The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-03-22

while was thinking in what particu-
lar manner to blaze, the idea of getting
mp LIST of April hoax struck me like
an Inspiration, and adopted it at
once. In the course of the day several
subjects for it suggested themselves to
me, but l rejected them as being too
simple or not Interesting enough for
the people. for you see / was deter
mined to paralyze the entire commu-
nifty at one fell swoop. Finally / set
tied down on wrecking an excursion
train that was due early on the morning
of the LIST, as combining the most
points of advantage.
''When / come to look back at it
through the lapse Of years and mist of
time." Mr.. Haddock went on, in low,
thrilling tone, II know it was, indeed,
a deep-laid plot. and what cheerful,
sanguinary young creature must have
been. had the wreck occur about
four miles from the city. so as to pre-
vent any contradictory reports from
getting in too soon. / even hunted up
a list of the excursionists, which had
been published in rival newspaper.
and, cnttingi it in two, headed one-half
'DEADria and the other half HORRIBLY
MANGLEDr and then incorporated it in
my account. / went so far as to pick
out the names of five or xladies whom
recognized as prominent in society
(the eycursionists were nearly all women
and children), and made them subjects
of special paragraphs, dwelling upon
their shocking mutilation, and pictur-
ing the CORY scene in all its sickening
details. The whole thing wound up
with description of how the coaches
caught fire and burned two or three
dozen of the victims alive.
when the fatal night came around,
it seemed as if everything conspired in
my favor. / had been little afraid of
the foreman, for he had habit, COM
mon to foremen, of scrutinizing every
thing as though he was personally re-
sponsible for the sentiments of the pa
per: but on that particular night he got
beastly drunk, and slapped in every
thing in perfectly reckless manner. l
was glad Of it, for l didn't want any
one to share the credit with me. Tread
the proof myself, and, to make q long
story short. the paper came out with
my hoax displayed the next morning.
II didn't go to bed at all that night,
so as to be on hand the first thing and
watch developments; and when walked
up to the office after breakfast was
delighted to see how the papers were
selling. Men wouldn't wait for any
change, but would tear them open and
read like mad; and l knew from scraps
OF conversation / heard as i passed
along that everybody was talking about
it. / remember, too, that there was an
unusual number of hacks dashing past,
and / noticed with secret joy that they
were all pointed toward the depot.
l was little surprised, though, to see
the street in front of the Office blocked
with people, and also at the corner,
where | encountered large delegation
who inquired theway. Idirected them,
but saw with an eerie feeling that the
gentleman who appeared to be the
spokesman carried a bucket of tar in
his hand and had feather-tick under
his arm.
1T seems strange to me, now that 1
look the matter over calmly and dis
that it did not strike me
as peculiar that several men in the
crowd carried long, rough rails. or
that there was weird, solemn hush
upon the multitude, as though they
were expecting some one; but was SO
full of Joy and satisfaction that I
climbed mp to the editorial rooms, feel
ing only that had succeeded beyond
my widest anticipations, and had only
to await my reward. Presently, from
down below, I heard a kind of murmur
like the sea, only louder, and then u
man talking at the top of his voice. APP
expostulating or explaining
something. Then somebody came up
stairs four steps at time, and the pro-
,rietor burst into the room. His name
vas O'Niel. can see him now. He
vas short, fat man, with ring of
'tubby black hair, like monks, around
lis head. He had a copy of the paper
n his hand, and as soon as he saw me
le assumed a most peculiar expression
lit was something like. that Of q man
Who sits down on a tack and endeavors
o appear unmoved. ! tried to look
modest and worthy. ~
'Haddock, he said, in e suppressed
-oice, pointing to my article, sHaddock,
10 you know no did this?' aAl's ~
Eyes, sir. ~ q" a'lt "s'
"sWHo?' iaf5aaa 1913 ssn
81, SIR i.if' sasi ~ ssk
f''He kept looking down at the floor,
o could see only his bald circle 1 have
slluded to, but 1 noticed it turned a |
leep, royal purple, and the thought
truck me that may be the knowledge /,
t having me on the staff for so long
Without knowing my merits was going |
0 prove too much for him. He bore |
p under, it, though, and, swallowing |
in his throat, said, in calm |
i can remember now what deatlny, |
aim tone 1T was: al 81 sqai5i rs i{.5ii
Then let me inform you, sir, that
o such an accident ever took place.
!" i know it. said. grinning. ,f,a
"a rich, prismatic wave of color,
Ike piece of q ,rainbow combining all |