Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-07-29
IA BIC STORM.
[Original.1


Don't know, sir. He hasn't been
seen about here since the hurricane
began"
"And he won't be seen about here
more than once after it is over"
Dorsey was a reporter. He had been
on the Argosy several months, but nae
not given satisfaction. There was lit
tie local news except in the line Of
crime, and Dorsey's reports OF criminal
cases were confined to mere outline
of each case. He had been warned
without effect to make them more at
tractive." The truth is Dorsey shrank
from the work. The details OF MUIR
rders, robberies Ind such things had
very distressing effect upon him.
Then came a telegraphic dispatch
from the West Indies chat hurricane
was raging there and was making
straight for the region where the Ag-
cosy was published. Dorsey had never
seen a hurricane and longed to view it
sat it's most interesting point Of obser-
vation-the shore. So without asking
An few hours was standing on hill
top looking out on the harbor. The
wind was blowing steadily and the
ocean was covered with whitecaps,
docking from where Dorsey saw them
like a pack Of wolves, charging and
tumbling over one another, while
low moaning seemed to come from
those trodden under. Directly beneath,
sailors on the ships in the harbor were
busy taking in yards, making every
thing taut on deck and looking to the,
anchor chains. Dorsey went to
house, borrowed a spade and dug
hole just large enough to hold his
body and give him room in his front
below the surface to hold a pad for
making copy. Then, getting into 1t, he
began to write.
Fortunately he was stenographer
and could write very rapidly. AS the
storm grew in intensity it brought with
it an Intensity Of feeling in Dorsey.
AS one page after another was cram
med into his pocket he grew inspired
ito depict what he saw, making series
of pictures of the sea, the sky, the
storm birds on the wing, objects fly
Ing through the air, people fleeing for
safety, men rushing about on the decks
of the ships, the roar Of the tempest,
the curling of roofs, the fall Of houses,
the uprooHng of trees. and, lastly, one
ship after another breaking its cable,
driven landward, lifted on the crest
Sot 4 wave and hurled as by some in
Visible Titan on the shore. ...s*,Ttssse
Dorsey stayed in his hole till most of
the scattered houses on shore and ali
the ships in the harbor were destroyed
indeed, till night had closed over the
wrecks. Then, crawling out he was
blown down the hill, picked himself up
at it's base and made his way to rail-
way station. 1t was several hours be-
fore he got transportation, and then
on an engine sent out with a man to
make a preliminary inspection Of the
damage done to the road. At mid
might Dorsey went into the Office Of the
.Argosy. When the city editor saw him
coming he pointed to the door.
"Ive BEEN began Dorsey.
"Get out! Come back tomorrow and
get your pay"
"I've got a report Of the storm" per-
sisted Dorsey.
$50 have 1. Get outv
Dorsey turned and went to the office
of the Banner.
S'Want a coast description of the
storm?' he asked the managing editor.
"Of course we do. Got one? We
sent a man, but he didn't get through"
Dorsey pulled out his crumpled notes.
go in there" said the editor, point
ing, 'and send your copy up as fast as
you write 1t. can give you a column.
Hurry up. It's getting late"
Up went the first installment, and
when the proof came down and the
editor glanced it over he sang out to
Dorsey, "You can have two columnsv'
When the next proof came down, the
editor cried again, make it three col
umns, If you liker Then it was Give
columnsr and at last "You can fill the
whole paper"
The next morning the city editor of
the Argosy sat in his Office with his
heels on his desk looking over his ri
vaps paper.
Il had no idea that was such a big
Storm" he remarked as he read the
article on the hurricane. 'That was
the biggest storm ever heard Of" he
went On after finishing the third col.
umn. He closed the description lust
IS the proprietor of the Argosy walked
in.
did you ever hear of such fright
full stormW asked the city editor.
you've been reading the Banners
report. There have been plenty Of
storms as big or bigger, but none has
ever had such big describer."
At tLac moment Dorsey walked in
for his pay.
"All right" said the city editor. "Go
to the cashier. You've got a week due
you"
What are you going to do?' asked
fltn