Simpson's Leader-Times from Kittanning, Pennsylvania • Page 5

Newsmen's of Fame Nominee Nellie Bly, Local Girl Who Became a Legend By DEBORAH DEMCIUK L-T Staff Reporter Local Girl Makes Good could be the headline describing Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman, better known as Nellie Bly, From Cochrans Mill, Armstrong County, Nellie Bly grew into a legend, and is presently one of 27 candidates being nominated for the first ten Hall of Fame members sponr sored by Pennsylvania a i A i a i A Harrisburg. Born May 5, 1867 in a rambling farmhouse then known as Pitts Mills (now Cochrans Mill) the daughter of Associate Judge Michael Cochrane, Elizabeth began her newspaper career at the ripe old age of 18. Having moved from Apollo to Pittsburgh, her life work ignited when she read an editorial "What Girls Are Good For" in The Pittsburgh Dispatch. According to the article, girls were good for nothing except cooking, sewing and bearing children. The unfortunate creature who didn't marry lived her.life as a spinster an unpaid housekeeper and nurse for her family.

Elizabeth wrote a sizzling letter to Editor George A. Madden stating how outrageous and absurd this idea was. The country was wasting half the talents, intelligence and potential available. Madden, impressed by such logic, wanted to meet the author of the anonymous letter and perhaps hire the supposed mister. When Elizabeth presented herself to him, Madden was astounded and flatly refused to hire her why she was a woman! Striking, yet demure with huge gray eyes, Elizabeth Cochrane possessed a will that could move mountains.

Her determination and unflinching stand won her an opportunity -a chance to prove that she, a young woman, could work in a man's world at a then sidered man's profession. A new era had dawned. Elizabeth Cochrane did however, partially relent to one of Madden's wishes, that she write under a pseudo man's name. Instead, from a Stephen Foster song, Elizabeth Cochrane became Nellie Bly. And Nellie Bly became a saga, A series of articles on divorce, then a taboo subject, was just a start.

Nellie was a reporter who would out, mingle with people and find stories; she did not wait for stories to find her. She went into the slums, "sweatshops, poor houses, asylums, factories, hospitals, and everywhere "ladies" barely knew existed. Working in a Pittsburgh bottling plant she earned $5 a week for 84 hours of work. Writing and writing, Nellie Bly was making a name for herslef. Nellie had set her sights high.

She once said that she wanted to work for a New York paper, to fall in love, marry a millionaire, and reform the world. In the course of her lifetime she succeeded in all, except possibly the last. She went to New York and landed a job on Joseph Pulitzer's World, a newspaper of world reknown. One of her first assignments, chosen by Nellie 1 i. I- i 3: ELIZABETH COCHRANE SEAMAN, better, known as Nellie Bly, as she was in 1889 ready to depart for her journey around the world.

Miss Bly was borri at Cochrans Mill, A in 1867; today she is being nominated as one of the first ten Hall of Fame members sponsored by Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers' Association. herself, was to write about Blackwell's Island, an asylum for the insane poor in New York's East River. By feigning madness she was admitted to Bellvue Hospital and transferred to Blackwell's Island. Her keen eyes missed nothing. In her shocking "Behind Asylum Bars" she wrote on the brutal treatment of patients, some not even insane, callous and indifferent doctors and nurses and the flirtation between them, ice-cold baths from which patients were flung to bed dripping, and disgustingly inedible food.

Through her revelations, grand jury investigation led to for improvement of the institution and asylum reform. She aided the newly arising working girls or "female operators," by writing of their plight. Next she turned to poltics and exposed one of Albany's most powerful lobbyists. After her story and testimony against the influential New Yorker, the World provided her with a body guard. She is probably most famous for her voyage around the world.

Jules Vernes' Phileas Fogg took 80 days to circle the globe; Nellie Bly took 72 days, six hours, and 11 minutes despite monsoons, the blistering heat of the Suez Canal and plagues. She fulfilled another part of her dream when she married i i a i a a manufacturer Robert L. Seaman. At the time of the marriage Seaman was 72, Nellie was 28. After his death in 1904, nightmare followed for Nellie.

She was not an astute businesswoman. Although in 1912 she was listed as one of the top women industrialists in the nation, disaster was already beginning to leave its toll. Misfortune came through fire, mismanagement, theft, and disloyalty until nothing was left but bankruptcy. Bitterly she left for Europe and during her stay World War I broke out. There she became romantically involved with a wealthy Viennese, Oscar Bondy, whom in her will was bequeathed much of her remaining estate.

In 1919 she returned to New York to work for the Journal, but she was never quite the same strong willed Nellie Bly. By now she was tired and ill. In 1922 at the age of 56, Nellie Bly died of pneumonia. The epoch of the great woman liberationist, the crusader, the woman who had so'ngs written about her, a Candid Camera of the age was finished. The World, which had earlier backed her and devoted pages to her first person accounts, ran a half-page column obscurely placed on an inside page.

Such was the ending of whom the Journal considered "the best reporter in America." Today there are no remains of the Cochrane Homestead. All the buildings were destroyed when a flood control dam was built in the area. So, in remembrance of such an amazing lady, there is not a plaque, stone, or monument, just a name Cochrans Mill. ELABORATE SHORING braces form for 35 1o 40 yards of concrete going into new vault for Armstrong County Trust Company, in rooms it is remodeling for expansion at 225 Market St. Outside of building, which bank owns and which last housed paint store of PPG Industries, was corresoon- Leader-Times Women's Pages Songwriter Charges Loss of Royalties SHOAI.S," Aiu, I A Alabama man who wrote the "Baltic of Caliey" said he i a i i suit today against a Nashville record distribution firm.

James Smith said over the weekend, that his Mickey Shapiro of Angeles, would file the in U.S. District Court Birmingham. Smith said. the defendants, Shelby Singleton am! Plantation Records, had distribution rights to the record and failed to make any payments to him. "So far.

we have been unable to receive any accounting of the record sales ami we have received zero dollars," Smith leader-Times pholo said dingly shored in N. Jefferson Alley, forcing closing of the The businessman ad ded'that alley until pour of concrete could support its own weight. Bank is expected to announce plans for use of the rooms in near future. reports wore that, the record sold 3 to 4 million copies. Kittanning, Pa.

Mondoy, Sept. 25, 1972 Bride's Uncle Officiates At Begolly-Hesketh Rites The Rev. Clarence M. Hesketh, pastor of United Brethren Church, Jones Mill, officated at the wedding of his niece, Miss Judith Kay Hesketh, and John Anthony Begolly at 11 a.m. Saturday (Sept.

23) in United Brethren Church, Kepple Hill. Parents of the couple are Mrs. Catherine Hesketh of 104 Columbia Vandergrift, and the late Frederick Hesketh, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Felix Begolly of Vandergrift RD 1.

The bride wore a gown of French voile accented with venise lace. The empire bodice featured long bouffant sleeves trimmed with lace and pearl buttons. She carried a bouquet of miniature glamellias and babies'-breath. Matron of honor was Mrs. Laurie Hesketh, sister-in-law of the bride.

Her floor-length gown of silk organza was fashioned with blue gingham empire bodice. Brother of the bride, Gary Hesketh, served as best man. After the ceremony a wedding dinner, given by Mrs. Hesketh, held at Penn Grill in Leechburg. The new Mrs.

Begolly graduated in 1971 from Kiski Area Senior High School. Her husband, a 1967 graduate of the same school, is employed by U.S. Steel at Vandergrift. Following a honeymoon trip to Canada and Niagara the couple will reside at Vandergrift. Men In Uniform A A COUNTY a Seaman Recruit Danny P.

Erb, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul W. Erb of 128 Buffalo Freeport, has reported for duty aboard the tank landing ship USS Spartanburg County homeported in Little Creek, Va. CHILDREN'S LETTERS Former Area Resident Wins Masters Degree Mrs.

Paul Nedrow of Irwin RD, a speech and hearing therapist employed by Westmoreland County School District, received her masters degree in education Sept. 16. during graduation ceremonies at a i i a State College. Mrs. Nedrow is the former Carole Ann Bowser, daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Carroll W. S. Bowser, Kittanning RD 4. She is a graduate of Kittanning High School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Now You Know Hy United Press International A rainfall of one inch over one acre of land is equivalent to 27,102 gallons or 11 3 tons of water. WEDDING DRESSES IONGUNG1H! $69.50 to $125.00 Bridesmaid Gowns 2 5 0 0 $49.50 Bridal Veils $7.95 to $35.00 OPIN 9 30 M. 9 M. SECOND FLOOR L.H.NEV1NS CO, 3 BIG DAYS KITTANNING ONLY SUPER BUYS TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY GET READY FOR COLD WEATHER JACKETS ALL WINTER MEN'S BOYS' CHILDREN'S WOMEN'S AND MISSES' LARGE SELECTION tl 7o LAY-AWAY or CASH 10 OFF SARAH LYNN CANDIES 1 17 8 TRACK TAPES LATEST HITS SAVE l.OO MEN'S LONG SLEEVE, FANCY OP SOLID COLOR SPORT SHIRTS 1 NEW STRETCH FABRICS SIZES XL. 1 CHILDREN'S CORDUROY 1 DAVCD i Aunirc 4 REG.

2 REG. Ol 76 5.76 94 3.98 1 LYc FLARED BOTTOM ONE PATCH POCKET SIZES 2 TO 6x FELTEX PRINTED FLANNELETTE FLORALS. JUVENILES, STRIPES -44 REG. 59c yd. 45" WIDE ROCK HILL DRAPERY MATERIAL 57 PRINTS OR SOLIDS COTTON BARKCLOTH REG.

74c yd. BRISTOL INSULATED JACQUARD DRAPES 63" OR 84" LENGTH 48" TOP MACHINE WASHABLE 6 77 pr. REG. 8.49 8.95 REPLACEMENT SLIP-ON OR SCREW-ON SEATS BACKS WHITE OR AVOCADO GOLD DOT PATTERN VINYL FABRIC 9 44 REG. 11.49 WINTERIZE YOUR CAR WITH MURPHY'S ANTI-FREEZE I 27 A AROUND PROTECTION REG.

1.48 MASON CANNING JARS WIDE MOUTH NOW 1 79 PINT REG. 2 09 QUART REG. NOW 1 99 REGULAR PINT REG. NOW 1 52 QUART REG. 2 09 NOW 1 79 G.

C. MURPHY CO Open Fri. Sat. 'Til 9 p.m. First Quality Always Market Stroet, Kittanning.