Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-03
Views and Reviews
Manager NorthcltUe's Dolly
Mail Once Lived in Nebraska


with the distinguished United States Chamber
of Commerce delegation entertained in Omaha
last Sunday was Pomeroy Burton, who, when
at home in London, is manager of the Daily
Mail, which is Lord Northcliffe's million issue
newspaper, as we'll as of several other of the
allied Northcliffe publications. Mr.. Burton
however himself just so and in the prime of
life, got his original newspaper experience and
training in this country and is a natlve-born
American, in fact may almost be claimed by
Nebraska.
DO you know that once lived in your state
for two~years?" he asked with sort of twinkle
in his eye. well, did although only from,
what is more | have some recollection of it.
My father took up homestead out on the
plains not so very far from Grand Island.
While there he became acquainted with Colonel
Cody, the renowned Buffalo Bill, and if am
rightly informed it was my father who nomi-
mated Cody as candidate for the Legislature
from that district. That must have been about
1872 as we came to Nebraska the year before
and left in 1873
The London Daily Mail has been assidu-
ously promoting the development of air naviga-
ton, having hung up the $4,000 prize for the
tlrst croSs-ocean arplane voyage and handsome
prizes for other test flights. Referring to these
efforts, Mr. Burton was not wholly satisfied
with the results attained.
Flying as a commercial venture has not
come on as fast as expected and predicted
on the strength of its success in the war. The
alrplane is too expensive and too uncertain
and too limited in its carrying capacity as yet
tor practical uses, except for special engage
ments. Passengers who have missed train
connections to ports where they are booked for
salllngs have resorted to the arplane to catch
the boat before its departure, but this is not
an everyday occurrence. | might have tried it
myself as l was leaving London this last time,
when l discovered had miscalculated the time
| had to make my train. My man found an
ex-service friend who borrowed machine and
flew me to the station. Had I been too late
there l would have bargained with him to go
on with me to the boat. Otherwise the fly
ing in Britain still consists chiefly in plotting
passengers for the novelty of it at recreation
resorts or is in the nature of advertising enter
prise. The possibilities of course are great
don't underestimate them"
The Bee might set up claim to being a
pioneer in the promotion of aeronautics on
the strength of an incident of its early days.
Shortly after discovery of gold started rush
to the Black Hills in the seventies, the project
was undertaken to send Bee correspondent
by balloon, who was tc start from Omaha and
distribute sample copies and advertising matter
on the way, and, of course, to write up the trip
ted with the correspondent, John H. Pierce,
who wrote regularly over the nom de plume
Ranger" big silk balloon was procured
and duly advertised to make an ascension from
the fair grounds out on Sherman avenue on
the Fourth of July, in the year 1876. if my
memory is correct. Preparations in the way of
equipment and supplies were completed and
the process Of imitation begun and kept up all
day, but the bag just would not initiate enough
to lift itself, to the great disappointment of the
assembled crowd. The next day the balloon
was brought down to Jefferson square and
more gas poured into it from the gas main,
but it still manifested no disposition to rise.
Early the following morning Pierce, in his des-
peration trying one thing after another, threw
out the ballast, unloaded all his supplies, dis
pensed with his travelling companion, and
finally cut off the basket to Tighten the burden,
and went up, cngng to the ropes The bal
loon was waited by gentle south breeze a
few miles until it sank down Of its own weight,
landing in the swamps of Florence lake, from
some astonshed Indians who happened to be
around and pulled him out. What became Of
the balloon l do not know, but Pierce was
permanently cured of his balloonacy. He
has had variegated and exciting career since
then. When l last heard from him, he was
out in California.
Beatrice by fire, harks back to the day when
the test of the public spirit of the leading citi-
zen in every town was to build hotel or
theater and have it named after him. The
Paddock hotel, which was also doubled up
with the Paddock theater, was very creditable
institution at the time it was put up and did
much to popuarize Beatrice to the travelling
public, to say nothing of making its namesake
still more solid with the townspeople if that
were possible. 1t was the monumental enter
prise of United States Senator Algernon Sid
ney Paddock, who had another unique dis
tinction in being the only man who ever rep
resented Nebraska in the upper house of con-
gress who failed of reelection and afterwards
came back The consummation of his ambition
to be senator too, was achieved through de-
lberate and well-laid plan at the time hippantly
called "the TRANSMISSION of blood to the South
Platte" Mr.. Paddock having moved from
Omaha to Beatrice for the express purpose of
becoming the South Platte candidate when it
became clear that the river would be the divid-
ing line and that the North Platte territory was
full of statesmen liable to block the path. SEN
ator Paddock was sent to Washington the first
time in 1875, and was beaten after stubborn
fight six years later by Charles H. Van Wyck,
and then in turn succeeded Van Wyck at the
end of his term. He was an industrious and
useful senator, though wholly devoid of spec
tacular or oratorical talents. He had property
interests in Omaha, the Paddock block on
lower Douglas street testifying to his enterprise
here as we'll as in his home town of Beatrice,
and he was always on the firing line for every
thing for the benefit of Omaha and Nebraska.
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