The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-08
The Reporter Hero.

Some Of the astonishing things that
happened TO q young Chicago newspaper
man are set forth by Mr.. Samuel Travers
Clover in his story On Special Assign
ment" Q,othrop Publishing Company.
which the title page describes as -the
further ad~-ntures Of Paul Travers: showing
how he suol ,eded as a newspaper reporter.
When young Paul joined tho staff Of the
Mercury OF Chicago. Mr.. Wilder, the manaS-
ing editor, told Mr. Ryder, the city editor,
not to be afraid Of overworkins him. There
were several young men described as
breezy looking occupying the leather
cushioned chairs in the light and airy apart
ment devoted 70 the use Of the reporters
when the city editor introduced Paul. They
greeted the city editor noisily % he en-
tered.
Suffering Cyrusl Herman called out a
sporty looking individual who sat astride
a chair, with his arms caressing the top
cross-piece, that was a good scoop the
Trio had this morning from the City Hall
Wonder who leakedT
Ryder snorted disdainfully. Scoop
nothing! We printed that yarn ten days
ago. Why don't you read your own
paper?
All tho young men stamped their feet
in approval Of this passage Of wit. and by
and by Paul was sent out on his first
assignment. The gospel steamship Glad
Tidings was awaiting her launching at a
slip in the North Branch. and Paul was told
to get the story and to make IL pictur-
esqus.' The Glad Tidings was dressed out
in all her bunting and decorated with ap-
propriate scriptural notices. Capt. Rundy
wearing a proud yet benevolent express
sion and a smart glazed hat" paced the
pier, while his daughter, Miss Agnes, also
wearing glazed hat and gold-rimmed
spectacles, held ready bottle Of Cologne
water tied with a purple ribbon. Paul
and two other young men from the morn
ing papers went aboard. Miss Agnes gave
the signal, and twenty sledge hammers
knocked away the underpinning, Cut
loose the ropesr yelled the ship master,
and then az the teeth OF the whitefaoed
reporter adjoining Paul began to chatter
there came a gentle heave, next a land
slide, then a great leap, q sharp recoil a
vigorous quivering, and for half minute
several decidedly seasiok reporters" The
ship was launched, In due course the
story was written. and next day the city
editor told Paul it was good stuff"
After that adventures seemed to wait
for him. When a lumber schooner was
driven onto the breakwater one stormy
night Paul was tho first to get aboard and
make fast the lfe-saving limo. Next morn
ing the Mercury printed a brilliant story
OF thirteen columns, OF which seven we're
written by the young hero, and this time
it was the night editor who said simply
that it was a great piece Of work" One
evening an elderly coal merchant ina brown
derby hat fell off the bridge into the Ma d.
son street draw. and Paul with much diff
fioulty hauled him out. Neither the coal
mercha mt nor his relatives ever knew who
rescued him. and as for the young hero,
she spoiled his shoes al nd completely ruined
a new pair Of trousers that night, but for
t,inately his advanced salary was suf-
ficient to cause him to view these trifies
with philosophic Indifference"
He saw the Moqui snake da noes and wit
messed the ca pture a nd killing OF Sitting Bull,
and took part In a lynching ra id against
a gang OF cattle rustlers in Wyoming FL
nally, after Ave years work as a reporter,
Ia heca ma ma ma 0iD0 s,ditpr