The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-28
ARMoY KNOX AND THE PUBLISH
ERS.
a Truthful story Written by a Friend
of His.
Correspondence Of the Press.]
/. w. nataLa, nc No ~,

lOOIICopUHuCuCC VI tuO iCoosl
NEW YORK, October 26.-No more re-
marKaDle appantlon ever startled
staid and respectable book publisher in
the dignifed city of Boston than that
beheld by Mr.. James A Osgood-who
has recently been made the head Of an
American publishing house in London
when Col. j. Annoy Knox, then ten
derfoot from Texas, burst into Mr.. Os
goods Office some years ago like trop-
ical breeze. Even now, after the colonel
has been subjected 20 the restraining
influences of eastern civilization for
several Years, he is what the boys call
"holy terror" His hat is a yard and
half in circumference, and the back of
his neck is wholly hidden by his long
dark hair, while the clothes that he
wears, although conventional in cut, are
preposterous in pattern.
He came east in search of a publisher
and brought the manuscript of his first
book with him. 1t was little anecdote
he had written about life in Texas, only
a few thousand pages long, and the
manuscript came on as extra baggage in
a single freight car. 1t was the manu-
script that resulted in the celebrated
book son a Mexican Mustang" which
was afterward published by S. S. Scran-
ton & Co., of Hartford, and was still
later republished in German, French and
Spanish translations.
At that time, however, Col. Knox was
little known, and he went first to Boston
in search of publisher. He took the
precious sheets in a huge tin box, about
yard square and eighteen inches thick,
secured by combination safe lock.
Reaching Boston he hired negro porter
to carry it around to Osgood's publish
ing house. The clerks were too much
amazed at his appearance to stop him
when he inquired where Mr.. Osgood's
private Office was and calmly walked in,
telling the darby to wait outside.
He introduced himself, and before Mr..
Osgood could catch his breath he began
telling stories. That gentleman at once
became interested and chatted for half
an hour before he thought to inquire
what his callers errand was.
81 want to see if you will publish my
book for me-" said the colonel.
"Have You the manuscript here?"
asked Mr.. Osgood.
"Oh, yes" replied the colonel, and he
called the porter in with the tin box
Before Mr.. Osgood could recover from
this second shock the colonel said, in an
offhand way, 81 can leave it with you
till tomorrow if you want to read it be-
fore deciding"
Perhaps that will be just as WE'LL"
gasped the publisher, and Col Knox
blew out of the door.
The next day he returned, and was
told that his book had been accepted,
but that on account of other contracts
the firm would not undertake to pub
lish it within about six months.
"Oh, / can't wait SO long!" he ex-
claimed. "Ill tell you what I'll do. I'll
get you to lend me a niger, and I'll
take it away and try another pub
Usher"
They lent him two, and he took the
book on to Philadelphia, where he found
another publisher, who, after the colonel
had kindly allowed him twenty-four
hours to read the work, agreed to pub
lish it with copious illustrations.
After his return to Texas the aspiring
author soon began to receive proof sheets,
and was greatly disguised with the pict-
ures that were inserted. He remon.
strated with exceeding vigor, and the
publisher wrote and asked him what he
was going to do about it.
Col. Knox did not answer this LOT
ter. He went to Philadelphia ON tbo
next train and called at the Office at a.,
hour when he knew the publisher was
out. There he spent joyial half hour
with one of the employees, and suggested
that he would take the manuscript,
which was all in the tin box, over to his
hotel, as he wished to revise it little.
The clerk made no objection, and the
colonel departed with the box. He never
returned.
ID. A. G.