HOW NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE TRIUMPHED OVER WEATHER MAN'S WORST
By HENRY N. FOWLER, News Editor Bend Bulletin
[The story of a real newspaper achievement is here told by Mr. Fowler. It takes more than the weather to subdue western newspaper genius and entarprise.—Ed.]
COMPLETELY cut off from the outside world as far as ordinary means of communication were concerned for more than a week, the slightest scrap of wire news to be looked forward to as something to be hoped for, but certainly not to be counted on—this was the situation in which the Bend Bulletin found itself during the recent record storm which held the northwest country in its grip during the latter part of November and early December. How the snow blockade was set at naught through the intensive development of the local field and through makeshift means of communication, is a story perhaps unique in the newspaper annals of Oregon.
Bend’s first realization that an epoch making storm was breaking, came in the form of queries received by correspondents for Portland papers on November 19, asking for stories on storm conditions. The correspondents filed their replies, chiefly to the effect that there was no storm, for Bend was enjoying almost ideal spring weather. The replies were filed, but never sent, for lines were already down along the Columbia. The next morning no mail had been; delivered, and telephone and telegraph offices reported that communication beyond Madras was impossible, while railroad officials gave out the information that the last Oregon Trunk train to leave Portland was virtually buried in snow at Frieda in the Deschutes canyon.
Right then the value of local news was realized as it had never been realized before. Efforts of railroaders to free the stalled train and to rescue its snowbound passengers constituted, of course, the big story, but there were other phases of the situation of almost equal interest. Central Oregon was covered by telephone for reports on weather conditions, establishing the fact that while the storm was general, this section of Oregon, at least, was experiencing a prolonged rain ordinarily considered typical of the Willamette valley. A survey of food supplies was made, and an estimate as to how long Bend could go on full rations was prepared. Conditions were compared with those prevailing 15 years ago when Bend was snowbound for a full month.
Lists of travelers kept in Bend by the storm were compiled, and other lists of Bend people who were undoubtedly being prevented from returning from outside points was published. What would happen to the dressed turkeys which could not be shipped for Portland’s Thanksgiving dinner, and how long the sawmills could continue to operate with the supply of empty cars available, were questions asked and answered.
Outside Connection Sought
The charge has been made, probably with justice, that a news reporter is prone to lose his appreciation of the importance of occurrences with which he becomes too familiar, and that as a result news be comes apparently harder to get, and actually does lose some of its “kick.” If any member of the Bulletin staff was nearing this mental attitude, the storm was a Godsend, necessity giving a very definite stimulus.
But at the same time every effort was being made to get in touch with the outside world. President Harding’s arms conference was just beginning. the Ar buckle case was on, and there was a positive hunger for wire news.
For two days the Bulletin was without such service. The main lines were of course out of the question, and efforts were made to reach Portland or Spokane
