From a larger article about a meeting of the Newsdealer’s Association.
People:
None specifically
Places:
None specifically
Although the strike failed to lower the price of papers, one thing it did do was bring attention to the rights of newsboys, leading to progress in child labour regulations such as this one, dated only a few weeks after the end of the strike.
“Niney”, or Thomas Donegan, was a friend of Kid Blink. He was mentioned in this strike articleabout Kid Blink’s arrest, temporarily becoming a leader in the strike. Donegan was later involved with (and lead) the Yakey-Yake gang, and was arrested and convicted for murder in 1905 and sentenced to Sing Sing Prison.
Nine fingers, one eye, and a long rap sheet.
People:
Nine-fingered Tom (Thomas “Donnigan” [Donegan]; “Niney”), 14
Two accounts of a newsgirl named Winnie Horn, who married a sailor named Alfred Thirsting. The two articles differ very slightly in their account of what happened afterward (one says that the Winnie’s mother would look in to annulment, while the other says that Winnie was later spotted walking with Alfred and her little brother).
I didn’t find a marriage record for a Winnie Horn, but I did find one of a Minnie Horn and Alfred Thirsting. The marriage seems to have ended, as Winnie pops up in various other articles over the years. She and her sisters were apparently a bit famous.
There isn’t any indication that Winnie or her sisters participated in the 1899 Strike (they very well could have, or could have been sold papers behind the boys back like Mrs. Corcoran and Mrs. Shea), but they were around at the time, and involved in the industry.
Winnie married an Antonio Martinez and had 1 child. Winnie was one of 8 children (3 boys, 5 girls).
It seems in 1912 a convention (Democratic Convention, I think?) was held in Baltimore, and the New York Times sent several newsboys by train to the city to sell their papers. Among those newsboys was Blind Diamond (Kid Blink).
The only thing that’s odd about this mention is that one of the articles says that it’s claimed Blind Diamond sold papers that reported Lincoln’s assassination, which Kid Blink wouldn’t have been alive for. Is it possible that someone else shared the nickname and also sold papers? Interesting.
Comment by me:
It’s entirely possible that this is a different Blind Diamond. However, it is also possible that the boys are exaggerating how long he’s been in the business to make a point, or the papers are to tell a good story. There’s no way to know one way or the other for sure.
A few articles detailing the rivalry between Mrs. Shea and Mrs. Corcoran, as well as some of Mrs. Corcoran’s legal issues.
Mrs. Corcoran’s daughters are mentioned. One article calls one of the girls Mamie, which isn’t usually a nickname for Kate, so I’m not sure if this is another daughter entirely or something else.
Mrs. Shea is also said to be a widow, and her first name is Mary.
1897 article detailing a fight between Mrs. Corcoran and Mrs. Shea, two newswomen who sold papers by the Brooklyn Bridge, and also featuring a young Rosie Corcoran.
Mrs. Shea and Mrs. Corcoran were not only rivals with each other, but with many newsboys, and were found to be seeling Worlds and Suns during the 1899 Strike.
Newsboys of 1899 