New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-03
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weeks, having in its rapid flight awak-
ened a nation which has proved to be an
empire 1t is interesting, by the way,
to observe that literally every word in
that despatch was untrue, SO far had the
exaggerations improved upon the truth
as it passed by word of mouth from
Boston to Brookfield.
In later days there was room for
private news to be sent by express mes
sengers, and l suppose such things hap
pened. But there was no Wall Street
then, nor any stock speculation. 1t would
happen, however, that some enterprlslng
journal would send an express from New
York to Boston, or the other way. L
am sure that the first time | ever heard
the great name of Cornelius Vanderbilt
was when my father engaged from HIM
a Vanderbilt steamer, new craft built
by him, to carry our express on some
occasion from New-York to Norwich
1t was said at the time, in the office, with
bated breath, that she was steered by
tiller because the wheel had not been put
in And my early fancy imagined her as
coming through He'll Gate and the Sound
before she was painted, This was I'm
doubted1v a boys fiction. A messen-
ger on horseback took her news from
Norwich to Worcester, and somewhere
between Worcester and Boston 1t was
brought by steam again.
| do not know if The Journal of Com
merce" people will thank me for telling
a story of a meek adventure of ours which
did not succeed so well. a note came on
from them to our office to ask if we would
not send through by private hands the
news which came by Cunarder then due
in Boston, 1t was not worth the expense
of an express; but somebody had figured
out the route of a carrier. l thought L
should like the lark; | took the despatch
and went by rail as directed to Spring
field, where | took a pony-power boat
to Hartford Somehow l got to New
Haven and took the night boat from
there, which was to arrive at Newly DIRK
at four in the morning, and then was to
carry the news to THE Journal of Com
merce" office, arriving two hours before
the mail.
Alas for me and THE Journal of Com
merce"! A heavy fog descended on
New-Haven Harbor. My personal in
terviews with the Captain, with promises
of untold shekels if he would go out, did
not avail The fog did not leave; he
did not choose to go till the next
morning; and as l walked up the New
Haven pier at about eight o'clock l had
the modification of hearing the news
BOYS announce Here's your latest news
from England" The Stonington Cap
tain had been Drawer than the New
Haven Captain, and in my first express
l arrived an hour behind the mail. And
such things might happen for gain or for
loss all the time.
Nv association with the first great
Northern election triumph-that of Har-
rison and Tyler in S4o-was of the arrival
long after midnight in Our upstairs office
of fine fellow who had driven with
changes of horses in a pouring rain fifty
miles or more with the votes of Ashburn-
ham, Massachusetts, in his pocket. He
fshed out the despatch, and said for his
first words: Il have tried to keep it dry
Think of this, young editors, when your
telegraph brings in to you the whole vote
of the State of New-York before you go
to the theater to see the last act of