The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-02-06
LARRY KANE.
Newspaper Reporters Fidelity and
Enterprise.
["Halston" in New York Times.I

Enterprise.
r''Halston" in New York Times.I
And Larry Kane-prince among newspa-
per reporters-Larry is dead. 1t scarce seems
possible Big-hearted and honest and gen
erous and keen; worthy of the talents that
gave him front rank in his profession, Law
renee Kane was one of whom we who knew
him had good right to be proud. He was my
friend and more, my apprentice day in New
York newspaper work was spent not far
from his desk-had the distance been greater
my stay had been briefer perhaps Blessed
be the memory of the man who would make
sacrifices with a royal grace to help along
Z on who came to him a strangers; nor am /
alone I'm the remembrance Of favor. Law
renee Kane's kindness was the creator of
more than one successful newspaper man.
He was more than generous. It was of
his work in Wall street as The New York
Times representative that partner of Jay
Gould said to me, with vehemence one day:
THAT fellow is a monster; he won't listen to
arguments nor submit to influence. II he
thinks he's right, he'll blurt out his facts
though Wall streets whole kit and caboodle
go to the devil" What arguments" and
"infiuence" meant need not be recited to
those who know aught of the Wall street
morale. A nobler filter tribute to the
straightforward, uncompromising honesty of
Lawrence Kane, the ideal reporter, could
not be said. Monster" he was to the Gould
gang, again and again, with his scent for
news and his facile pen.
One story recall Of those he told me in
his modest way Of his work 1t was an
achievement that won him the friendly envy
Of every other newspaper man at Elberon
during Garfield's death siege there. Lights
suddenly blazed up late one night over at
the cottage where the president lay dying;
shooting hither and thither, past the windows
went the candles to denote some unusual
happening in the chamber that all the world
was watching Over to the cottage dashed
Kane. Tall and commanding in his bear
ing he walked hurriedly up the path. Bay
onets presented by the guard stopped his
progress a rod or more from the entrance.
Faster and faster went the skurrying lights
behind the window panes. Had the end
comet Was Garfield deadl Was the great
piece Of news finally rounded off in its sad
ness for the nations The guard must be
passed. A gruf old regular soldier was he
at the other end of the bayonet.
"Stand aside, sir; what do you meanp
Thus cody Larry to the guard, whose orders
were to admit none but the presidents own
household and the doctors.
Stand asider The words were those of
command, unhesitating. Down went the
gun with a muttered apology; by rushed
Larry to enter the house where Garfield lay,
catching. as he passed, the guards mumbled
soliloquy 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 newspapers
representative had ever dared to dream Of
succeeded in penetrating to the most secret
councils of the mysterious doctors. And h.
learned much there that profited The Times
readers. The physicians were too much agi-
tated to affect airs then. Garfield died soon.
Lawrence Kane alone of all newspaper men
saw his deathbed-
We who are In the ranks know how much
this meant to the enthusiastic journalist, and
there are those of US, too, VINO can honor the
sp rit Of this noble fellow making no vulgar
parade of his achievement, and who ever
after spoke of that death scene as text for
deepest feeling A manly man Is dead.