Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-11
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Fooled.
Toughs and Special Correspondents Board
the Train and Beat Their Plans.
rRv telegranh 10 the Disuatch1

MEMPHIS. Tenn, July 10.-A New Orleans
special 10 the appeal says: The most SEN
sational incident of the fight and one that
PROMISES to be tragic in its consequences
has not vet been told. 1t arose from an e.
fort on the part of the Associated Press 60
scoop" all its competitors ia getting the
first news of the battle to the wire AT New
Orleans. In order to accomplish TINS
specisl train was chartered for the eXclu-
sive mao of the Associated Press and ITS
staff ofteureporters with the provlsO that
the train was to be limited TO loco
motive and one passenger cOach. In
furtherance Of this scheme. 10 was
agreed between the representatives OF
the Associated Press and Supcrlu-
tendent Tyler, of the Queen and Cres-
cent route, to have this locomotive and
coach in readiness at point halt nle
distant from the battle-ground, around q
bend. where it was not visible to those who
stood at the Richburg depot. Immediately
after the fight. and before the spectators
had left the ground the Associated-Press
reporters raished 10 the track, and after a
run of half mile boarded the train AS
signed to them. and for which they had con-
tracted with the company. The understand
ing was that once started the tram was 10
rush bv Richburg AT speed that made IL
impossible for any but those who had the
the coach. About o'clock the Associated
Press special started and proceeded down
the track al the rate of thirty-ive miles an
hour. and there Is 10 doubt that the rate
of speed would have prevented the embark
alton on that train Of any Of the immense
crowd that were waiting at ldchDurg.
Through blunder of the roadmaster or 4
preconcerted plan to rush kllraln out OF
the State, the Associated Press special
a 10 Dsrh hnro and The
in obedience to the signal began TO stop.
As soon as the train hove IN sight the
crowd of pugilists began TO prepare TO get
aboard, and slowing up gave them the OPP
portunity they desired. Consplcuously
eager to get aboard were special CORE
spondents of northern and eastern papers,
who were making desperate efforts TO send
the first news of the battle TO their respec-
tive papers. Just as the tram got to a
point opposite the depot at Mchburg a
rush TO get aboard was made by an eager
crowd of tOughs and correspondents. Al
either end of the coach stood an AssO-
ciated Press reporter guarding the
means of ingress, and warning all that
the train was a special one char
tered by the Associated Press, and
that none but its employees had q right 70
enter. This warning was disregarded. In
an instant the rear and front platforms
I
lists. who forced their way into the coach
desnite the protests of the Associated Press
sentinels. Among the first TO enter were
Charley Mitchell, one of kilrain's seconds /;
ST Joe Kid, and a multitude OF Others OF
the short-haired fraternity, whose muscular
prowess made resistance hopeless. IN less
time thai il takes to tell it the coach was
filed not only by pugilists but by
energetic and wide-awake special report
ers. While this was going on two coaches
containing Kilrain and his friends were
hurried forward to thermain track and
coupled on to the Associated Press special
BEFORE the train was IN motion the AssO-
ciated Press agent in charge OF the train,
realizing that his efforts 70 scoop" were
about 10 be foiled, instructed all his men
10 mount the tender with view OF cutting
off the tender and engine and leaving the
coaches on the ground. ID. Hogan, OF tho
Associated Press staff, was assigned TO the
duty OF uncoupling the cars and was III the
act of doing so when Denver tough OIL
GIGANTIC proportions put his hand TO his
bip-pocket, drew his revolver, and threat
tened to kill the first man who removed
the coupling. Hogan, nothing daunted,
asked his chief for further INSTRUCTIONS.
The situation was extremely critical.
Roth sides were excited and determined.
Odds were unequal. 1t was ten men de
voted TO their duty against an iniuriated
mob-a reckless, desperate, ana sometimes
mnrderous crowd. There was no question
that the men behind the Denver tough
would not have hesitated TO take human
life In the endeavor 10 prevent the un-
conplinc of the engine. On the other side
were men devoted to their profession and
ready 10 take any chances in the discharge
~ their duty, but unwilling 10 involve hn-
man life in the endeayor to faithfully serve
thepublic. Another element OF danger lay IN
The fact that Mitchelland bis friends feared
ha left M the mercy Of the police otiicers
~ Mississippi who were hunting them