The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-07-06
HOW GRANT WAS INTERVIEWED.
A Clever Reporter Who Got the Best q
the Generals Reserve.
New York Mail and ExpresSI


New York Mail and Express.I
When Gen. Ulysses S. Grant touched
terra firma, having completed his famous
trip around the world, he made a solemn
pledge to his most intimate friends that I'M
der no circumstances would he be inter-
viewed by any Newspaper representative.
This arrangement was entered into for the
purpose of obviating the possibility of inter
fering with the sale of the book written by
Minister to China John Russell Young, then
well-nigh completed.
Gen. Grant reached the Fifth Avenue
hotel in due season, and, as was expected,
was besieged by newspaper men. He de-
clined to say anything whatever about his
trip beyond stating that he had enjoyed it.
and so on. For two days the siege was kept
up, but the general held the fort. Finally
one of the leading morning papers singled
out a man from the city staff and detailed
him to get story out of the general a. any
cost and under any circumstances.
Proceeding to the Fifth Avenue hotel, the
reporter held a council of war with the vet
eran clerk Carr. There is no earthly use"
said he, sin sending up your card He has
already positively declined to see some Of
the best known newspaper correspondents in
the country. If I were in your place, do
you know what would do? I'd send up my
card and face the music. Take the role of q
Wall street blood. He'll never discover you"
The card was sent up, and word came back
that Gen. Grant would see the gentleman.
As the story goes, the scribe weakened at
the knees, but finally braced up and mounted
to the suite of rooms occupied by the voyager
round the world. The old soldier was in full
dress; Mrs. Grant and q number OF ladies
were present The reception room was
redolent with the perfumes of the choice
exotics that had been sent to the hero of
Vicksburg. The reporter babe him well
come, was introduced to the ladies, and held
long chat with Gen. Grant, who unex-
pectedly gave succinct and interesting 40.
count of HE voyage. The following morn
ing the daily came out with a clean "beat"
OF a column and three-quarters. 1t was used
all over the country, and the storm that
burst over Gen. Grants head can be more
easily imagined than described. Letters and
kilograms were thrown at him by the hum
dred, and he was charged by his friends with
having violated the sanctity of his promise
He tried hard to explain, but it was no use,
so finally he came out with statement to
the effect that he was not aware of having
been interviewed by any newspaper man.
About six months afterward, the Ninth
regiment was reviewed by Gen. Grant in the
Madison Square garden. Before the review
began Gen. Shaler, knowing nothing of
course, of the circumstances, introduced the
writer Of the article to the general He re-
peated the name over and over, and then,
fixing his piercing orbs on the reporter, rec
ognized him as the one who had caused him
SO much trouble. He told the whole story
to Gen. Shaler.
at has been wonder to me ever SINCE"
said he, chow this young man here could
have made 30 much out of so short q CONVEX
sation, and without taking any notes to keep
so close to the truth. You may depend upon
it, however, that 1 have kept my eyes and
ears open since, and he will be mighty
smart reporter who will catch me mapping
again"