Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-09-19
THAT LITTLE ITEM.
The Way Cadtain Boom Brought
the Editor to Time.

1 was sitting alone in the Office the
other day about noon when a couple of
gentlemen came up who were evil
IDENTIFY exceedingly angry. Their
temper had not been improved by
climbing the long fight of stairs that
led to the editorial room, which fight
they had been compelled to walk up,
as the elevator was not running be-
tween twelve and one.
''Look here" said one of the men.
''this is Captain John Boom, of North
ern Michigan. Your paper this morn
ing publishes scandalous and utterly,
untrue item about him, and we have
come up here to get retractiOn made
or there will be trouble"
''Yes." said Captain Boom. hopping
his heated brow, ''there sotll be trouble.
1t is perfectly outrageous the way
newspapers publish items in which
there isn't a word of truth, utterly
reckless of what damage they do.
and"
''Of course it is," broke in the other.
-'but I'll bet you dollar and half
we'll have that thing fixed"
WELL" 1 said, gentlemen, am
sorry. indeed. but it isn't in my de-
partment. l have really nothing to do
with the matter at all. The proper
man to see would be the city editor"
what did tell you," cried Captain
Boom. 'YOn wanted me to come up
here. but knew it was no good. I
knew they would shift it off just that
way. told you we would never find
the fellow that wrote it."
You'll find him in all right
enough" said. eff you call up at five
O'clock"
'.Five o'clock" cried Captain Boom
~'Why by that time I will be on the
railway for home. No. sir. You cor
rect that item right here now. or there
is going to be trouble"
'.All right" l said, "what is the
item? ! will make whatever correc-
tions there are to be made in it and
hand it to the city editor. He will
only be too glad to correct it if he has
been in the wrong"
TOO glad" Numbered the other.
don't correct the damage he has
done"
What Is the item?" I asked, un-
folding a copy of that mornings paper.
Here it is" he answered, putting
his finger on the place.
The item was as follows:
Captain John Boom, of Jogawauk Northern
Michigan, is ut the Cadillac. He is interested
In the development Of some timber limits OF
the Jogawauk river. and is here to induce cap
ftalists to 60 into the scheme. Captain Boon
has acquired the right to sc, 900 acres of valua
BILE timber land and has engaged Mr.. Theo
Dolite, the surveyor, to go up here and run TIT
lines. He is negotiating with Captain Brine.
for the purchase OF tug that will navigate tn
raging Jogawauk."
'.Well,"I said, when had read tina
through. ''what is there wrong abou
it?"
Its all wrong" cried Captain
Boom. "there isn't word of trutl
in it I want you to say in to-mor
rows paper that you entirely mislea'
and that there wasn't a word of trutl
in the item relating to Captain job
Boom. You have got to do that o
stand the consequences"
ut can't be all wrong" I said
..there must be some foundation c
truth in the matter. The reporte
has no reason for classifying things"
You can take it any way to like
but you have got to retract that thin
or there will be music. now tell you.
Captain Boom" said the man VIII
had come up with him. sis wort
800. 900. and he don't care a dar
what he spends in order to set himsel
right. now tell YOU"
WELL" answered, '.he doesn
need to spend cent of it. The pape
is as anxious to get it right as he is
have it righted. but let's see where th
wrong is. In the first place. Captai
John Boom. of Jogawauk. Of Norther
Michigan. is at the Cadillac Are yo
Captain John Boom"
Eyes. sir. I am.
Every well. then. that much
right. Are you from Jogawauk?"
Yes, sir. I am from Jogawauk."
els Jogawauk in Northern Mich
ganp" =
..Yes, it is"
..And are you staying at the Cadi
lac?"
..Yes. i am"
s.All right. then. there is nothir
wrong with the first of it. is there!"
mo, it isn't that. L"
s.Well, let's take the second sentenc
Are you interested in some of the tir
Der limits on that river?"
..Now. that's just where the troub
is. OF course am interested in tir
Der limits on the Jogawauk river. b.
I didn't want that published. didr
see any reporters. and those that
told about that told it in confidenc
and am not going to have it cast broa
cast all over the country"
..WeIl, what we are after now Is
Get this thing right The timber liz
Is are on the Jogawauk river. and