Results: Elizabeth Jane Cochrane, also known by her pen name Nellie Bly, was one of the first female investigative reporters in the US. ** Part Two **

In 1887, Bly began working for the New York World, the publication that later became famously known for spearheading "yellow journalism." One of Bly's earliest assignments was to author a piece detailing the experiences endured by patients of the infamous mental institution on Blackwell's Island (now Roosevelt Island) in New York City. In an effort to accurately expose the conditions at the asylum, she pretended to be a mental patient in order to be committed to the facility, where she lived for 10 days. The New York World published Bly's articles about her time in the insane asylum on Blackwell's Island in a six-part series. Ten Days in a Mad-House quickly made Bly one of the most famous journalists in the United States. Furthermore, her hands-on approach to stories developed into a practice now called investigative journalism. It was also published as a book, "Ten Days in a Madhouse." Have you read her book?

Bly's exposé, published in the World soon after her return to reality, was a massive success. The piece shed light on a number of disturbing conditions at the facility, including neglect and physical abuse, and, along with spawning her book on the subject, ultimately spurred a large-scale investigation of the institution. Led by New York Assistant District Attorney Vernon M. Davis, Bly assisted a grand jury in its investigation into conditions at the asylum, which led to an $850,000 increase in funds to the New York City's Department of Public Charities and Corrections (later split into separate agencies). It proved so embarrassing to the city aldermen that they appropriated an extra $1,000,000 per annum to correct many of the abuses Bly exposed. These changes included a larger appropriation of funds for the care of mentally ill patients, additional physician appointments for stronger supervision of nurses and other healthcare workers, and regulations to prevent overcrowding and fire hazards at the city's medical facilities. Approximately one month after her articles ran in print, many of the most glaring problems she reported had improved: better living and sanitary conditions were instituted, more nourishing meals were provided, translators were hired for the foreign born who were not necessarily mentally ill but simply could not understand their keepers, and the most abusive nurses and physicians were fired and replaced. Did you know that the bravery and courage of Nellie Bly changed the fate of over 1600 people?

Bly followed her Blackwell's exposé with similar investigative work, including editorials detailing the improper treatment of individuals in New York jails and factories, corruption in the state legislature and other first-hand accounts of malfeasance. She also interviewed and wrote pieces on several prominent figures of the time, including Emma Goldman and Susan B. Anthony. Did you know that referring to a female journalist as a Nellie Bly is a supreme compliment?

Bly went on to gain more fame in 1889, when she traveled around the world in an attempt to break the faux record of Phileas Fogg, the fictional title character of Jules Verne's 1873 novel, Around the World in Eighty Days. Given the green light to try the feat by the New York World, Bly embarked on her journey from Hoboken, New Jersey, in November 1889, traveling first by ship and later also via horse, rickshaw, sampan, burro and other vehicles. She completed the trip in 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds—setting a real-world record, despite her fictional inspiration for the undertaking. (Bly's record was beaten in 1890 by George Francis Train, who finished the trip in 67 days.) To sustain interest in the story, the World organized a "Nellie Bly Guessing Match" in which readers were asked to estimate Bly's arrival time to the second, with the Grand Prize consisting at first of a trip to Europe and, later on, spending money for the trip. Bolstered by continuous coverage in the World, Bly earned international stardom for her months-long stunt, and her fame continued to grow after she safely returned to her native state and her record-setting achievement was announced. Were you aware that Nellie Bly had done this?

In 1895, Bly married millionaire industrialist Robert Seaman, who was 40 years her senior, and she became legally known as Elizabeth Jane Cochrane Seaman. Also around this time, she retired from journalism, and by all accounts, the couple enjoyed a happy marriage. Upon her husband's death in 1904, Bly took the helm of his Iron Clad Manufacturing Co. During her time there, she began manufacturing the first practical 55-gallon steel oil drum, which evolved into the standard one used today. While in charge of the company, Bly put her social reforms into action and Iron Clad employees enjoyed several perks unheard of at the time, including fitness gyms, libraries and healthcare. Ultimately, the costs of these benefits began to mount and drain her inheritance. Later, however, embezzlement on the part of the Factory Manager destroyed the company. Are you surprised that an employee betrayed her after all she did for them?

Faced with such dwindling finances. Bly consequently re-entered the newspaper industry and covered the historic Woman's Suffrage parade in 1913 for the New York Evening Journal. In 1914, Nellie fled to Austria due to financial problems with her deceased husband's company. She was 50 years old then and the first woman to report from World War One's Eastern Front. Nellie was in Vienna as the fighting of World War One broke out. After convincing Austrian officials to provide her with credentials as a war correspondent, she made her way to the battlefields and trenches. Bly was the first woman and one of the first foreigners to visit the war zone between Serbia and Austria. Incredibly, Miss Nellie Bly, Special Correspondent for the International Nervi Service, with the Austrian army, was arrested as a British spy by two gendarmes, that could not understand English. She had wandered away from the hospital train headed for Budapest, without her papers, and was in a church yard when she was detained by the gendarmes. A Doctor was brought in to translate, I am Dr. Friedman," he announced, "You are English, they say." I am Nellie Bly of New York," she answered. Both hands flew up above his head. "My God! Nellie Bly!" he cried, excitedly. The next Instant his arms were half around her and he was repeating. like a father to his child: "Nellie Bly! Nellie Bly! Nellie Bly" She answered all apologies and explanations by saying she was glad to experience their loyal carefulness. She only succeeded in ending their regrets by promising to dine with Dr. Friedman before going back to the train. As reported in The Los Angeles Herald, January 12, 1915. Being world famous saved Nellie Bly from being imprisoned and shot as a spy. Have you ever been arrested?

On 30 January 1919, Elizabeth Cochran Seaman filled out an Emergency Passport Application in Paris. After five years overseas, it was time to go home. Her passport application provides information about her life abroad, including that her occupation was "writer" and she was living at the Palace Hotel in Paris. Her photo is that of an adventurous reporter who had spent her life dedicated to telling stories. And across that photo she signed herself Nellie Bly. Bly's reporting career didn't end with World War I. When she returned to the United States from Europe, she was broke. Luckily, she was offered a job with the New York Evening Journal. Her regular column for that paper included everything from covering the women's suffrage movement, advice to helping those less fortunate, like Widows and orphaned children. On January 27, 1922, Nellie Bly died from pneumonia in New York City. She was 57 years old. Today they have The Nellie Bly Award for Investigative Reporting An annual cash prize and award ceremony for an investigative reporter working in the spirit of intrepid journalist Nellie Bly. Created by Museum of Political Corruption, the Award was established in 2017. Were you aware that they created an award in her name?