Show A BIG N BEAT undoubtedly the boldest undertaking on the part ot d reporter to score a beat ever in the history off american journalism was 1 when thomas B fielders of the new york times leaped from a steamer in now york harbor at odds of about a hundred to one of being drowned and brought in the first graphic story of the loss of the ocean liner oregon it is the custom of new york dailies to send reporters down the bay to meet incoming steamers when it is known iverc is big news aboard on the ground that it Is better to be safe athan sorry the editors dispatch the reporters by special permit ona government revenue cutter or else ona on a specially chartered tug with a view to catching their game before the ship docks ii was known early one that north german steamer which had rescued the passengers of the ill fated Oregon 1 was not far out and eabry city editor in new york laid plans for sending reporters out to meet the incoming liner fielders was ona ot these he managed io get aboard th e big down the bay and went among the hiir alvors of the oregon disaster and obtained some thrilling tales of escape lie took notes enough to write i book about he sinking of tha phlp v wilh minute details of heroic rescues and plenty of what newspaper men call human then time began to wear heavy on his hands it was getting late at night and alie ship had yet passed quarantine to m ike matters worse ih c captain said that he would allow no one to cave the ship until she had made her way clear at quarantine fielders vainly pleaded that he was not a and therefore was not amenable amei able r the inspection of by the health his were un availing the captain was obdurate ten came the chiy editor bif the times paced nervously around the night desk repeatedly asking where oa earth is fielder s out there in the bay fielders wrought to a fitch of anger ali fiot sufficient 11 to impel an assault upon the exacting captain looked vainly at the dimpling stream of from his tug as she lay nut in the darkened waters wait ins tor hm the captain of firs steamer would not permit the aug t 0 come any beirer to his ship fielder s stood beside the rail loudly remon cratl aig with the man commanding the big ship he stealthily placed anfe leg over the rail then the other Then there was a splashing low and a chorus of from the passengers the reporter was over board 1 out in the rippling light his body was seen to rise and as it did ahe daredevil dare devil began toward his tug HIS comrades hadl thrown out a line at a signal from him previously given and homade jorj that line he ever beut cobill they ce him a mere speck on the dim ly lighted waters he gained a hold OK the rope was pulled aboard the tug and gave orders for her nose to be buino d toward the manhattan sho c all possible speed the times contained a fulland graphic story 0 the loss of the oregon the next morning |