The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-18
TALES OF REPORTER.


and bottom.
II sounds like fairy tale but il is
none the less true that he had come out
from England in the late SOS 10 become
u planter in Virginia. He was a younger
son, and in order TO secure his establish
menJ on d sound foundation as a country
gentleman in the Old Dominion his noble
father had paid a matter Of some 900
to swindling Anglo-AnleTican associa-
ton which proposed 10 set up young En-
ghshman of coed family as country gen
uemen in the tidewater country Of Vir-
ginia.
His idea and that of his father-an i'm
poVerished nobleman--was that by pay
ing the $500 he would be set up as the
master OF a big tobacco plantation with
& splendid income and nothing 10 DO but
TO ride to hounds and exercise general
supervision OF his estates. The youth
himself was much taken with the fur
Their idea that there would be plenty of
chance to hunt mountain lions and buf-
falo without leaving his own land.
The international swindlers got the
money of the English lord and proceeded
TO ship his son out 70 small farm which
they owned in Virginia. There he found
that he was expected to work as a farm
hand with poor living Accommodations
and plenty of the hardest kind Of work.
Instead of riding blOoded horses over
the country he found that he was expect
ed to haul manure.
He stood it as long as he could-even
longer than the association expected that
he would. Then he struck ont for him
self In spite of his missing chin ne had
a lot OF grit. He was an Oxford man
and had a smile that was winning. One
day he applied TO the surly city editor of
the Morning Whirlwind for work as a
reporter, and-for q rniracle-he was given
an immediate trial.
In the same miraculous way he made
good" with the odd man. which was
the term of endearment generally APP
piled to the city editor. He was always
ready to tackle any assignment, never
fearing TO step in where the angels might
well fear to tread. He showed his nerve
by taking every assignment which in
volved any element of danger-and nerve
was a quality which the old man appre-
ciated.
One day in an unguarded moment the
old man assigned him TO write a lead to
the Morning Whirlwind's story Of st.
Patrick's day celebration in Chicago.
Me Lud'' as the other reporters soon
learned TO call him, spread himself on
that lead He brought it in late and
it was sent out TO be set up without care
full reading. Fortunately the night edi-
tor caught 1t in the proofs.
Perhaps you had better look this over, >
ne said as he laid the proof on the old
mans desk. IF we should print ii as it
lies the United Irish Societies would mob
the Whirlwind Office before noon tomor-
row.
The old man read the story with many
chuches. 1t was really an extremely
clever bit of writing. But the night
editor was right If it had been printed
as written the Whiriwind would certainly
l.
witty and amusing, and incidentally 1t
set forth in the most scathing style ali
the weaknesses and foibles of the Irish
character. The first sentence was an
epigram which would have made anybody
laugh and would have sent every son
of the "ould sod into a paroxysm Of
anger Incidentally the proprietor of the
Whirlwind was Just then depending
largely for his election to an important
office OF the Irish vote, and the publica-
ton Of that article would have killed the
chances for all time.
People with good memories may re-
member that on St PatTick's day morn
ing the Whirlwind printed nothing but
a brief account of the line of march and
the formation of the st. Patrick's day
parade But, for some reason, the old
man blamed himself and not ME Lud'
for the mistake.
one Of the most dreadful storms which
ever swept Lake Michigan. Schooners
We're being wrecked all along the shore
and reports Of dreadful losses Of life
were coming in from every direction. In
plain sight of people on the shore nearly
| dozen ships were being swiftly driven
to their fate inside the outer harbor, and
the old man called for volunteers to go
out on tug and help them. Me Lud
was the first man TO volunteer. The
old man gave him an artist and two
other reporters to help, and he started
out on a chartered tug.
That was early in the afternoon. About
midnight word came up to the old man
that Me Iud'' was in the cab down
stairs and wanted to see him. The old
man went down the elevator and found
Me Lud" stretched out in cab and
moaning in agony.
Where are the other boys2' the old
man asked You haven't lost them?'
NO" said Me Lud." they're stretch
ed out on the pier. too sick to go any
further If youn have me carried up
stairs II try TO dictate a story. I've
sailed across the channel IN a gale and
I've crossed the ocean three times, but
1 never struck anything like this before
During the following week reports kept
coming IN OF the loss of sailing ships and
schoOners. Finally one morning at I
o clock telegram was received aunounc-
ing the loss with all on board of the
private yacht of n Detroit millionaire
With the story came the list of those
lost. II included the millionaire himself
his wife, two daughters. and crew Of
six men. kilograms of inquiry We're
Immediately sent out from the Whirl-
wind Office TO ali the lake ports within
reach asking for confirmation OF the
story From each OF them came back
quick answer declaring that the loss was
certain ard that all hope had been given
up.
The news was exceedingly sensational.
and the night editor hated TO go 10 press
with nothing but bare statement OF the
loss OF the yacht. lie took his messages
or the subject out 70 the old man and
asked him 30 have something written 70
carry the story.
IL happened that there was nobody in
the Office but Me Lud. lie was given
the ssig1ment. AS a work OF pure i'm
aginatiOa il is doubtful IL a more thrill
ing and graphic story was ever written.
It was grabbed up sheet by sheet as it
came hot from his smoking lead pencil
and sent straight 10 the compos room.
Although nobody had been saved from
the Yacht that did not bother ~Me
LUG in the least. lie put himself right
on board the Inflated vessel and descrih-
al everything thas happened until In
allr st went down head on with the NIL
nonaire standing on the bridge and MS
wife ard two daughters dashed 30 she
rizgi1g "Afe Lu6 even reported ver-
b7tisn the conversation which took place
between the different members II tire
party before the dnaI catastrophe. lie
t1i6 how The aster q the Yacht had
ordered the women 80 keen calm and
how TIE seafnen or board displayed the
most ~ anderfuI heroisn in trying 20 save
the passengers u was eea-fifll
story Il Jeff nothins to be- Eusssel