At last, Commodore Bennett says 'Go". Then, for Don Martin, a
multitude of preparations, a surprise send-off, and a last letter to his
mother.
Don Martin diary entry for Sunday, December 16, 1917:
At last it seems that the European trip will materialize. Cooper called me up at noon – I was sound asleep – to tell me that word had come from the Commodore and that I shall get ready to go on the St. Louis on Wednesday. Now I shall get ready to go. Had dinner at Cooper’s apartment on East 36th St. and talked over the European trip.
At last it seems that the European trip will materialize. Cooper called me up at noon – I was sound asleep – to tell me that word had come from the Commodore and that I shall get ready to go on the St. Louis on Wednesday. Now I shall get ready to go. Had dinner at Cooper’s apartment on East 36th St. and talked over the European trip.
Don
Martin diary entry for Monday, December 17, 1917:
This was indeed a busy day. Got up at 8: bought a half hundred things for my trip across. Got my ticket – a stateroom on the St. Louis. Had talk with Cooper. I am to be in full charge of the London bureau and have privilege to send a lot of cable matter. Spent the afternoon shopping, and getting finishing touches put on the trip. Everything is all “set” now for me to go to Europe on Wednesday. Have not the slightest fear.
This was indeed a busy day. Got up at 8: bought a half hundred things for my trip across. Got my ticket – a stateroom on the St. Louis. Had talk with Cooper. I am to be in full charge of the London bureau and have privilege to send a lot of cable matter. Spent the afternoon shopping, and getting finishing touches put on the trip. Everything is all “set” now for me to go to Europe on Wednesday. Have not the slightest fear.
Don
Martin diary entry for Tuesday, December 18, 1917:
Well here I am getting ready in earnest to go to Europe. Much shopping and had quite a job. Trunks packed. Had quite a surprise this evening. Cooper took me into the Council room where the whole staff and a lot of friends from outside were waiting to present me with a farewell testimonial. Mr. Hughes made the speech and spoke rather highly of me, I should say. He presented me with a very handsome watch – a gift from the staff – and then I got an expensive fob from Flaherty, general manager: a cigarette case from the staff and a leather passport holder from Cooper. It was a grand send-off. I didn’t know I had so many friends. Sent night letters to the folks and then, at midnight, went to the [Hotel] York and packed a trunk etc.
Well here I am getting ready in earnest to go to Europe. Much shopping and had quite a job. Trunks packed. Had quite a surprise this evening. Cooper took me into the Council room where the whole staff and a lot of friends from outside were waiting to present me with a farewell testimonial. Mr. Hughes made the speech and spoke rather highly of me, I should say. He presented me with a very handsome watch – a gift from the staff – and then I got an expensive fob from Flaherty, general manager: a cigarette case from the staff and a leather passport holder from Cooper. It was a grand send-off. I didn’t know I had so many friends. Sent night letters to the folks and then, at midnight, went to the [Hotel] York and packed a trunk etc.
That surprise send-off got a big write-up on Wednesday, December
19, 1917 in The New York Herald.
‘Mr.
Hughes Aids in Giving Send-Off to Don Martin’
Presents
gift to Political Reporter on the Herald
in
Behalf of Latter’s Associates
Don Martin, friend and associate of many of
the leading men of the nation, and for many years political reporter of the New
York Herald, who starts for Europe soon as a correspondent for the Herald, was
thrust suddenly into the darkened council room in the Herald Building last
evening by an escorting editor. when the lights were turned on Mr. Martin found
himself surrounded by his cheering associates on the Herald staff.
Then followed the presentation of a series of gifts,
some of which were camouflage and others persiflage, and at the proper time, in
other words, the psychological moment, the assemblage parted and Charles Evan
Hughes stepped into the room. On behalf of the staff Mr. Hughes presented to
Mr. Martin a watch and fob, saying: -
“Mr. Martin, my presence here attests to you
success and accuracy as a Straw man. Again am I called upon, with great
pleasure, to speak of your character, as I was on that chill evening on one of
my superfluous journeys, when from the tail end of a railroad train I addressed
your fellow townsmen in Silver Creek, Chautauqua county. You have attained the
highest goal man may attain by having many friends who wish to honor you, among
whom I have the pleasure of being counted as one. Your attainments and your
success here have called you to higher honors abroad, and in presenting this
watch and fob on behalf of your associates I only regret that it will be
necessary to turn the hours ahead, but we rejoice that those lost hours will be
restored to you when you return.”
Mr. Martin expressed regret that his accuracy
as editor of the straw vote, taken before each election by the Herald, had made
it necessary for him to forecast the defeat of Mr. Hughes as Republican nominee
for President of the United States. “And I don’t know what
all you people are doing here unless you want to see me drop dead, because I
can’t stand this for long.”
Don Martin wrote a long letter to
his Mother on December 18, 1917. Besides personal matters,the following excerpt
from the letter shows his uncertainty about the voyage and his expectations
about his new adventure.
Mother:
I guess I am going to Europe sure
enough now. I have a ticket for a state room on the upper deck of the St. Louis
of the American Line and passports for England and France. The ship is
scheduled to leave here at noon on Wednesday but there is always a possibility
that there will be a delay of a day or two. ... There will be no danger about
my reaching England all right. The St. Louis is a big ship which has been transformed
into a regular warship and even if she were hit by a torpedo, which is quite
unlikely, there would be every facility on board for saving everyone. ... I am
to be the Captain’s special guest and he says I will own the ship; eat at his
private table and share his quarters with him if I choose. However, I have a
nice state room all to myself with a bath and every convenience and it is high
up where one would have every chance in the world to get out if an accident
happened. However it would be foolish to worry at all. No passenger ship has
been torpedoed in a year—in fact in two years—and in stormy weather there is
practically no danger. ...
I shall be registered as the Herald’s
London correspondent in full charge of the London headquarters. I shall cable
important news and send special articles by mail. It sounds like a big job but
it won’t bother me any. I am sure I can do it well but whether or not I can do
it satisfactorily to James Gordon Bennett depends. It doesn’t matter. I can’t
lose either way. ... Anyhow I shall see London and other parts of England; will
see France I expect and possibly different regions along the front and will
have a taste of war, but not in the danger zone, or near enough to it in fact
to be in the slightest danger. ...
I have about 50 letters of
introduction from people of prominence here. The letters are directed to the
statesmen, government officials, theatrical managers, playwrights, writers and
travelers. I could have many more but I have now more than I shall ever
present. I know a great many people who have headquarters in London and will, I
am quite sure, within a few months, feel almost as much at home around
Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, Fleet Street and the Strand as I do on Broadway
and I know Broadway pretty well.
... On Saturday word came from Mr.
Bennett for me to sail when I was ready and the St. Louis is the first ship
out. I think it is a good opportunity for me. I have done all the kinds of
newspaper work there is here and now a peep at Europe will be a good thing to
broaden me out, ...I really don’t know how long I will be away. It may be a few
months. It may be till the end of the war. ... I will enjoy it no doubt. London
is an interesting city and being the correspondent of the Herald there, having
full charge of all the war news, gives one considerable prestige even in a city
as big as London. ...
Comments
Post a Comment