Background
Brill, William Hascal was born on April 16, 1871 in Litchfield, Minnesota, United States. Son of William S. and Annie (Sheldon) Brill.
Brill, William Hascal was born on April 16, 1871 in Litchfield, Minnesota, United States. Son of William S. and Annie (Sheldon) Brill.
His journalism career began as a reporter for the Saint 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". In February 1904, Brill traveled to Japan to report on the Russo-Japanese War as a war correspondent.
He accompanied the Second Japanese Army in Manchuria throughout the entire conflict.
In 1907, the Emperor Meiji awarded Brill the Order of the Precious Crown, seventh class, for his activities during the Russo-Japanese War. Excerpts of Brill"s war coverage are included the compilation In Many Wars, by Many War Correspondents, edited by Frederick Palmer and George Lynch.