Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-08-05
A GREAT "SCOOP."
How Story Was Told Before It's
Occurrence.

Some years ago while | was employed
MS a reporter for leading New York
daily paper, the rather curious incident
herein recounted came to pass, but that
was so long since it is doubtful if any
of the readers of this journal remem-
Der its occurrence or the widespread
ripple of comment thereby created at
the time.
Within the Office of the newspaper
alluded to, as in similar places every
where. pleasant countenances and
smiles not infrequently concealed feel
ings of wounded sensibilitics through
some fancied unkind discrimination, and
occasionally pent-up jealousies gave way
to bursts of anger and torrents of vigor-
Gus though unpublished language. Some
thing of this sort, have long since con-
cluded, initially led to the tiff between
Angelo Romeri, talented though vim
dictive young Italian land myself.
Romeri had been doing criminal as
signments, kind of work In which he
may be said to have fairly reveled, but
his style or manner of writing up trials,
etc, provoked unfavorable criticism
and rendered the young man unpopular;
whereupon the city editor transferred
him to another department, and gave
the criminal work to me. Romeri and
! had been the best of friends, but di-
rectly the italian was removed from his
favorite pursuit and detailed to look
after marine intelligence, subject
which wearied him, he became taciturn
and positively "otfish" ia his behavior
toward me.
At the period Of which am speaking
New York city was agog over the ex-
travagances and designations of one OF
those wealthy prohigates nearly always
to be found spreading their butterfly
wings in that metropolis, creating a
great talk for brief season, and then
snufling out like a candle. His real
name, If given, would be likely to strike
the reader Familiarity, but | shall desig-
nate him simply as MIR. Bascom. The
name have selected has the ring of a
novelist's character, instead of being
that of real person, but shall let II
go at that.
Mr.. Bascom was, as have minated,
travelling the road OF life at Il wonder
fully rapid pace. Possessing, as he did
what us young fellows called "slathers'
OF money, which alone was sufficient to
have made him famous In any commu
nifty, he had, in addition thereto, good
education, ready wit and a graceful
dignified bearing, combination which
despite his frequentnnd wild debauches
gave him prominence in Gotham's sociaI
spheres. Half dozen aristocratic
clubs felt honored in having his name
enrolled on their books Many were
the swell receptions and balls given ir
those days at his palatial home opposite
the Palisades, and overlooking the
broad, picturesque Hudson, near larry.
town. Nothing bounded his hospital
ity, and an accomplished wife, aided by
score of select and well-drilled serv
ants, contributed to make his home
the abode of perennial enjoyment. Bias
com himself, however, spent by far tn,
greater portion Of his time in the soci
city " gamblers and their side partner,
in the city, carousing constantly, q
that no special gift of precedence wa,
needed to forcsee that his career inev
itably must end in sudden death or in
vanity.
II was on certain bright June morn
ing succeeding tempestuous night tina
i sat reading daily paper on one o
New York's big ferry boats coming NJ
the bay from Staten Island, when TIVE
men came and took seats near mine
They were talking about vessel tina
was reported aground off Sanity Hook
made note of the substance of thei
conversation, and upon reaching tn,
Office naturally mentioned what ha,
overheard. The word was passet
around till it reached the ears of Rom
eri, whereupon that gentleman poste,
Off to the telegraph Office for informa
ton, only to find out in the course of al
hour that the rumor was totally lacking
in foundation. Afterwards he vowed i
was trick instituted by myself with
view to causing him unnecessar,
trouble, though was innocent of in
tentionally misleading him.
Some months elapsed and the vesse
episode had been forgotten, when dut,
again called me out of town. For tn
purpose of obtaining the confession o
a notorious scoundrel had been sen
to Sing Sing prison, but my errand t.
that delightSslly situated "stone Jug
had proven a fat failure. AS was re
turning to the Office late at night I.
make my report the train on reachiu,
Tarrytown at 1880 o'clock made only
brief stop, because we were runnin,
six or eight minutes behind schedule
time, but the pause was sufficient l.
allow stout, pleasantfaced gentle
man to get aboard. The newcome
entered the coach occupied by mysel
and couple of dozen sleepy heads
and, perceiving that was about tn
only person awake, he came and sat il
the chair adjoining mine. The gentle
man struck me as being man of fore,
and character, and as we soon becam
engaged in conversation | found him L
be above the average in intelligence
Soon we were friendly, and as the trail
sped along my companion grew quit
communicative. For some reason o
another our talk tarned upon tn
frivolities Of the day, and the gentle
man drew a long breath as he re
marked that virtue was its own re
ward. That he had known trouble, o
that something lay heavily on hi
heart, l gathered from the earnestnes
of his speech aud the accompanying