The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-02
THEY'RE HUMAN
William Anterior Du Puy-

II was an odd experience to meet In this A. d.
1922 the man responsible for the story OF Mrs.
oLsary's COW that started the Chicago fire in
October 1871, more than fifty years ago.
Major John b. Jeffrey 10 the man, an up-stand-
ing veteran journalist. who was at that distant
date editor Of the Chicago Journal. The Chi
cago fire had burned the plants Of every news
paper in that city, but across the river Major
Jeffrey found insignificant press and some
miscellany Of type owned by the man who pub.
lished the city directory. Being urged by Gen.
Philip d. Sheridan. who had taken over the
city, TO print a paper to help the morale Of the
people, he attempted to get out a sheet in this
make shift plant. With his own hands he set
a front page which carried the scare heads Of
the great calamity. When he got down to the
details Of the fire he had not much material
upon which to 60. About that time. however.
Dan Koran came into the shop. Dan being an
Irish boy In his employ, at the time consider
ably under the influence Of liquor.
DAN" said the editor, what do you know
about the cause Of the fire?"
Faith" said the Irishman. II know all about
it," And he proceeded to elucdate the facts
You see," haid Dan, Mrs. oLeary
out in the barn milking her COW. The
kicked over the lantern. which set the straw
on fire The wind blew the flames into the
xas works and from the gas works they
spread to the city. and there you have the
whole story Of q great conflagrstion."
Major Jeffrey set the type for this story
with his own hands and his sheet. the first
paper issued in Chicago after the fire, car
ried the story to the world. Few newspaper
stories have ever been printed that became
more widely known. This has often been
resuited. There could be no better authority
on the genesis Of II than statement Of the
facts as here related to me In washington
by the man responsible for its having been
given to the world.
Before the Chicago fire." said Major Jeffrey.
newspapers had never used heavy display
heads When l came to get out my i'm.
provised sheet in makeshift plant 1 found
little else available but some cases Of heavy
type This i used, not from choice but from
necessity. so there appeared across the top Of
this newspaper published after the fire the big
black scarehead: The Calamity Of the Ages.
II was followed by another line which read:
Chicago in Ashes
"For several days we published a paper
with this same type and every day it boosted
these flaring scareheads. Many editors saw
which they flashed an idea. They followed
suit and began using heavy type on the front
pages So was journalistic idea born which
has since become a commonplace In American
Journalism.
The week that followed the Chicago fire,
Mayor Jeffrey further states; saw the birth birth
West SHOW, and the premier appearance
OF Buffalo Bill, that man who, In his life
time, showed to more people than any indi-
General Sheridan thought something should
be done for the entertainment OF the people
Of the stricken city. He called upon Tony
Pastor, the circus man, sent 70 New York
for Ned Butn, the writer Of wild West
stories and called in his two chief scouts,
Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack, both remarkable
marksmen. and thus staged and press, aEentsd
their first public appearance.
Copyright 1921