The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-19
LARRY KANE.
a Newspaper Reporters Fidelity and
L..Haleton,l in New York Time


i''Ilalsten" in New York Times
and Larry Kane prince among newspa
per eporters-Larry is dead, 1t scarce seems
possible Big hearted and honest AMI gen
oral's and keen worthy of the talents thai
gave him front rank in his profession, Law
r,Hee Kane was one OF whom we who knew
h'n hal good right to be proud He was mr.
fiiead and more, my apprentice day in New
! ork newspaper work was spent not far
from his dess-had the distance been greater
any stay had been briefer perhaps Blessed
lie t.e memory OF tie man who would make
sacrifices with rnysl grace to help along
one who came to him stranger; nor am !
alcna III tie remembrance of favor Law.
renee kane's kindness was the creator OF
lnore than ono successful newspaper man
Re was more than generous. 1t was of
hrs work in Wall street as The New York
Tines representative that partner of jay
Could said TO ma, with vehemence one day,
hat fellow is a monster; he won't lis ten to
arguments TOR submit to influence. II he
TANKS mes right, KEN blurt out his facts
though " all streets whole kit and caboodle
go % the devil" What "argumentsn and
influence" meant need not be recitei to
those who know aught of the Wall street
morale 4 nobler filter tribute to the
straightforward. upcompromising honesty of
Lawrence Kane, TIE ideal reporter, could
uut be said. Monster he was to the Gould
gang, again and again, with his scent Tor
uows and lis facilc pen.
One story | recall of those ho told me in
his modest way of his work. 1t was an
achievement ts:at won him the friendly envy
OF every other newspaper man at Elberon
during Gariield'5 death siege there. Lights
suddenly hla2ed up late cne night over at
the cottage where tie president lay dying;
shooting hiJher and thither, past the windows
went the candles t. denote some unusual
happening in the chamber that all the world
was watching. Over to the cottage dashed
Kane. Tall and commanding in his bea:-
m[ he walked hurriedly up the p&th. Bay
onet' presented by the guard stopped his
progress rod or more from the entrance.
Faster and faster went the skurrying lights
behind the window panes. Had the end
come! Was Garfield dead. Was the great
piece of news finally rounded off in its sad
ness for the nation, The guard must be
passed. A grutf old regular soldier was be
at the other end of the bayonet
Stand aside, sir; what do you meanF
THUS cody Larry to the guard, whose orders
were to admit none but the presidents owl
household and the doctors.
stand aside' The words were those OF
command, mhesitating Down Went the
gun with a mutterei apology; by rushed
Larry to enter the house where Garfield lay
catching, Us he passed, the guards mumhled
soiilOquy about the difficulties of recognizing
all cabinet officers one by one. Inside the
cottage was newly excited anxiety; marked
change had come; it was generally believed
that the end was at hand. and The Times
man had done what no other newspaper.
representative had ever dared to dream Of
succeeded i'll penetrating to the most secret
councils of the mysterious doctors. And h
learned much there that profted The Times
readers. The physicians were too much agi
tated to affect airs then. Garfield died soon
Lawrence Kane alone of all newspaper mel
saw his deathbed.
We VINO are in the ranks know how mucl
this meant to the enthusiastic journalist, and
there are those of US, too, who can honor the
! sP rt OF this noble fellow making no vulgar
| parade Of his achievement, and who eve
| after spoke OF that death scene as text fo
| deepest feeling. A manly man is dead.