The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-01-31
THE OBSERVATORY.

ton of Gen. "Joe" Hawley to the u.
5. Senatorship; it reminds me of other
Connecticut events. Some time after
Hawley was Governor the Jewell
family supplied an able one. Pliny
Jewell was tanner and courier in the
southwest New Hampshire, gradually
conhning his business to leather mill
betting, and moved with it to Hart
ford; he was big man in every way.
physically, mentally and heart-wise;
not college educated man, but a self
educated one, with fine library. in
which he had read widely, being able
to quote the English poets at will; he
had a noble family; Pliny, his oldest
son, besides being a thorough bust
ness man, was also a "bookish" one,
with library patterned after that of
his fathers, where it was a delight
to visit. The next son, Marshall,
copy of father and elder brother; he
was defeated as Republican candidate
for Governor; it was the day when
William B. Barnum was the willy
Democratic boss, a power in national
politics. Republican prospects did
not look particularly bright, when one
day Marshall Jewell was sitting in the
telegraphic Office waiting to file
message, The had learned telegraphy
in his youth, and as he waited there
he could read the messages from the
sounder, and suddenly one began to
take shape in his mind, and when the
name OF Barnum was given as sender
he took notice, and as it was repeated
he took it all in; it was an important
message from the Democratic boss
directing how cunning scheme
should be worked. The next morning
the Daily Courant gave the whole
thing to the public, to the consterna-
ton of the Democrats; they dared not
deny it, and could not prosecute, be-
cause they were ignorant of how it
leaked out; it defeated them and cleo
ted Jewell. He was not a college man
and had never been public speaker,
but it was surprising how he develop
ed ability in that line by practice. 1t
was the custom for the Governor to
be present at Yale University Com
mencement, and Jewell followed the
custom, and when called on at the
public dinner, made a very good ad-
dress. and captured the boys" witt,
something like the following:
Il am not graduate of your COL
lege; but the one from which l grad
uated resembled this one in some
respects; it was located near the wa
ter, as is your; it was built of brick.
as these time-honored buildings; its
walls were pierced for many windows.
as these Yale halls; it was filled with
the hum of many students and hard
workers; but mine-unlike yours, had
a water-whee1 underneath!
On the Hartford, Courant in those
days we had reporter named Hos
kiss. remarkable "long-hand' re-
porter; his story of a public meeting
or legislative day. while correct in
every detail, was vivid, catching the
salient points, and making humorous
incident marvously real. He had a
keen nose for news. and limitless in
vention to secure it. His SCOOPS"
were noted. Andrew johnson made
trouble for the Connecticut Republic
ans, and at one time the Democrats
were bargaining with certain Re-
publicans, and held a Joint caucus
which was to be very secret, those at
tending being only admitted with
ticket: and sworn to silence regard
ing the bargain agreed upon. But
one may imagine their CONSERVATION
when the next morning the Hartford
Courant sent its early edition to New
Haven with an almost verbatim re-
port of that almost masonic gathering
it upset the whole plan: but how did
1t get to the public? The Courant
came to the rescue of those who had
been present who might be suspected
OF having given it away, and declared
that they had it from their own re-
porter" as no newspaper man was
present the mystery was deep. Some
years afterwards / was told the facts.
Hoskiss learned where the meeting
was to be, reconnoitered, discovered
there was no room above the hall
where the caucus was to assemble
but that there was a vacant space
between the ceiling and the roof. that
could be reached with ladder. and
there was big ventilation opening in
the center Of the ceiling. Hoskiss
bribed the janitor. and with a dark
lantern and note book secreted him
sell before the conspirators gathered.
and from his vantage spot clearly
heard every word. And L. III. ,sai1