Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1915-02-27
THE LIFE STORE OF
JAMES CREELMAN
Death In Berlin Brought End to
Distinguished Journalistic
Career

James Creelmau, the famous Ameri-
Ca Journalist who died recently in
Berlin, is published in the New York
Times as follows:
MI Creelman was born in Montreal
Can, 30 years ago, ana received his
early education in the public schools
OF that city. At the age of u he de-
clded to come to this city, and started
tC walk the distance. Occasional rides
on freight trains helped him along,
and after several days rough travel
reached his goal
Shortly after arriving here he met
the Rev. Dr. William Augustus Muhl-
enbers, who gave him a job in the
printing plant Of The Church and
State, the organ Of the Protestant
Episcopal church at that time Here
he learned the printing business, and
alter working in various shops drift
ed into the Offices Of The BROOKLYN
Eagle, where he met Thomas Kinsella
who encouraged him to write.
The boy started writing poetry, his
ambition at that time running in that
direction, but Mr. Kinsella took pains
to show him that his poetry would not
do and he gave it up. He then took a
course OF study in theology It Tai
madges lay theological college, al
though with no intention Of becoming
q minister
In,
Of IS, decided to become reporter,
and applied to The New York Herald
Tor job. 1t is related that at that
time the staff OF that paper was full
ana there was no vacancy open to the
former printer. He was forced to sit
outside the city room and wait
with the office boys and his assign
ments were few and far between.
In the winter Of 1878, Capt. Paul
Boynton arrived in New York with
his pneumatic lifc-saving suit and
this proved to be Mr. Creelman's op-
portunity. He was assigned to test
the life-saving qualities Of the suit.
and one night he and Capt. Boynton
donned the suits and jumped into the
lce-filled bay at the Battery and
HOated down through the Narrows. II
was very cold, and they were unable
to reach the shore and had to be res
cued. Mr.. Creelman wrote an account
or that adventure that created a SEN
sation and made the life-saving suit
famous.
IN the following year Mr. Creelman
was sent to Montreal and made an
ascension with Prof. G.. H. Grimley, in
the Page iron airship. The ship was
wrecked and he narrowly escaped
with his life. He was dragged for
miles and one arm broken
Following this The Herald sent him
tC investigate the death Of Gen. Gus
ter, and he interviewed Sitting Bull
and the other Indian chiefs who took
part III the massacre. He then was
sent to Kentucky to investigate the
Hatfield-McCOy fcud. Here he again
had a narrow escape, for the Hat
fields refused to allow him to an
proach their territory and shot at
him, forcing him to spend the nights
In the woods, sleeping wherever he
could and always in danger Of his
life.
In 1899, Mr.. Creelman was sent to
Paris and later went to London and
took charge of the English edition
OF The Herald. He edited the London
edition until the end of 1890 and un-
til the end of 1892 was editor Of the
Paris edition. During this time he
interviewed Pope Leo XIII, also OBJ
tanned an exclusive interview with
the explorer Stanley on his return
from the Bmin Bey expedition. Mr..