The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-12-17
Fer the Tribune
AN ADVENTURE IN SEARCH OF COPl

AN ADVENTURE In SEARCH OF COPY
[ was local reporter for a newspaper in
Blanktown-one of the dryest places for
news that ever was. My blanks would
often have remained blank indeed had
it not been for the ingenuity | was COM
PEELED to exercise in ferreting out what
did happen, and in manufacturing yarns
one day which | contradicted the next
L was poor, and was paid by the line:
as some would term it 'penny-a-hner
One day, when every resource which my
fertile Imagination supplied had been
exhausted, the foreman Of the office came
to me and said Il want column of mat
ter as soon as possible Without know
ing. or caring, whittier | went put ON
my bat and started down street in the
neighborhood, the residents of which sus-
tanned rather bad reputation. As
moved along gazing at the tumble-down
tenements, and almost wishing for a fire
or some other dread calamity, in the
relation of which | might ELL that blank
column, [ was suddenly startled by a
piercing shrek which proceeded from an
almost un;nhabited building located
nearly block distant from where stood
Running thither in hot haste [ was Just
In time to see a man throw off his coat
and start away at full speed. The wind
was blowing ftom me towards him, but |
was near enough to hear him exclaim,
We'll Ire killed hin, at 1astr Glory /!
wasn't here an item? | carefully looked
around; there was no other reporter Or
policeman In sight so [ noted down the
number of the building and started for
the office. In very short time | had
written one of the most narrowing tales
that eyer the mind of man conceived.
cannot give it here in full, but the sub
stance Of it was as follows:
"A HORRIBLE MYSTERY.
As our reporter was walking down
Misery street this morning he heard a
terrible screaming at No. 2lO. Going at
once to the spot he beheld man with
agonlzed countenancc and trembling
from head to probably from fear
of arrest rushing away from the scene
Of horror shouting that he had "kiled
him at last. Officers have been sent to
arrest the guilty man anu it is to be hop
ed the matter will be probed to the bot
tom. We will give full particulars in
our o'clock edition
Impatiently | awaited the return OF
the officers, and pictured to myself the
figure [ would cut as chief witness in the
great trial of Mr.. Blank for the murder
--whom? that was the question
But had not long to wait | had de-
scribed the murderer infinitely, not for
getting to mention his red hair and blacl,
eyes, The officers found him in a house
not far distant and as be had changed his
clothing throughout suspicious cir
cumstances, rely-they at once arrested
him, put on the bracelets and guarded
on every side hurried him away to the
station. The examination took place
Immediately. [ was summoned as a
witness for the people. ! told my story
straight-all about the shrek, the APP
pearance Of the man and the assertion he
Lad made, and looked to see the culprit
faint as this damnlng evidence Of his
guilt was elected but was the man
crazy? The Judge, the lawyers, the
bystanders were dumb with horror at
the revelation Of 4 murder committed in
their very midst but the criminal could
hardly restrain his laughter He was at
length allowed to speak for himself which
he did as soon as he could sufficiently
restrain his unseenly mlrth. 1t appear
ed that for long time a perfumery ped
dlar, commonly called skunk, had infested
the house No. 2l0. This man had been
hired to kill it, but in doing so had been
nearly smothered; hence the shrek and
the suspicious exclamation. | left thu
court room AMID the shouts and yells of
the people left Blanktown by the first
train, and | left forever u business that
requires more labor and more brains than
any other, and returns the least reward.