Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 15, 1886, Page 9

OMAHA'S MILITARY ~ POST. Ristory of Fort Omaba—Description of the Grounds and Buildings. HOW THE BOYS IN BLUE LIVE In Times of Peace a Holiday Life Thelr Duties, Amusements and Pay—The Officers' Quarters ~Dress Parade. [ Written for the Omaha Sunday Bee.) The post now known as Fort Omaha, was established in 1868, It was then styled Sherman barracks. In the same changed to Omaha barracks, In 1878, by a general order of the division of the Missouri, the nane was a third time changed to that of Fort Omaha. When | the next ehange, either by general order or other means shall take place, may not now be determing THE FORT comprises thirty-cight building used as residences for officers, places for the transaction of regimental business, store houses and manufactories ot ail kinds required for local repairs, The quartermaster’s and subsistence stores are furnished from this city b, tract. There are two wells, one eighty six and the other twenty-six feet decp, From these, water is pumped to a reser- voir situated on the blufls northwest of the officers’ quarters. This reservoir has capacity of 88,000 gallons. The bottom of this cistern is 104 feet above the bed of thepump. The supply of drinking water, at present, however,” is sccured from the city water works, THE GROUNDS oceupied by the fort comprise eighty-two and a half nacres. These, in the main, were purchased by the government, on August 26th and September th, 1868, and M h 20th, 1882, The price paid on the first two dates was about $100 per acre. This was paid to & man named Seymour, through™ Augustus Kountze, then of Omaha, and now of New York, Besides the ground purchased by the gove ment, at the time of the lishment of the fort, a tr land was bought by a number of On citizens, each of whom con- tributed $100 to the fund required. With this money about forty acres were pur chased and granted to the government, to be used for military purposcs, but with the proviso that, in the event of the site being vacated for the original pur- poses, it would revert to its donors. 'The purchase by the government had not been made in the most satisfactory manuer, at least to some of the mlitary gentlemen who were most directiy interested in the matter e sule had been effected a Jong time before congress made the r quired appr to pay for the ground, and for a time 1t looked as if the ofticers would be compelled to muke good the amount_required, out of their own pockets. The appropriation was finally made and the tion of the fort was proceeded with. THE PISTORY ( has been a varied one, indeed. Atintervals of about five years' movements, or rather alleged movements, have originated in some inconceivable manner, the ob, of which has been to deprive Omaha of its dearly cherished military institution, These movements have led to meetings, and the meetings to resolutions, and, Jater, to committees sent to Washington to protest agaimst the outrage. As acon- sequence of this vigilance, the fort still remain Six years ago, the government refused to make any further allowance for im- provements because it owned only pari the ground on which the fort stood. caused the owners of the other uner vest the title absolutely in the govern- ment. It was one of the dark daysin the his- OR IRt LB T st L BRNLhS B4t AKiar: of the department of the Platte and the staff of officers were removed from the city to_the post. The order emanated from ( rerman and caused a great doa of dissatisfaction. Tt deprived. the officers of many pleasures ot city life and compelled the civilians to make long and tiresome trips to the post when busimess call them thither. This transfer caused the erection of brick building for the residence of the commander of the Platte, which, by the Wway, was_inangurated with oné of the mokt notable sociable gatherings eve sembled in Omaha. Mauy of the old rookeries which had been used as officers’ quarters since 1868 were repaired and enlarged, and the gailant gentlemen and their families adapted themselves with military resignation to their changed for- tunes. ~ A new brick headquarters build ing was also erected, and then the work of the department was done, until in- fluence was brought to bear upon Sher- man to not insist upon a strict compli- ance with his order, requiring the officers to residoe at the post, and forthwith they came trooping buck to civilization and social pleasures, Seven years have elapsed since the issuance of the Sherman order, or rather, since it was put into effect. Nothing of a serious natnre affecting the post’ has oceurred since, with the exception of the move lately made to transfer the fort to some point obout ten miles from Omaha. This is probably the most fornndable move that has ever taken piace And yet, there is not much reason to fear that it will be more successful than its prede- cessors, at least not until the sentin, of the kn-np}« is more pronounced favor than it is at the present tune LOCATION OF THE FORT. ‘The fort is beautitully situated. The country west and south 1s rolling, while astward, and toward Omaha it 1s nearly Jovel, The parade ground is of course the most attractive part. 1t comprises about thirty acres, and for about two thirds of its width it is almost level, gently ascending thence toward the west until it meets the road running north and south, On a gentle plateau rising from the road and running parallel (o it ure situated the officers’ quar ters. From these a view may be had of the parade ground, even when, in summer, the magnificent row of box- elders is green with its luxuriant folinge. Tnese trees line the grounds, and shade both iines of the avenue, rendering it cool and shady in the mid-day heat, and calmly suggestive of pleasure and rest when swayed by the light winds of even- ing. BUSINESS QUARTERS, North of the parade ground are situated the hospital and post head- quarters. This is a brick building, three stories high, 55x148 feet. It contains the business plice of the commanding oflicer, the quartermaster, adjutant, the ser: eant-major und the regimental printer. 'his position is filled by one soldier, who besides attending to “the work of the regiment also does that of the entire post. In the basement is the postoflice, pre- B e e Mt ol . et orders, registored lattors and posta potes may bo mailed. There are besides, the ordnance, clothes room, the library, the librarian’s private room, the general oourt-martial room. the private apart- ments of several of the clerks as also that of the leader of the band, Mr, Wede- meyer. These rooms occupy the western half of the building. In the eastern end and the first story are loested the hospital, the rooms of the first and second cluss stewards, two rooms for the storage of modical library i orgeant’s fice. Iu the bascment are the hospital THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: Kitchen, ‘the dining room. the boiler | which heats the hospital by meuns of twenty two radiators and the cell for sick prisoners, for the accommodation of soldiers, who while under sentence may fall sick and require skilled atten tion. On the sccond floor are two larg wards with four smaller ones, capabl¢ accommadating thirty two patients. The building was erceted as above mentioned and cost in the vicinity of #50,000. On the cast side of the enclosu the tin-smith's shop, the ice-house club room for enlisted men, the schoc house, coal house, guard house, quarter master's store house, the engine and bath house In the club room the men play pool and billiards and if so inciin dulge ina glass of beer. This is kept open only during the day. In the bath house are accommodations for ten bathers, one apartment being provided | for each company, and two for extra year, by a general order, its name was | THE GUARD 0L isa onestory brick building, immedi ately south of the main entranice to the gronnds, It is 30 63 foet wit! an additicn 12x25 feot. It faces the parade ground and 18 protected on the front by an aple porch. On a waik before the entrance, a sentinel is always on duty, He is dressed in fatigue uniform, with polished rifle and gloved hands, and as he walks back and forth, instinefively endeayors (o im- press the visitor with the dignity and im sortance of s position. Other soldiers ounge around as if keeping synipathetic compauy with an unfortunate com rade whom they know to be, but yot, whom they —can not sce, within the w Is. This house con tains four large and four small cells, a sink and wash-room and two rooms for the non-commissioned officers. The cells are _iron-barred and the tloor is of two sections of wood between which is a layer of iron, The windows are barred outside and inside, are covered with a more closely wronght iron guard with openings of not more than an inch m size. This effectnally shuts the inmate off from the kindly “donations of friends, such, perhas, as i hottle of beer or a flask of bourbon, articles that are not unapprecisted by hevoes in durance. In this plac lamp burns all night Before it, a sentry parades all night, and with these preciutions, and the rough vibbed walls of the place, the most ingen jous inmate has as yet fo announce that he has baftled all and his escape. Soldiers s conti for the miss ing of calls, drunxi , desertion oy while under sentence of some court mar- tial, are waiting transportation to the military prison at Leavenworth. Fifteen men d, cach serving two hours on i To the quartermaster's and the COMMISSARY STOREHOUSE. : This is a brick building, two stories in height and thirty-four feet wide by on hundred and fifty-seven in length. The quartermaster’s stores oceupy about two- thirds, those of the commissary, the re- wainder of the building. In tlie former may be found almost everything re- quired in a first-class hardware store; in the Intter,everything one might expeet ex- ceptef perishabie naturc rocery. ‘ollowing the drive on the east north- ward and turning to the west, THE NORTH BARKACKS are passed. These are of frame, 40525 feet in size, each comprising a sleeping id mess-room and kitehen for a com any. ‘Ihe ‘lormitory 15 supvlicd with iron beds rangea beside each other, and with woven wire mattresses. Adjoining each is a movable_locker, in which the soldier deposits his little possess On the wall'at tho head of th hung such articles of usc or ornamenta tion as the feeling of the occupant may suggest. Now 1t is a picture of a celeb. rity, again a pair of boxing gloves. This man_hangs up his banjo, and that one the base ball club with which he has made the home run that defc val nine, that awarded him the honor ” of being the best player in the regiment, Ovening off this is the mess-room. Here, e tables, us white as those found in a Kow “England Kitehen, extend partly across the room. From these the sol- diers eat their wholesome meals of frosh meat, potatoes, beans and coffee. The kitchen opens from each end, and two cooks preside over an immense army range, which enables them to sup- ply the hungry mortals without, who are always in exeellent appetite. Around thes s the soldiers, un- less when engaged upon special duty, or in exercise or amusement, spend their time. They smoke, tell sto swing clubs, write letters’ or work on some nicknack to {ill up the time. There e several base ball clubs among the companies, each with its uniform, and ome containing fine players. On the day on which my visit was made to the plice, one of the nines had met and van quished a club from town. It was a hot day, but the work w hotter, and when the ' soldiers concluded the game, they looked as sun-bronzed as if they had hassed through an Apache campaign. n the evenings there are company frol- ic ud it is not an unusual matter to see a purse formed, the contents depos- ited with & neighboring saloon man, and forthwith in return to note a keg of lager beer wheeled to the quarters for convivial discussion. This liberality is intended to withdraw soldiers from lounging around the saloons which infest the old entrance to the grounds. THE TROOPS. In these barracks are quartered E, A, H and B companies. To the south of the parade ground is another line of bar- racks, built in the same uniform style and dimensions. These accommodate D, Cund F companics and the regimental band of twenty-two pieces, under the leader of Mr. Wedemeyer, SOLDIERS' PAY, These ol id every two months, receiving at that tim: $25.75. ‘Their clothes are issued to them, but if a man draws in excess of the allowance it is deducted from his wages; if less than the ullowance, he is credited with the amount and 18 given it on his retirement from the army. Their term of enlistment is five years, though some of them be- come 50 fascinated with the life that they re-enlist upon the eonclusion of each term. I saw a number of men who had almost grown grey in the seryice, and yet they were in but the prime of life. One of these wore five bands of white across the coat-sleeve at the wrist, and each of these denoted five years of ser- vice. In all, he had spent more than a quarter of a century in the habiliments of Uncle Sam, The wages of the priv: are $12.87 per month; corporal, $15; sergeant, $17. A second lieutenant receives §1,400 & year, a_first lieutenant and chaplain $1,300, regimental quarter- master, adjutant and captain $1,800, a major §2,500, a lientenant colonel $3,000, a colonel $3,500, and a general §5,500, It 15 said that military men seldom grow wealthy, and it is generally believed that such is the case. One soldier, perhaps, in a dozen saves his money. When he zots his wages he uses them in canceling hle indebtedness he has contracted dur- ing the two months it is required to earn them. With the officers,ocial entertain- ments, desire for novelty, together with the certainty of uninterrupted employ ment, do nof eonduge to that thriftne: which amasses wealth. North of the northern barracks is A BOW OF PRETTY COTTAGES, six in number. These are occupied by non-commissioned stafl officers with their families. In_ the first of these resides Hospital Stewaura Howard; in the second, Post Quartermaster Sergeant . Tuttie; . Regimental Quartermaster, Sergeant Allison; Com m\nur{ sergeant, Davidson, mental Sergeant Major Stacer. On the drive, nearly opposite the commander's residonce, is situal THE OHAPEL, This is 37x87 feet, wnd in it religious services are held twice every Sunday, | asked my escort if many of the soldiers attended the exercises, He laughed, and said he did not know. He had becn iu present at divine worship. He guessed there not many soldiers who went to chureh. A Catholic priest from Oma visits the fort twice every month says mass. My informant told me tha most of the religious men of the gurrison attended these exercises The chape! has « stage, and in winter dramatic performances are given upon | it. Formerly, also, the place wis used for dancing, but latterly, & vacant hall in another part of the post, has been substituted out of a fecling of Tespect for the original idea of the little place Following the west avenue toward the south, THE OFFICERS' QUARTERS are passed. Some of them are new others show recent improvements, whilc others still bear the impress of an infirm ity superinduced by bad eare and old age They are nearly” all painted in dark brown. Each has a porch, and in front a little garden spot, which, however, isbut arely improved. ' The gables of the strue tures are turned from the avenue, and the effect of the whole is that the archi teet originally intended to make the houses keep o single file, but suddenly chango them to a company front. The first residence is that of Col. Wheaton, commander of the post. This is situated m the northwestern part of the square Gen. Crook was its first_occupant. It 15 of brick and most solidly constructed Commeeingat the south endof the avenue occupants of the other quarters are . 1, Second Licutenant Abner Picker 5, Captain Abner Haines, Jr First Licutenant Wm. A Aber- erombic; No. 5, First Licutenant Horace B. Sarson; No, 6, First Licutenant Rich. ‘I Earle No. 7, First Licutenant Sidney E. Clark, R. Q. M. and P. Q M.; No. Captain _ Rob. B. Ben- ham, assistant surgeon, U.S. A No. First Lientenant Luther S, Ames, A C.S. No. 10, H. 8. Hoskin, A S, U. S. A No. 11, Captain Henry Catley: No. 113, Second Licutenant Ho H. Benham, Sce- ond Licutenant V. J. Brumback, Second Licutenant ‘Thos, H. Wilson, Second Licutenant Wm. M. Wright; No. 12, Cap- mes Ulio: No. 13, Captain Wm. Mills; No. 14, Captain A.'S. Daggett; N 15, Major Edmond Butler; No. 16, Mujor J. M. Brown, surgeon U. S. A and post surgeon; No. 18, Captain C. A, Dempsey: No. 183, Captair H. C. Cook: No. 19, Licutenant John Kinzie; No. 20, Licutenant ¥. T, Van Liew; No. 21, First Licutenant C. W. Rowell, adjutant See: ond infantry and post adjutant; No. 22, Second Licutenant C. D, Towsley; No. 28 W. T. MeAdams, vost chaplun. South of the southern Ine of barracks therc is a heterogencous collection structures, occupied and used by kinds of people and for all purpos They are the USUAL APPENDAGES OF A FORT, and comprise the quarters of laundrosses, the ovens of the baker, the shambles of the butcher, the forge of the smith, the able of the carpenter, the stalls of the hostler, the shed of the wagoner, and tie place in which the deep-toned mon- sters of war are housed from elemental attack. The feature most interesting to the average civilian, is THE DRESS PARADE > of the companics composing the garri- son. This takes place generally at about sun down. It isalways a beautiful and impressive spectacle.” The heat of the day has died wway. The light air of the vining rustle through the trees. The tall box elder and cotton woods on the cast gint shadows athwart th de ground, while the tops of those in wst_ are tipped with gold, The pa rade ground stretehes to tiie east like an extensive spread of emerald velvet, the little inequalities noticeable during’ the ay, softened by the distance and the light, Ihere 1s a beauty in the cene which thrills the spectators who throng the avenues on all’ sides. There is little talk save in_low tones, because the bu called th ssembly. Companies are being formed on the norih and south sides of the square, the dark and light blue uniforms contrasting with the grecn ot both blade and Ie Stately oflicers are walking to assume command. The roll called, and the manual of arms is gone through. The adjutant, straight as Apollo, and filled with the pride that he is the ¢ynosure of every eye, followed by two orderlies, to the music of the band, walks to the mid dle of the ground and forms the line. Another” burst of martial music, The commander appears, a long white plame falling in curves from his helmet crest The companies begin to march., They advance in columns of four, and in com~ pany front wheeling into line, some with the vrecision of automatons, others with much less regularity, until 'n com panies face the commande The big and little men in each com- vany, the former oceupying the right, the latter tapering to the left. The regimental band in blue, marches up and down in front of the line, the drum-majorin a panoply of red, white and gold, with a bearskin chako as large as bruin himself, and a mammoth staff which he jugg] with ease, as he marches 1n front. There is no man prouder than a drum-major. There is no prouder drum-major than this one. Ciesar in review never sumed the majesty which graces the béaring of this mortal. He s alone in his gorgeousness and unappre in his dignity. It is well, perhaps, that this is so, beciuse his notoriety 18 but short-lived. The line is put through the manual of arms. Mus- Lwh are rii and lowered with gloyed hands. When touched by the latter, the sound of buckle and strap is Jike an in- antaneous fall of rain upon u ga roof, or against the window-pane. gloved hands are busy deseribing move- ments, which may hardly be detected. They ull work with precision and ease, and denote the effort of the tactician, The oflicers form in line, and 3‘()A|l|;.i and old, light and heavy, at a rapid stride mareh forth to salute the commander. They are well-formed and military in their bearing, although some show the effect of weight of years. These are unmind ful of the glances of the fair ones who oceupy barouche and coupe and car- ringe, while the youuger ones not too slyly look from ~ beneath their white crowned helmets to where the bright- eyed beauty may be beaming her smiles. The salute over, the puglers sound the retreat, the band plays, and the compan- ies march to their quarters. Some of the roll to the city, Others with their occupants wait for the concert. Back to town go the visitors, buggy, b, coupe, carringe, some aiming io ad in the line. Past groggery and den, past garden and farm, the vehicles whirl, until at length the military road is veached lere giant poplars line the way, allowing intermittent penciis of sunhght to J_rim with gold the rolling pageant, and forming & vista of won drous extent and benuty. The distance is shortened by congenial companionship, the beauty of the scene, and the visit of the day, and almost before it is apore ciated the lights of the city are reached and the party is again in Omaha. E. A O'BriexN. The Bustle on Fire. York (Pa.) Age: A comical incident occurred at a lawn party the other even- ing. A ceitain well-known ladv sat down on & Chinese lantern and set fire to her dress. Several gallant young men sprang to her rescue and extinguished the flames, but not before the back part of her bustle and dress had been badly damaged. The unfortunate lady was compelled to sit on the_floor in a very undignilied position until some one brought her a cloak to hide the deficiency, SUNDAY, - Facts About a Petuliarly Interesting Class of Oitizens, WHO THEY ARE-WHAT THEY DO Characteristics of Italy's Sanbarned Sons—iruit Peddlors— Mus Fortunes Made From Small Beginuings [ Written for the Omaha Sunday Bee.) The little bootleg-siaped country of Italy, sun-kissed afd sen-washed, has fur nished the larger dities of the United States with « peculiarly interesting class of citi zens. A people of matural commereinl instinct, the more intelligent of them find the sorfdom and army life of their native country tmbearable, and each vear thousands of them make their way to America, and_sre not slow in taking advantage of the opportunity afforded | them of selecting their own method of making a living, Five or six years ago Omaha was the home of less than adozen Italians, but they tre quick to vealize the | wdvantages offered in a growing city, and to-day there are nearly four hundred of them in our midst, engaged in almost all of the ditterent lines of commercial life and in most of the varions kinds of man ual labor. They form a distinet class of citizens, little known and understood, but they bear acquaintance well. In Italy, with a military apprenticeship that employs their younger years, and no prospeet but a hife of serfdoin thereafter, they ure u listless, lazy class, but the undergo a comple iange when the ad vantages of a free man are opened to them and they form one of our most ENTERPRISING CLASS OF CITIZENS. Of the three hundred and fifty or four Jundred male Ttalians in- Omalin al fifty are cngaged 1 the fruit busin and their sun-browned faces, beaming good-naturedly from a hole in the wall from the side of sume box stall on a convenient strect corner, are the first - that areot the early risers, and their places of business a not elosed until midnight or after, when Iy the policemen, reporters and bums are abrond in the land. The stock of these fruit stands is gauged by the eapital of the owner, and varies from the basket of bananas judiciously seat- tered over the bottom of the push ty controlled by the beginner in the busi- ness, up to the full line of fruts, cigars and confections that comprise the stoc m trade of the established business man They conduct their business a good deal like other people. The ‘“‘worm i’ the bud™ in their pears is turned down or concealed by a tissne vaper wrapper for the same reason that the small st berries are always found in the bottom of the box. Regular customers and purchasers with a_eritieal eye can tind, s good {ruit at the 1 s els nd the un- suspecting victim, man who wants a basketful for a dime is imposed upon by the Italian the same as he is by more pretentious tradssmen. The Italiansdo not, as is geverally sup- posed, huve & monopoly upon the strect }ruil trade. There are two classes of these dealers. ‘The Italiuns own all or rly all of thestreet corner stunds, while the huckster wagons on the busine streets ave principally owned by Russian Jaws A half dozen of Omaha’s Italians are employed in the smelting works, and some of them commanding the best skilled labor wages: A few of them are cmployed in the pagking louses, while by far the majority of them are day laborers on contradt jobs, railroading, «ding, street sweeping, cto. There is no orgsnization among. the jans as a cluss. While most of them are from southern Italy, they are from different dialect-speaking provinees, and perhaps less than one-fifth of the num- er in Om K the same language, For instance, J, H. Cuneo and Charles Lagomareino ave from Genoa, and converse with the magority of Omaha Itahans with difliculty except in French, which most of them speak more or less fluently. The Italians have the aceumulative” faculty — well developed, and most of the Omaha Italians are PROPERTY OWNERS. The instullment plan tinds with them, and a majority of them are making monthly paymentson re: investments in different varts of the city. About 1 doz ies own their own houses and hve in i ettlement down on South Thirteentn street. They live economically, though their appear- ance of untidiness and their squalid sur roundin dne to a natural habit and notto a lack of means. They are of a peaceful disposition, Catholies in religion, and are gencrally’ v areful the education of their’ children invest their earnings in property, a generally very temperate and seldom fig- in police court tr: ions. They are strong in their domestic nature, and those who are not married are saving their earnings and making a home for uties who are to bo imported from the land of song. There 1s CONTRAST, by the w between the Italian sexes. Waile th jority ot the wen are below the average stature and have anything but a robust appearance, the women are nmr!{ ail of a larger build, generally good looking and healthy, he Italians asa cluss are NATURAL MUSICTANS, and the majority of those whose work gives them any leisure at all are adepts with the violin or harp. There is an as sociation of them under the management of Frank Motta and brother, who con- tract to furnish harp or violin music _for entertainments of any character. Then there are solitary }nnplnl.\‘, who after cach day's work manage to pick up a good many stray dimes in the hotel ro- tundas und on the street corners where their efforts find appreciative hearers. The Italians have but little intevest in affairs of government and while they own property sond }my taxes, like other citizens, but few of them have availed themselyés of the privilege so dear to the Awmerican heart, ti it to vote and pass party regolutions. Few of them have taken odt naturaiization papers, although in abddience to law and respect of the rights of pthers their exim- ple could well tu quiplated by certain more pretentious classds of citizens, In a quiet way a momber of Omaha Italians have accumulated property that makes thew ABSOLUTELY INDEPENDENT. The smost noted of these is Mr. Giaco- muni, of the Thirteenth street bank. He came to Omaha about twenty youars ago, and is the oldest talien™ reside of the city. With remark foresight he planted his carnings in city property, and 5 a result is to day a very rich man, being rated at over u quarter of & million dol lars. John B. Cuneo, the Thirteenth street grocer, has been In the city about ten years and by striet economy and ju- dicious investments has acquircd a_prop- erty valued ut 25,000 at least. Josenh iorells, of the Paxton barber shop, who styles himself “the bestes barber in de world” has quietly laid aside over twenty thousand dollurs for a rainy day, and it will be & rainy day when he stops adding to his accumulation. Adam Baudo, who is employed in the Smelting works, has invested his earnings in such a way that he owns five acres of yalaable land ad- Joining the city and Pan’t m than count his thousands gon the fingers of AUGUST 15, | THE - ITALIANS GOF OMAHA. the post two years and had neyer been | both hands. _His brother Moses Bando, employed by Peyeké Bros., has also made a real estate “‘spec’’ that has plac.d him in possession 4-’.1.41 re to the amount of several thousand. 'The Venutos—Anto- nia, Joseph and Raphael—who have a monopoly on the musical business, have Iaid aside neat fortunes. Charley 'Lago marcino, the good natured, who owns the confectionery and frait _establishment at No. 1,1204 Farnam street, commenced business without any capital about six years ago and now, while he persists that he is a very poor man, would laugh at an offer of 000 for his property inter in Omaha. These are a few of the nien who have made comfortable fortunes in a very few years from beginnings smaller than the sums spent by the young man of the period on a single ‘champagne supper on a night out with the boys Hagny HUNTER REPORTING FORTY YEARS AGO Interesting Reminiscenses of an Old- Time Stenographer. Indianapolis Jeurnel: *“1 suppose 1 am the oldest stenographer in this part of the countryt” said J. J. Henderson agent in this city of the Adaws express company, “when 1 say stenographer 1 wean it, for phonography, the system of short W writing now cutrent, had hardly been introduced when I learned stenography. Of course it has been many yenrs<inee I practiced it. 1 was lving at Buffalo and began learning it in 1318, being taught by a friend who advised me to learn it, Mr. Hicks, who at one time A reporter on the London Times. He afterward went to Washington and was on the Congressional Globe, t mauso- .eum of national specel makers. In 1850 [ got an engagement to report in the Can adian parlinonent. That wus in the stir ring times of Mackenzie and Papineau. 1 eame back to Buffulo the same year. 1 then got a place as reporter on the But falo Courier, at the munificent salary of $3a week, Little or no attention was paid to local matters in the papers then, and my serviee not being in demand even at $3 a week, 1 went into an_oflice to study law. About the Tth or Sth of June, 1851, Peesident Fillmore with his eabinet, started on o tour through the Unit A telegram came from ‘Thurlow Weed to the editor of the Iixpress, saying that Daniel Webster, then secretary of state, would speak at Buffalo, aud he wanted a verbantim re- port of the specch. Word came to me, nd I'said 1 would take it. "I'ne pres: dent and the cabinet ived. Mr. Web- ster spoke 1n the court house park in the afternoon during a souking rain. N. K. Hall, postmaster general, held an_ um- brella over me while 1 took Mr. Web- sler’s_speech. Solon Robinson, of the New York Tribune, was the only other stenographer there. It was not “diflicult to take the great orator. A rapid long- hand man could almost get him ver- bantim, so deliberate and measured were his periods, repeat the opening sentenees of that speech to-day. My notes were sonked through, and I had to dry them before they could be transeribed Tie telegraph was very littla used in that day, and the speech of the greatest Amer- ican of his time, instead of being put upon the wires, s in this day is done with the ntterances of much smaller men, was put into the mail and sent to the Albany Journal, and there published two days atter it was delivered. This report resulted in my going upon the Journal, which was then' conducted by Thurlow Weed. 1did not remain long, but re- turned to Buffalo. *In 1852, when I went back to Bnffalo,” continued Mr. Henderson, *‘we had the Morse line of telegraph from New York to Buffalo, and also the House line. From Buffalo west were the O'Reily and Speed lines, operated in opposition to cach other. The Associuted Press was then 1 the hands of Craig & Co., of New ork. They furnished all the western newspapers, but their reports never went west of Buffalo to the la rion, though they sent reports to Pittsburg, which Samofon et to Cincinnati ‘and St. ou “The O'Reily and Speed lines having each but onc wire running through a ln'NI)’ wild country from Buflalo to To- edo, with no railroand communication between those points, it was diflicult to keep the lines up, and they were fre- quently down two or three duys a weck. The press of Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, and other point werc solely dependent on these oppos tion lines for all market and news re ports. Gram merchants had for years relied upon private dispatéhes on which to conduct their business, and those were s0 unsatisfactory that the grain dealers of those cities asked me_ to furnish them with a daily report of New York and Buffalo markets and ocean steamer news. This I did for a compensation of 25 cents for each city, m addition to telegraphic charges, and they wouldn't pay any is arrangement worked so satisf; torily that the newspapers of those cities relied solely on_ those telegrapic dis- patehes for their market report, Mr Stewart, then managing man on the Ch awo Tribune, consulted with Rufus King, ot the Milwaukee Sentnel, and with the Milwaukee Wisconsin, De- troit I'ribune, Toledo Blade, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland Leader, and, I think, the Sundusky Register, They agreed to authorize Mr. Stewart to em- ploy me to furnish the papers with a daily report of the news, which had to be in the telegraph office before 6o’clock in What do you think of that, when telegraph news ran night* He agreed to pay me $1awoek from each nowspaper for my services. I began sometime in the middle of the summer of 1852, The first week I sent dispatches by the Speed lne; the wires were down’ between Buflulo and Cleveland for two or three days, and the newspapers failed to get their report, Then the O'Reilly line was tried, ana 1 was soon in (rouble with that. Both lines were 8o anxious for the business allowed us to fix our own rates compensation. The first week's ex- perience with the O'Reilly line was no better than that with the Speed line had been, On my com- pensation of a dollar a week the ‘leveland Leader eut me off fifty cents o week for two weeks on account of the wires being down, although I had pre- pared and placed the matter in the tele- graph operato hands. I have letters i my possession now from Emery Cobb, who was then general manager of the telegraph office in Chicago, in which he says U he has been in the Chicago ‘I'ribune office day after day to colleet my #6 for six weeks' service, but the Tribune says it hasn't the money to pay. T) reads a Dhttle strange now, \\'?u‘n the ‘Tribune is paying out hundreds of dol Iars for specials at nearly every cross roads in the north-west, “In those days the telegraph offices did not send reports to the newspaper offices by messenger boys. In the Bultulo ofti when the report came the newspaper re porters came and set down and wrote it, whle the telegrapher read it from the paper. Matt Buell was an operator at Buffulo, and we thought it a surprising thing when he would drop the paper for a minute or two and read by sougd. He didn’t dare stay away long from the paper, however, for fear of 1osing some- thing. As late as 1857, when President Buchanan's ~messuge came over th wires, I remember that I, with reporte of the other papers, sat in the Buffalo oflice and took the message as the oper- ator read it to us from the paper machine in that day :m?v didn't think of writing out the report for the newspapers. We took the message as he dictated it, send- ing two sheets at a time by a 'prentice to the nowspaper ofiice. 1886, —~TWELVE PAGES. THE NEWSBOYS OF OMAHA. Something About the Unordained Ministers Who Spread the Gospel of News, THEIR LIFE AND HABITS Amusements How They W Goods Box, kte. An article on the would | I [ hayeto be strung out to a leng reader in tl and habits of may be given perh make a business of s About linlf of these s I'he other haif are too lazy or pendent to make the exertion which the morning papers papers involy of one young merehant, “dat's de only continental in de five o'clock morning newsboys begin to gather about s, and by half pa wd commence to dat sells worth the different oft are “'stocked up patrol their various | s yer mornin’ Beg, Herald or until bout nine o'clock, or at ton or half past, when all their pa A good, active boy can sell ensily twenty or thirty papers in a and s many or are disposed of. sensation Lo enuse an unnsu evening boys begin their libor about four o'clock have dispose 1 of all their papers. Some of the boys fillm the hours between the issue of the morning and evening papers by blacking boots, and thereby ably to their 1S EARNING a mistaken add conside iden enterta many people that the newsboy, work as he may, can earn but just barely enough soul together. and, that a smart, to keep bo fact is, on the other active newsbo, than the average dry goods cler no uncommon thing bright youngsters to make #8or %10 a week, or even as high week would be a fair ave active of the newsboys—and yning the most Iuerative corners, His profits are small be sure, for ents on each pecially when he hs A sensation al election, and for days the s no uncommon thing ~for the newsboys to make from $4 to$8 per NEWSBOYS' ready mtimated, each boy | or corner, on which he Woe to the unprincipled newsboy who mvades the territory of a fellow It the injured party promptly proceeds to thump manner befitting an apostle of the great John L. »r hand, the pirate is {00 other man, the latter promptly gathers friends to hi aid, and thus backed up_ *sails into” his adversary. However, instances of such transgres: 1are indeed. itten law among th subject which is tacitly respected and the city are re- spectively the postoflice corner,(Fifteenth and Dodge,) Fifteenth and Doug nd Farnam, the Paxton nth and Farnam and Thirteenth the " length Dave been selling papers, the oldest boy @ ng given the best o corner is held, newsboy named “Hunchy,” (on a of his crippled back) who has sold in Omaha for four or five 3 seventeen years old and is allowed to sell which are less_frequented ord such a younger boy ou the corne and conscquently do not hively trade as those held If a newsboy for highest pidder brings from five to ten dollors. HABITS AND AMUSEME As a general thing the newshoy does not save up much money opportunity to do so, to be su i have been seen able, while b piys no atte fore squande or high living, going to the theatre, e consider- tion to the fashion, and s no money on_ stylish But he is fond of nds o deal Bee, fascinates frequently loses in playing that game him, and he base ball pool rooms are He contributes Sometimes « stake, but it must be od, liquor, cause frequent outlays on his part, and form a heavy item of » in his cash account, gether he has little inclination Besides, in many cases is obliged to quently depend almost entirely upon is one, bright active newsboy here, how- an exception to the rule and is saving up his money by the cess, a real estate investment. He bought in one of the additions some n making monthly ever, who is 20, and has be payments on it ever since. it nearly paid for. make bis mu ‘That boy is bound to kin this world, HOW HE LIVES, ‘The life of a newsboy is not in all re- spects pleasant to contemplate times he lives with lis parents, who are structures of that sort I / goods box, provided with a little , and he can ac A laree, spacious to him a bou For, be itunderstood, the newsboy believes in'spending as little as on food or lodging. cents in kis pockets he would go supper: ther than miss a seat some blood-and-thunder theat. ny one doubts that and their companions the regular patrons of the his station rical performance. the newsboy boot blacks, are , let bim tal the gallery door some night and wateh the motley throng filing in, ot 4 lamb of the A J. KENDRICK DEATH OF FATHER BERGIN. A Prominent Eclesiastic, Formerly of Omaha, Dies in St Lonis, Rov. Joln F. Bergin. 8. J., vice presi dent and chancellor of the St. Louis uni- versity, and formerly of Creighton | college in this city died at the novitiate of the Jesuit fathers at Flgris- sant, Mo., on last Tuesday evening shortly before 11 o-cloek Father Bergin was ill for several months preeading his death, and this sad event was not al ther unexpected. Theillness wnich ted fatally was consumption, sult o the con tracted wgradually worse, but remained at his post tion in active discharge of his onerous uties, During the month of June his illness took a bad turn, and it was de cided by his physician to have him leave the university for Florissant, whoere it was thought he would scen improve, He left the college about a weok before the | commencement exereises were held, but | the frosh country air could not build up twenty boys who i his shattered constitution. Despite the care given him by the medieal profession and the members of the order, he con tinued to grow worse every day, be i his pains and sufforings WITHOUT A MURMER, Of e score or more | until Tuesday night, when he culmly expired, with several of the Jesuit fathers at his bedside, Fatlier Bergin was born in Cinciny about thirty-years ago, and went to St. Louis with his parents when less than five years of age. His tather, Michael Bergin, engaged in the uplolstering business,and succceded in butlding up o large and paying establishment, His reputation for honesty and integrity won for him a large eivelo of friends both in business and soc life. Mr. Bergin and his wife were devoted members of ~ the Roman Catholie chureh, and when John, their eldest was old cnough 10 attend school he W sent fo the St Louis university where he remained for about six years, Proving a very sue student, He evin stroug desi “ome a priest, and his wish was readily granted by his parents. He was admitted to the novitiate it Florissant,where he completed with eme inent success the course prescribed vy the fathers in charge. By of con- tinmng his studies for the holy office, he was next sent to the Jesuit college’ at Woodstock, Md., afterwards STUDYING AND TEACHT the Cincinnati, St Louis and reighton__ college in this city. colleges. While at the St. Louis umver- sity in the capacity of professor and scholastic he was made prefect and placed in cliarge of the playgrounds and study-hall. While in this position he merited the respeet and lovo of all the pupils at ng the university at that time. Ever king courteous, and wille iniz to help along all the students fulling behind their elasses, he established a rep- utation which wil membered by those attendi institution at that time. On completing his theological and other studies, and attaining the requi: age, he was ordained in February, 1885, together with several other scholas! tics, Archbishop Kenrick, the mn nonies taking place in the old College church on Ninth and Christy avenue. In the sum- mer of 1885 arrangements were made to plice Father Schapman, who was the vice presiaent of St Louls university,in charge of the new Jesuit church at Kansas City, and the newly ovdained Father Ber- gin was seleeted to succeed him. The Sosition was one which required precise Judgment and ability to perform consid- erable work, and no one was thought more competent to fill it Father Bergin, Although not quite thirty-one yenrs of age, he was assigned to fill the vosition, he being the youngest father ever placed IN THE VICE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR, 'he same zeal and encrgzy which car- ried him so successfully “through his career as a scholastic, entered into his work as vice president, and the manner in which he discharged the duties of the position won for him the respect and esteem of professors and pupils. He was a thorough scholar and an eloquent and able speaker. Cut down, as it were, on the ver, threshold of a useful carcer, his death will be regretted by all with whom he ever came 1n contact, cither as a scholas- tic or priest. His father died in August, 1878, and left his establishment in charge of Michael, his second eldest son. AT CREIGHTON COLLEGE, Father Bergin was connected with Creighton college 1 this city for three years. He had charge at différent times of the second and first humanities, and ss in poetry and rhetorie. The lat- s the class with which he was lnst sociated,when in 1881 he left the city for St. Lounis. He was one of the most val- uahle professors which Creighton college had had up to that time, His educa- tion was complete in all he was called upon to give instruction, while his method of imparting information was not less remarkable for its suceess complishing the work which devolvea upon lum. ~ With a class in the first years of a new collegiate institution, which re- quired judicious handling to both see and avpreciate the advantages of a classical edueation, Mr. Bergin wrought with ‘wondrously happy Te- sults. Its membel became devot- ed to their studies, pursued them with gratifying ndustry, so much so that when he ceased s connection with them they had advanced even beyond the stan- dard required in the examination for pro- motion. With his students, Father Bergin was both a teacher, a compunion and friend, He presided over them in class, associated with them at their homes and took t in their recreations and their games. Asascholar in English literature, Father Bergin, for a young man was sownewhat remarkable, His knowledge of the early classies ot the language was extensive, while that of later works and those of the times was searcely excelled by any mem- ber of his order. He was a writer of excecding brilliancy and force, and now and then wove into poetry & number of picees of remurk- able grace and beauty. As 4 speaker, he was ornate, earnest and eflective, and displayed the reason- ing power of a logiciun with the ease and dignity and ‘.:rm- who had studied the beauties of his art, Than him, there had b up to h time, no _ more opular memk rolghton’s faculty. Though of easy and rather retiring dis- position, he was generally known among the friends and patrons of the institutio wnd as gonerally rospocted und osteened, His death will be sad and unexpectea intelligence to all his friends, because, when Jast seen in Omaha, he appeared as if he w od with hoaIth aud srength ina long and useful life, the n of his friends and the il ion of both his ucquirements and b natural gifts Father Bergin's death will prove a hard blow to his mother, four brothers and two sisters who survive him. The; togk u pride in his suceess in the sacred ling, which he preferred to the high im\flllln his talents and uhill(f‘ would have raised lim to in any worldly pro- ession. The func took place at 10 o'clock Thursday morning ut the novitinte at Florissant. = Requieni mass wus celebrated i the chapel in the presence of the men bers of the order and the wother, broth- ers and sisters of the deceased. Follow: ing the services the remains were n terred in the cemetery on the grounds.