Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-20
Evening Star Is
First with News
Of Pope S Death

The Evening Star was the first news
paper in New Jersey to give the news
of Pope Pius's death. An extra an
nouneing the fact was on the streets
at e;55 p. m.
The announcement of the Pontiff's
death was received through the United
Press service to the Evening Star. 1t
is claimed by this news organization
that Pope P'us's death happened be-
1 fore noon.
The Associated Press, of which the
Evening Star is also n member, asserts
that the Pope did not die until 1870
a. m. today, 1920 o'clock last night,
New York time.
IL is claimed by the United Press
that its story was "bent" over the
Associated Press. The United Press
today issued the following statement:
NEW YORK Aug. 20. Henry Wood,
United Press correspondent. put to the
credit of American newspaper methods
one Of the greatest beats of journalism
yesterday by getting the news of Pope
Pius's death out of Italy more than
eight hours before any other corres-
pondent. This feat of journalistic en-
terprise ranks with other recent Uni-
ted Press beats. such as Edward L.
Keen's announcement of the Franco
German war declaration, six hours
respondents: his second beat of one
and one-haIf hours on the Anglo-Ger-
man war declaration, and William G.
shepard's clean scoop on the landing
Of American marines on Mexican soil
The death of Queen Victoria was an
other historic United Press beat COM
parable to yesterdays. At that time,
as well as now, a press association
which supplies most of the American
morning papers and some afternoon
papers with news. attempted to ex-
plain its defeat to its clients by de-
claring that the death couldn't have
occurred officiaIiy until its own cor
respondents heard of II.
As a matter of fact. In the case of
most foreign potentates, and particu-
IarIy at the Vatican, there Is always
long interval between the actual medi-
cal pronouncement of death and the
public issuance of the news. When n
pope dies, certain ceremonies must oc-
cur, and until they are ended every ef-
fort is made to withhold the news of
the Holy Fathers demise.
The most important action to keep
the news secret is taken by the Ital-
ian government, which, as n courtesy
to the Vatican. establishes rigid teIe-
notified that the Pope has passed away.
There is always brief interval.
however between the time the Pope
dies and the news gets to the italian
government During the interval the
telegraph wires are open. Henry
Wood was able to take advantage of
this fact. and by the use of two code
messages to separate New York ad-
dresses scored another epochaI beat
for the United Press and Ameri-
can journalism. Wood is an American.
He Is the only American STAFF cores
pondent in Rome. He served in the
Cleveland and New York bureaus of
the United Press before being sent
abroad three years ago.
An Italian with close relationship
to the Vatican, representing an Ameri-
can news agency, is Woods chief COM
petitor. Wood used American meth
ods and got his news through first.
1t was a plain case of American
methods contrasting with old-world
methods. 0ld-worId methods take for
granted events cannot happen until
somebody makes an official announce
ment that they have happened. Amer
lean methods are to make public the
news when II happens, and as soon as
IL is verified independent of official
permission to publish it.