Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-01

William Bigler Shaw, dean Of the news
paper corps in Washington. correspond
ent for the Philadelphia Inquirer, died
at his nome, 2574 University place. short
~ after s o'clock last night from heart
disease Mr.. Shaw was in his eighty
second year.
The funeral will take place from tie
Shaw home Monday afternoon, the Rev.
DR.. L. G. b. Pierce. pastor of the All
Souls Church. officiating. The interment
will be in the Shaw family lot at Rock
Creek cemetery. The pallbearers are TO
be selected from among the deceased's
intimate associates in this city.
Mr.. Shaw leaves a wife and three sons.
W. 3. Shaw. ir; Edmund Shaw and
Alexander +. Shaw.
Several months ago Mr.. Shaw was in
jured by a fall, but was thought to have
entirely recovered. The accident weaken
ed his heart however. and although he
had been outdoors only two weeks ago,
he never regained his lost vitality.
Although Mr.. Shaw had been indis-
posed, his condition was not regarded as
serious. He had been in an armchair in
his library talking to Mrs. Shaw. She
left the room for about five minutes. and
upon her return found her husband had
eApleu Ill ICi dUSchCS.
First to Use Telegraph.
Mr.. Shaw was the first newspaper man
to induce his paper to establish a tele-
graphic news service from Washin gton,
he was one of the first to attack the
abuses Of the spells system and was the
first to write an accurate account OF the
defeat of the Union troops al the first
hoHt Of IS,,Il oni, ioyra ,.ar,<c
In the newspaper world occurred while
Mr.. Shaw was In the employ of the New
York herald. His activity set a pace for
other newspaper correspondents of the
time, which eventually resulted in the
high standard of journalism which exists
IN the National Capital today.
For a quarter OF century he repre-
sented the Boston Evening Transcript
here. Mr.. Shaw at one time or another
was connected with the following other
publications.: New York Herald, Phila-
delphia Telegraph, Cleveland Journal,
Pittsburg Dispatch. New York CONNER
cial, Cleveland Plain Dealer Chicago
Tribune and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
His attractive personality won for him
hosts Of friends. and he was known prac-
tically throughout the entire eastern sec
ton of the country as leader In journal
ism. In his later days when, because of
his advancing age, he was not so actively
engaged in his newspaper labors, he be-
came the central figure of circle OF
younger newspaper men. who enjoyed
his intimate friendship and esteem.
Full of "reminiscences.
Nj. Shaw was rich in memories Of early
newspaper days IN Washington and de
lighted In telling Of his experiences with
the public men of the nation. He knew
avery President of the United States per-
sonally from Franklin Pierce down. lie
had a wide acquaintance among public
men. and undoubtedly had attended more
national political conventions than any
other man. He took pleasure in recount
| ing the incidents of his journey from the
Bull Run battlefield to Washington after
| the battle, when the Union soldiers, IN
their mad rush to reach point or safety,
upset q carriage in which Bull Run
Russell, correspondent of the London
Times, was riding. Mr.. Russell promptly
| characterized the Federal soldiers as
towards.
printed in the New York Herald a day Oh
| so later, which corrected the erroneous
| impression In the north that there had
| been a victory for the Federal forces.
Native of Pennsylvania.
| Mr. Shaw was born in Sheshequin. Pa.
October IL 1SsS, and at the age OF sixteen
went into the printing Office of the
Sheshequin Reporter. Seven years later
he went to New York. where he remained
about a year. and then obtained a posi-
! ton in ono of the Philadelphia newspape,
Offices Later ne came to Washington
and procured position i'll the public
/ printing Office 1t was while in this Of
flee that he acquired an intimate knowl-
! edge OF the spoils system and the abuses
| resulting from 1t.
! II was with the view of exposing these
| evils that he entered upon newspaper
| work in this city. His letters on the
| subject were so vigorous and effective
t that he was appointed Washington cor
| respondent by the New York Herald In
| 1886 he induced the Herald to establish
| a Geographic news service to supplement
| his daily news letters. The first teia
| graphic news dispatch sent To a news
! paper from Washington was written and
| filed Dy Mir. Shaw. The establishment
| OF this service was quickly followed by
others OF the larger papers i'll the coun-
! try.
Report of First Bull Run.
! The day before tic battle of Bull Run
| AR Shaw noticed Gen. Winfield Scott and
! Secretary Simon Cameron standing on
the Long bridge watching the newly re-
cruited Union Army advance into Vir-
! gipia, and from them learned that bat
| tie was to be fought the following day
! IL, I.f,.