
cars could go on. the mass Of excited and
eager men showing and standing on tip
zoe. eager for a tangible intelligence of
the Iatest-streets blocked and the crowd
still gathering.
Up on the third floor Of the Eagle. COM
positors hustled into type the news of
Americas greatest naval victory-the
worlds greatest. At 1888 the forms were
closed and sent to the stereotypers. The
compositors went on with the red-hot bull
Ietins for another extra At 1920 the
pulley wheels OF Che big press shrieked,
the great machine began TO hum and the
boys. with tens, twenties and hfties Of the
Eagles first extra for the day. shot into
the crowd and the papers were gone.
Farmers in their wagons stopped and
bought the papers, street cars stopped
while the passengers clambered for
papers.
There was no egress by the front way
Cor anybody but newsboys from the Eagle
Office. Some got in and went out the back
way. c. H. Brooks went up to the second
floor and out by a side stair Others fol-
lowed. Three men passed the papers
across the counting table 20 the buyers.
The first edition al 11:2O was followed by
q second at Il so, while the rush continued.
Such was the scene in Wichita Of the
arrival OF the first word from Commodore
Dewey, Americas hero in the greatest
naval victory of the world. And this upon
a spot that was bare and dumb as list
less silence itself when Thomas was pit
Ted against Bragg az Chattanooga; when
sherman swept across the south and
Grant pounded state sovereignty 20 its
death at Richmond.
Then the herd of wild buffalo grazed
listlessly where Wichita is with It's great
buildings and pavements and electric
cars. That was thirty years ago. And
while interest ccnters in the present con-
fiict with spain. one inadvertently stops
and inquiries of himself what may be the
possibilities of the next thirty years Of
its Uars-of Wichita.
HORSE THIEVES SENTENCED