(CNN)I was a copygirl in my fourth month at the Chicago Daily News, my second assigned to the city desk. It had become my custom at 4 o'clock, when the city desk secretary left for the day, to move over to her spot to help answer the phones as the beat reporters called in to check out for the day. 

It was so quiet that afternoon -- 70 years ago, on Thursday, April 12, 1945 -- the city editor and assistant city editor had felt comfortable leaving their desks. The second city editor, Guy Housley, was to my left. To my right, perhaps 6 feet away, the telegraph editor, George Dodge. 

At 4:50, the old-fashioned upright "candlestick" telephone on his desk rang -- the direct line The Associated Press used to alert editors to major news events. He answered, replaced the bell-like receiver on its hook and said to everyone in general and no one in particular, "Roosevelt is dead." 

The silence of shock. 

Until Dodge jumped up so quickly, his swivel chair crashed into the glass-fronted bookcase behind him -- a symphonic orchestra cymbals sound -- and ran to what was called the Tube Room, with its row of Associated Press Teletype machines. 

Housley said, "Clear the decks for action." 

The words had barely cleared his lips when City Editor Clem Lane half-ran back into the city room. Hal O'Flaherty, director of the Daily News Foreign Service, was only a step or two behind. The door of the managing editor's office that opened into the city room flew open, and Managing Editor Everett Norlander joined them around the copy desk, where Dodge was editing the bulletin. 
What year does this take place?
Who is narrating this story?
Where does she work?
What was she doing at 4 o'clock?
What's the name of the second city editor?
Who is George Dodge?
What's important about the "candlestick" telephone?
What happened at 4:50?
Who answered it?
What was the major news?
Where did Dodge run to after receiving the news?
What's in there?
Who is Clem Lane?
Who is Hal O'Flaherty?
What's the name of the Managing Editor?
How many years ago did this take place?
1945
 70 years ago, on Thursday, April 12, 1945
A copygirl
I was a copygirl in my fourth month at the Chicago Daily News, my second assigned to the city desk. 
Chicago Daily News
I was a copygirl in my fourth month at the Chicago Daily News
answering the phones
my custom at 4 o'clock, when the city desk secretary left for the day, to move over to her spot to help answer the phones as the beat reporters called in to check out for the day. 
Guy Housley
The second city editor, Guy Housley,
Telegraph editor
the telegraph editor, George Dodge. 
Used to alert editors to major news events
the old-fashioned upright "candlestick" telephone on his desk rang -- the direct line The Associated Press used to alert editors to major news events
The "candlestick" telephone rang
t 4:50, the old-fashioned upright "candlestick" telephone on his desk rang -- 
George Dodge
the telegraph editor, George Dodge. 

At 4:50, the old-fashioned upright "candlestick" telephone on his desk rang -- the direct line The Associated Press used to alert editors to major news events. He answered, 
Roosevelt died.
, "Roosevelt is dead." 

The Tube Room
and ran to what was called the Tube Room
Teletype machines
with its row of Associated Press Teletype machines
City Editor
 City Editor Clem Lane
Director of the Daily News Foreign Service
 Hal O'Flaherty, director of the Daily News Foreign Service
Everett Norlander
Managing Editor Everett Norlander
70 years
70 years ago, on Thursday, April 12, 1945 --