The Washington herald., 1910-01-01

William Blgler Shaw. Washington cor
respondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer,
and prominent newspaper man in the
National Capital for fifty years. died at
his home. 2574 University street. at C
o'clock yesterday evening. in his eighty
second year.
Mr. Shaw was correspondent for the
New York Herald during the civil war.
and saw the Union army retreating from
the battle Of Bull Run, overturning in
their flight a conveyance in which Bull
Rum Russell. correspondent Of the Lon
don Times. was riding. He saw the first
army that left the city for the front. and
was the first to submit a correct account
OF the battle Of Bull Run 70 the press.
Mr.. Shaw was born in Sheshequin, Pa,
October u, 1928. and at the age Of sixteen
he sought work in the printing Office Of
the Shesheduin Reporter. Although a
green country boy. Mr.. Shaw was too
bright and ambitious 10 content himself
at the small establishment, so in 1851 he
went to New York to seek a larger field.
He remained there but a short while, go
ing next 10 Philadelphia.
Pioneer of the Capital.
Finding the field there unattractive
he came 10 Washington, where he had
been engaged for fifty years as CORE
sPondent for the New York Herald, Phila-
delphia Telegraph. Cleveland Journal,
Pittsburg Dispatch, New York CONNER
cial Cleveland Plain Dealer. Chicago
Tribune. and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
When Mr.. Shaw reached Washington
he found employment in the Public Print
ing Office, which It was then called. He
had aspirations along the line OF public
emoluments. but after many unkept
promises made by the lieuteEants Of
Franklin Pierce he decided to enter the
journalistic field. He wrote TO James
Gordon Bennett, editor Of the New York
Herald, asking for a position as CORE
spondent, and much to his surprise, his
request was granted. He remembered
the many promises made him by the
Pierce administration, and began 70 write
articles for the Herald that caused fury
and excitement among the politicians
and much comment among the public in
general.
At the Battle of Ball Run.
When the war broke out AIr. Shaw saw
the first army to leave the city for the |
front, and as Gen. Scott and Simon Cam
eron crossed over the Long Bridge he /
approached them for an interview. and
learned that there was 10 be battle on
the following day Not waiting to get
orders from the Herald, he at once hired
a conveyance at $50 a day and proceeded
90 CenteTvi!le. where he found a Skin
mish in progress. After the battle he
was ordered back to Washington and was
accompanied IN his carriage by Henry J.
Raymond correspondent for the New
York Times. On their way TO Washing
ton they met "BulI Run" Russell, cor
respondent for the London Times, who
characterized the Union soldiers as cow
ards, and while they were talking a mad
rush of retreating soldiers brushed by
and overturned Mr.. RusselFs carriage, /
pitching the journalist in the ditch.
His Account OF the Siege.
When he reached the Capital he found !
that the people were Of the opinion that |
the Union army had been victorious. and J
that the wrong impression prevailed gen. |
orally. he wrote a true account Of the |
fight at once and sent II to the Herald |
III 1856 he made visit to New York and |
got the Heralds permission 10 send a !
short teiegraphic dispatch at the close |
Of each day. which was the first tele- |
graphic news ever sent them from Wash |
ington.
Mr.. Shaw IS survived by his wife and !
three sOns-W. B.. r.. Edmond. and |
Alexander P. Shaw. Heart disease was |
the cause Of death.
Funeral arrangements have not been
made