William H. Brill

William H. Brill, in 1904

William Hascal Brill, also known as William H. Brill, Will H. Brill, and W. H. Brill, (April 16, 1871 in Litchfield, Minnesota – November 30, 1923 in Saint Paul, Minnesota)[1] was an American journalist who at various times worked for the Associated Press, Reuters,[2] and the Newspaper Enterprise Association.[3]

His journalism career began as a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, in which role he reported on the Battle of Leech Lake; Gerald Vizenor has attributed to Brill the idea that the battle began "with the accidental discharge of a soldier's rifle".[4]

In February 1904, Brill traveled to Japan to report on the Russo-Japanese War as a war correspondent.[3] He accompanied the Second Japanese Army in Manchuria throughout the entire conflict.[1]

In 1907, the Emperor Meiji awarded Brill the Order of the Precious Crown, seventh class, for his activities during the Russo-Japanese War.[2]

Excerpts of Brill's war coverage are included the compilation In Many Wars, by Many War Correspondents, edited by Frederick Palmer and George Lynch.[5]

References

1. Personalia, in the Minnesota Alumni Weekly (page 66 of the .pdf); by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association; published December 20, 1923; retrieved December 22, 2014
2. MIKADO HONORS AMERICANS. Order of the Crown Bestowed on Nurses and War Correspondents, at the New York Times; published July 3, 1907; retrieved December 22, 2014
3. Ready For the War in the Far East: Everything That Takes Place During Coming Struggles Will Be Noted for the Readers of the Times, in the Tacoma Times, published February 3, 1904; retrieved December 22, 2014 (via Chronicling America)
4. The Poetry and Poetics of Gerald Vizenor; edited by Deborah L. Madsen; published 2012 by the University of New Mexico Press, via Google Books
5. Table of Contents: In Many Wars, by Many War Correspondents, at Falvey Memorial Library, Villanova University; retrieved December 22, 2014