Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11
Rounding Up News on Ocean Liners
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Continued from page 4

papermen. Will you let us come abroad ="
no came the cold response from the
officer on watch, whose faint silhouette could
be seen moving across the bridge.
"How are you lying9 Is there any damage
to your propellers or rudder? Can we take
anyone ashore, or help in any other way"
Not sound from the bridge
How did you come to go aground! Can
We take any message to the main Office"
These questions, ignored and unanswered
bow. rritated the men who had an edition to
catch: for they realized that the trip back to
New York against a merciless ebb tide was a
task in itself, and every minute counted.
In despair. of the reporters grasped the
megaphone and shouted across the Baltic
deck. There are thousands of friends and
relatives land who anxious for the
safety of your passengers! Can you hear
that Unless we get a talk with the Captain.
their fears may be intensified by what they
may read in the morning."
The effect instantaneous. Dark shad-
ows darted back and forth across the bridge.
A quartermaster was sent below. and Captain
Ransom. who knew nothing of the megaphone
warfare waged above. came on deck and gave
a complete and accurate account of the ground
ing and of the condition of his steamer.
Theatrical News Comes Easy
DOSSIBLY the class of news easiest obtained
aboard ship is theatrical news,-the gossip
of players as they come and go. While the re-
porters make an effort to find and talk to the
actors and managers, the omnipresent press
agent is forever in pursuit of the reporter with
a handful of manifold copy containing vol
luminous account of what his particular star
has done abroad, and her plans for the forth
coming season.
1t must not be assumed, however, that all
actors crave publicity. William Gillette. John
Drew. Julia Marlowe the late Richard Mans
field. and others have embarked from New
York and returned to it in the most conserva-
tive fashion, with never word volunteered
for publication.
Once a manager, assisted by an ambitious
press agent with unlimited nerve and some
imagination. devised a scheme for publicity
which compelled his star to take a daily
sociological junket through the steerage. The
beJeweled lady of the footlights fondled the
near-clean children of immigrants who did not
understand her language: was godmother for
a Russian infant; nursed back to health dis
abled stoker: managed the concert aboard
ship for the benefit of the widows and orphans
of seamen and distributed five hundred dol
lars among the young mothers of the steer
age. 1t was distasteful bit of actng.-a week
of realism off the stage.-but it was the talk of
the ship, and well worth the subsequent public
lty. The scheme was initiated by others. but
failed utterly. The novelty was gone.
A show girl of more or less obscurity, re-
turning from Southampton. tried earnestly to
thrust herself into the ship news limelight; but
failed. In despair. the steamer warp
ing IN. she jumped upon heap OF baggage on
the promenade deck. and right before the gaze
OF the CABIN passengers removed cardinal
red stocking from her right foot and waved it
to friends on the pier. Her trump card forced
the press gang to sit up and take notice. and
in the morning papers there were stories
some in prose verse-about the shocking
moval of a stocking while the steamship was
docking before a hooking crowd. The name
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