Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-22

formants seldom indeed does any piece
of bravery go unreported.
For news of such items the commits
sion depends upon the services of Il
newspaper clipping bureau, so that it
| is a rare occurrence when the commits
sion fails to learn of daring deed
| Two classes of recommendations are
are always looked upon with sus
| pcion: first, recommendations accom-
panied by aflidavits. which indicate that
the would-be hero or his friends are try
ing to bolster up a weak case; and
second, cases reported by clergymen, be-
cause clergymen are given to oyeresti-
mating courageous acts.
To every person who reports a case
! the commission sends a blank to be
| filled out and returned. This blank
| asks for minute details, names of wit
nesses, etc. often these blanks are not
returned. and thus many undeserving
cases are a once eliminated. In every
| case In which the blanks are returned
properly filled out the matter is followed
! up. Often many letters are written to
make sure that the case is of sufficient
| Importance TO warrant detailing an in
vestigator to 1t. When the clerical force
at the Pittsburgh office has thus sifted
| the claims as far rs possible the docu-
ments in the case are turned over to the
| Investigators. the hero hunters.
/ These are 10 in number. Their qualid-
| cations are peculiar The hero hunter
must be a good interviewer. He
must be keen Judge of people. lie
must be something of detective. He
/ L 10, to, ovid hoyp
to sift it. Above all, he must have good
| judgment. lie must be young and en-
| ergetic. And since the job entails
months of travel yearly. unmarried men
are preferred. Nowhere else are there to
| be found men 50 we'll equipped for
| the task of hero hunting as on the
| stats of large city newspapers. So II
| happens that every one of the Carnegie
| hero hunters is a newspaper graduate.
| Naturally enough all come from Pitts
| burgh newspapers. Hence, like the man
who qualities for the presidency by
| studying law and moving to Ohio, the
| man who wants to become hero hunter
must turn reporter and get on Pitts
| burgh newspaper The beginner, as 4
rule, receives 500 a month and all his
| travelling expenses. After he has ac-
| CURED experience his salary is raised to
! SIPS a month"; with expenses. Further
| advances depend upon the man himself
and the quality of his work.
The hero hunter is a rambling animal
He threads his way back and forth. up
| and down. often spending fully II months
| of the year in a constant search for he
roes. The investigator starts from the
office of the commissioner in Pittsburgh
| on a regular itinerary. But trip that
was to extend from April TO June may
| last till December. That is why an en-
ergetc unmarried man makes the best
/ hero hunter.
In his suitcase the hero hunter car
ries all the documents collected by the
commission about the cases lie is to in
vestigate Upon reaching a town where
| he is to make an investigation he regis
tiers at hotel, keeping his business Sc
cret. His first step is to make thor
ough study of the papers in the case in
question.
His next is to interview the person
who reported the case. Then the wit
nesses are examined and lastly the pTin-
cipal is seen. An experienced investi-
gator quickly scents a case that amounts
to nothing. and he as quickly gets to
the bottom of it and drops it. But on a
genuine case he spends anywhere from
two or three days to as many months
Having concluded his work the in
vestigator sends to the commission a
detailed report illustrated with photo
| graphs, for a portable typewriter and 4
| camera are part of the outfit of every
hero hunter. In his report he must tell
| the name, age, address and occupation
| of the rescuer, together with similar
facts as to the person rescued. He must
state the time. place and circumstance
| of the rescue even to weather eondi-
tions. and in case of rescue from
drowning the stage OF the tide.
He must give a description of the ac-
cident, together with statements from
the rescuer the rescued and the wit
4 nesses. He must also state the reputa-
| ton of the witnesses for veracty. Is
pecially must he learn and state fully
the financial condition of the rescuer
his aims and ambitions and the condi-
| ton of his family. These latter facts are
| necessary because it is the purpose OF
the commission to help heroes along IN
life or to give financial assistance TO
| those who were dependant upon hero
|