Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-03
SAVED !. ~ 4 FLuKE.


An Edit0r,s Expericnco with an
Angry Ftfiibusfcr.
In the year 1878 / was on the stall OF
the Washington Daily Chronicle at the
National Capital. Among the galaxy
which controlled its interests we're John
M. Morris, clerk to the Senate, Senator
Harlan, and Judge Vail, Of Iowa, George
B. Corkhill, afterwards District Attorney,
and prosecutor OF Guiteau, Helen M.
Barnard, Arthur Shepard, brother OF the
Boss, Clarence M. Barton, who was
mixed up with the ,killinglof poor Sotel-
do, and Fighting James Nj. Dooley,
now Justice Of the Peace. It will be
seen at glance that there was lots of
brain and some little character in the
outfit. 1t naturally followed that the pa
per was ably conducted, which fact, how
ever, did not prevent it from being inti-
mately acquainted with the Credit Mo-
bilier, from taking hand in the Pacific
Mail subsidy scheme, and from backing
up the Boss Shepard ring until it owned
a magnificent building on Pennsylvania
avenue. 1t may be added, in vindica-
ton of the high morality which now pre-
walls at Washington, that the Chronicle
died lingering death from lack Of sup
port. Others say that it died OF its own
rottenness. All of which is neither here
nor there as regards my story, except to
point out that it was these careless
methods OF my paper which drew me-
into the scrape which nearly cost me
my life.
During the decade which followed the
war, marked by extravagant appropria-
tions of public funds and lands, Wash
ington was infested by great number
OF lobbyists, adventurers and schemers
of all sorts. Conspicuous among this
motley throng was General Ryan, ex-
Fenian and commander of the revolu-
tionary forces Of Cuba. He was strik-
ing figure with his clear-cut features,
pale face, dark hair, fierce eyes, grandly
physical proportions and soldierly car
riage. He wore wide-brimmed, SLOUGH
hat, semi-military suit, carried a
I mighty shaggy barked stick OF timber
for a cane, and was followed by a
huge Newfoundland, with cross OF the
Cuban bloodhound. He wore in his ex-
pansive shirt front three great diamonds,
and they were really magnificent gems.
Poor Ryan, We newspaper boys could
always tell the varying stages Of his
prosperity by these headlights. When
| flush OF money he wore all three of the
gems; when funds were getting short,
but two; when very short, but one; and
when fiat broke, the last one would dis
appear. His uncle, OF the three-balls,
would take them until some sympathizer
of the Cuban cause would advance loan
to the General, and then the diamonds
would re-appear upon parade in all their
glory. Altogether, he excited the adj
miration of the silly girls, the small
boys and the negro population of the
town, and held a high place in the
brotherhood OF adventures. Besides all
| this, it is but fair to say that he was ac-
corded recognition in social circles. On
one unlucky night the General fell into
disgrace. In the open street he shame
| fully abused poor creature whose only
fault was that she loved him too we'll,
and then brutally thrashed az inoffensive
car conductor whose comments on the
affair he happened to overhear. Pub
licity was given to the matter by his
being arrested and fined for the assault.
Jim Dooley was city editor at the time
and there was bad blood between him
and Ryan. Naturally, Dooley wrote up
an account of the disgraceful affair in a
vigorous style and embellished it in a
way likely to excite, on the part OF the
General, desire for CORY satisfaction.
On the day of the publication Of the
Ryan matter, was in charge OF Dooley' 8
desk during the morning hours, and at
about ten O'Clock, General Ryan hove in
sight. He was extremely affable in his
manner; said that the Chronicle did him
an injustice, and that, If 1 found upon
inquiry, this to be the fact, he hoped
that proper correction would be made.
/ assured him that proper attention
would be paid to his request, and he
departed after warmly shaking me by the
hand. found upon investigation that
Dooley had followed the facts in
his account, and so took it upon myself
to write the apology Ryan had requested.
1t was scorcher, and more rancorous
and ire-inspiring in it's manner of treat
ment than the original report.
was occupying the city editors desk
on the day OF the second call of General
Ryan. He did not quietly heave in sight
this time, but angrily strobe into the
room and pointing revolver at my head,
exclaimed, in voice hoarse with pas
sion: ''I'll teach you to degrade General
Ryani"
The revolver was so near my head
that I imagined / could feel its cold
muzzle, and I will never deny to my
dying day that / fairly shook in my shoes.
did not even look up and face the
music, but in nay embarrassment reached
out my left hand and picked up cigar
which lay on the desk, and, while biting
off the stem, opened drawer
on the tight, as if in quest of a
match. Lying there in the opened draw
er, and evidently placed there by Dooley
for just such case OF emergency, were
two old-fashioned derringers at full cock,
and with bores like little cannons. Quick
as Thought grasped one Of them and
pressing it against the body Of Ryan
| fired? 2. Mol didn't, and why not to this
day cannot tell. 1t is wonder that my
very nervousness did not cause me to dis
charge the weapon involuntarily. Ryan
was too well versed in the ethics of kill
ing not to know that had thedead drop
on him. He knew that If he sent bullet
crashing through my brain, that the dy-
| ing convulsive twitch OF my finger upon
the fine hair-trigger OF that dangerous
weapon Of mine would literally disem-
bowel him. To kill me was his certain
death. Ryan never fiinched when COW
cred him. He slowly lowered his revolt
yer, replaced it in his pocket, and saunt-
cred out Of the room.
was not jubilant over my victory, for
I expected that at the next opportunity
he would open fire on me, for he was in
a desperate trait, financially and other
wise, and correspondingly reckless.
Several weeks passed before I CHANGED
| to meet the General had not exactly
lodged corners to avoid meeting him,
but kept close eye to the windward
| when turning them. One day we met
on the avenue face to face. He extended
his hand and cordially grasping mine,
| said: III was wrong; start on an ex-
| podition tomorrow and may never re-
turn. ood-byep' / wished him God.
speed from the bottom Of my heart.