The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-08-22
NEWS PAKING
Is SHOWN UP
PREMATURE ANNOUNCEMENT
OF DEATH OF POPE BY UNITED
PRESS A PURE FAKE.
Efforts 20 Bolster Up the Story Are
oiseredited BY Statements Made
to Associated Press


NEW YORK. Aug. 2i.-on Wed.
nesday afternoon about half past two
the United Press association sent out
a formal announcement Of the death
OF Pope Plus X. The Associated
Press sent out no such telegram NJ
that hour nor for several hours there
after.
Claim was made that the United
Press had scored an important news
beat This claim was CHALLENGED
with the statement that az half past
two New York time $3.50 Roman
ume) the Pope was still alive. and
that he actually died at 1:20 on the
Following morning. To this the Unit
ed Press made answer that. while
the vatican may have Officially an.
nounced l 20 as the time OF death n
actually occurred much earlier. and
that such a practice was not unusual.
IL was said that when Leo Mi. died
there was a long interval between the
actual death and the official an
nouncement. While this r. true. Il is
equally true that at no Zine was the
hour OF death OF Pope Leo XII asa
p. M ever misstated officially or I'M
officially.
Two Code Messaoes./
Further. II was said that the United
Press correspondent at Rome. IN the
case OF Pope Plus Y. has sent two
code messages. one reaching New
York at 2:2s D. m. New York time.
and the other at 3: So .. m. New York
time. and Il was still maintained that
these were accurate. and that the
Pcpe's death actually occurred about
that hour.
There have been some new and IN.
teresting Developments:
At Il o'clock yesterday morning
Moncignor Bonzano. the papal legateeI
10 this country. received a despatch
from Cardinal Merry Del Val. the pa
pal secretary OF state. dated at Rome.
at lois Wednesday night. which was
eos p. m. New York time. or one
hour and hfty-two minutes after the
United Press circulated the announce
ment OF death. showing that the none
was still alive. as follows:
Holy Father dangerousiy IN since
this morning. He may die at any mo-
ment"
II is well enough 60 permit the issue
OF veracity between the Vatican and
the United Press to stand
Ambassador Page. AT Rome. teIe-
graphed the State Department at
Washington that the pope died about
O'Clock yesterday morning.
The Agence Havas OF France. in its
independent service from Rome. gave
the hour OF death as 1870 a. m.
The Reuter- Telegraph Agency OF
LONDON, In another independent mess
age. fixed the same hour.
Tho ranfwaI
don. In another message gave the hour
as i;35 an.
Illuminating Correspondence.
As 70 the claim that the United
States Press was sent IN code the FOL.
lowing correspondence is fnuminat-
ing:
The general manager OF the Assn
oiated Press sent 20 the office OF the
only three cable companies over which
dispatch from Rome could be trans I
mitted. a note az follows.
My understanding is that. during
this war period. news messages can
not be sent between any port OF Eu-
rope and the United States in code.
Am / right7 An answer will oblige.
To this were returned the following /
answers:
"Mr. Stone. Yes. for the reason that
messages cannot get 20 the United
States without passing through a bel 1
ligerents territory and the bellger-
ents have prohibited code.
GEORGE CLAPPERTON.
Traffnic Manager. Commercial.
Cable Company"
Dear Mr.. Stone:
Your understanding. unfortunately. I
f. not correct There IL no route be .
tween any part OF Europe and this con /
tinent over which any kind OF mes I
sages prepared IN code can be sent.
y. c. Willever. Manager Cable
Department Western Union
Telegraph Company"
Dear Mr.. stone:
You are quite right All codes out. I
side OF government messages are pro
hibited
f. c. Sweeney. Manager.
French Cable Company"
Not the First Time.
This business Of announcing the |
death Of a distinguished per-on be. !
fore Il actually occurs Ia not new with I
the United Press people. Queen Vic
toria died on January %. 1901. 40
8 30 p. m London time G:34 .. m
New York time). Before that hour
q dispatch from the United Press an I
nouucInE the queens death was print /
Cd. When the charge was made that I
this was a reckless guess or bold an. ,
ticipauon. since tho messare was I
sent before the queen had breathed /
her last. answer was made that the
code word. "Bargerac." had been
used and that u meant Dead
Tho claim WIS ALSO cot up that while .
The Official ANNOUNCEMENT fixed tho .
time n tho queens death NJ 30 p. /
m. y actually occurred an hour earlier .
AMI that n message 20 that effect was .
sent from Osborne house az 5.35 u
m 90 fhe Archduko o. Canterbury An
investigation resulted On an antorralh .
letter from On" Archbishop Co the zen.
cral manager 81 tho Associated prera .
assuring him that ho had received nv
such message. So far as be- know.
or eo far 1H anyone else know 0r ha.
lieved. the hour OF death officially
given out. namely g 30 D. m.. was cor.
rect Nory soon this was shown to be-
The fact
on September rs. 1911. also. after
VI Stolypin. former Rus liam premier.
had been wounded o. ltirv. Russia.
and bad fingered FOR some Elmo. and .