Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-06
AN ITEM BY TELEPHONE.


newspaper Office. He was in very bad humor
that evening because he had been hoaxed by
piece of alleged news that he thought
trustworthy, and it had narrowly escaped
getting into the paper. As the city editor
was laying his plans to catch the hoaxer
there came a ring at the telephone He
waited for moment to see If somebody else
I'm the building was going TO answer, and
then went to the instrument himself.
Hello said a voice. ''Who is thata'
1.-The city editor"
you are just the man, then, l want to
talk to- want you to take down something
that think will be of interest to the readers
Of your paper"
''Au right. Go ahead!" said the city edi-
tor.
"Have you got paper and pencil there?"
''No Go ahead with what you have to
say. III take it down"
This requires accuracy. You will have 20
have paper and pencil"
Every well, " said the city editor, wait
moment. Now, then" he continued, ''go
ahead"
AIS there anybody else thereg' asked the
voice.
"What difference does it make?"
want to know if you stay at the telephone I'M
I'll am through. WIN you promise that"
If you have any news % send in, " said
The city editor, rather Grossly, please se-id
I H."
'Will you promise TO wait at the telephone
until | am through:'
III promise nothing of the kind" said
the editor: ''rll ring Off in another moment"
LII. 5f--x,,, ,.s,,o
OFF. YOU do Yourself out of one Of the most
ensat;onal items that has occurred within
sile last six months. Unless you promise me
III ring up the opposition paper, and think
Uhev VIII be GLAD OF the item"
"All right" said the city editor, II prom
Use. Go ahead"
NOW, see here, there's another thing AT
the end of every sentence want you to an
swer yes | can recognize your voice and
can tell whether you have summoned any one
to your assistance. The moment that find
that YOU have done so, l will ring Off at the
central and you will lose your item. If you
make any attempt to communicate with the
central Office | shall hear you and will ring
off,
''Whv, what's all this nonsense about!' said
the city editor If you have got any news let
me have it, If you haven't, stop all this talk.
| don't want to hear it.
"All right said the other, ''that's business.
Now you are to understand that you are to
answer yes at the end of every sentence. l
am going to commit suicide"
eyes" from the city editor
II have every preparation for it in my
,oom. am going to commit suicide in the
French fashion with pan OF charcoal. 1t Is
here bv nv side ready to be lighted. am a
young physician who has had nothing to do,
and it's either slow starvation or the quicker
method of the charcoal pan. Do you under
standp
yes"
'sYou understand now why do not wish
to be interruptedm
''Yesn answered the city editor.
II would have written down my sensations
during the coming of death, but am afraid
that my hand may get paralyzed, and that
ANYWAY cannot write as fast as the symp-
toms. which | wish to describe, occur. Be
sides think l can talk here longer than
could write anyhow. | have the telephone
fixed down opposite my chair and have my
head propped up against 1t, so that SO long as
/ can speak can tell you my symptoms"
"All right said the city editor.
s'Now. In order that this description of the
symptoms of man being poisoned by car
bon monoxide is of any value you must be
accurate. The trouble with you newspaper
men is inaccuracy, especially when you touch
on any scientific subject"
Eyes. that's all right" said the city editor.
ave heard that remark before Well, Sc
on. Have you lighted your fire yetf'
"No. not vet. | want to be sure that you
are nerfectlv ready and that you have all the
materials with you for a long interview. Do
you hear me plainlyi"
First rate said the city editor. As he
said this be heard step down the hall
ssNow." said the city editor, perhaps be-
fore you begin 70 light the fire you will tel
ms something about the cause of death IL
the method you are about to adopt. You
zee. / know nothing whatever about the mat
ter and would hike to have little preliInln
airy information about 1t.
I'm do that said the voice from the
telephone. ''but in any case after you have
the article written, if l were you l would
,lr,;. - Il, SoY,,a musician and then If there