The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-30
THE FIRST WAR PAPER.

THE FIRST WAR PAPER
One year ago tomorrow morning the
Eagle issued its fret war paper under
circumstances which have remained
memorable in the office.
The war excitement al the time was at
fever heat but attention was generally
directed to Sampson and his blockading
fleet off the coast of Cuba 1t was
known in the Eagle Office, as elsewhere in
the country. that Dewey had left Mrs
bay with his fleet and some one in the
Eagle office had ran across a roster of his
ships, commanders and men, clipped It
out and stored it away with a vague idea
that it might come into Use But there
was no thought of sensational develop
ments in the far east, as it had been given
out that Dewey would not reach Manila
bay until late the week following.
1t had just rained heavily in Wichita
and was still drizzling and there were not
many people on the streets that day. In
that mornings paper there was no warn
ing of what was to come in the way of
news matter.
The fires inthe Eagle office went out. the
Geographic circuit was disconnected and
the office building closed and deserted ex-
cept by the Waterman. 1t was stiu driz-
zling at II o'clock that night. The Western
Union had received a message from Kan
sas City reading briefly 10 the effect that
advices from Madrid said that Dewey had
that day destroyed the Spanish feet in
Manila bay. The dispatch sounded fshy
Madrid had not been in the habit Of send
ing out unfavorable news and this was
unfavorable 10 Spain. And If the truth be
known II was at that time almost in
comprehensive that the whole Spanish
fleet could be destroyed and there was
belief that there must be some captures,
Just as for the week following people could
not believe that Dewey had not lost A
single man. The Western Union tele-
phoned over 10 the Eagle office and the
Waterman answered the phone. He
heard the news indifferently and said that
even if it were true. and It was regarded
as necessary 10 get out A paper, 1t could
not be done, a. he had taken down the fire
wall under the boiler and It would not
be possible to get up steam.
The man at the Western Union insisted
that the matter was very important and
while he and the Waterman were discuss
ing the matter one Of the Eagle staff hap
pened to pass and listened u the discus
sion and finding out the news at once
gathered in another Eagle man and they
started out to get up a paper. L was
then II o'clock and the first paper must
he run off the press at 40 10 catch the
early train south.
The Two Eagle men walked out 20 Col /
one member of the staff They walked
north % stir up tho business manager. n /
or der 10 get him 10 use his influence on /
the dubious Waterman who said steam (
wasn't possible that night. b. I o'clock /
printers had been secured and the Eagle (
Office was at work Lamps were borrowed .
from the all-niEht restaurants. and the I
printers we're figuring on putting the paper /
Cd BIZ hand. But an important detail had /
been forgotten earlier in the night. The T
Western Union mad closed az thirty min /
u.es nast midnight and the Office was IN I
Stvgiaa blackaess. when the Eagle force I.
routed ont The Associated Press operator /
The instrument IN the Eagle Office :hs /
wire from which runs % me Western T
Union of5cz. had been sfsoonrecteE. The
operator ItA4A VIA AZ = -fA- t-4s-lt
locked. He hunted un a policeman. e I
take with him. smashed IN wind1T +
climb IN and connected win Topeka and +
Secan 20 cIauor about nsws from Dewey. I
He was cody informed that al the Dewey I
news was IN long ago. Bzt he made q /
desperate plea and fna,ly Kansas C5ty /
consented q let hin nave the news y the /
great victory.
MeanzhlIe Ire business manager bad !
argued -he fireman into ne baies trzt T
nothing was impossible II az urgency. TIE /
t7-n-dowa Ere val Vas ser u n any So. Z
al fashion Just - it Eag,d hold Together. !
and boxes. nix barrels. grease ard every /
thing al hand was dumped ,--0 ere fre,
0-eieh vas soon raging under the hsl-- /
steam commenced 70 show IL the z1ezs- +
Meanwhile the printers setting tyre ~ /
hard and lau7li-at bsgan o. The dzs- i
matches. T-1s steam wss necessary 10 r-su /
the rerfec,lug press. an5 unless Ii wss
zo.-e- un quickly ;1s frst train U.s I
certainly % nls=e5- S7meeo5y f7ar5 ;z7 /
zne zs,c sV-es5-eazie ests and place. thsa &
on -hs f-st page Il celebration &C ,-e x5e- 1
tzrE
MssnwhlIe the stsreatvpers sa8 -ae 4
sert sfte- thsrn. Sc ESQ Ese szus fe- i
sn4 foreman and asa o1s fo- IRE mating /