The Helena independent., 1893-09-06
CoAslNG FOR INFORMATION.
Reportorial Ingenuity Utilized to Adva
tago In Gathering Facts,

A reporter called at the home of one NJ
Cage to learn some facts regarding an acc
dent that had happened that morning. II
softly assembled the stone steps, pulled tn
doorbell lightly and did not forget to tax
off his hat when he stepped over the thresl
| old. In a low voice and with a mild maj
her he ventured to ask if that was wher
! Mr.. Cage lived and If he had not been COZ
cerned in II yachting accident that morr
ing A correspondingly unpretentious al
| tirmative reply was vouchsafed on the par
of the genteel lady of 90 who had presentc
herself at the door,
81 do not know much about the accident
only il was an awful thing. They We're ou
boating, and do declare l don't see ho,
they ever escaped, and do you know
"Well, would you mind calling Mr.. Cage
I'd like to see him. l believe he was on
of the principals, was he not?" auered tn
reporter
"Oh, yes. will call him."
She was gone several minutes before tn
sound of footsteps down the stairs an
nounced the coming of some one. 1t wa
Mr.. Cage, and he entered directly into tn
room where the newsgatherer sat.
Are you the man who wanted to see me
If 80, can tell you right now that you'll
not get a bit of news regarding the acciden
from me, and you might as well not ask
word about it, am firmly set in that de
cision, and you need not try on any of YOU
schemes for getting news. Us people have
to suffer untold injustice at the hands OF
you newspaper men, and you fellows get
entirely"-
Everybody have seen on the street to-
day speaks Of your undaunted bravery and
coolheadedness in that time of great peril, "
broke in the reporter, "and you certainly
deserve the most hearty congratulations,
and for one wish to congratulate you as you
most honestly deserve"
"Aes, that was pretty hard pull made
pretty tough that-don't care about ever
trying it over. Too much salt water for me-
But, as was saying, you reporters try to
get hold of many things that are none Of
your business, and somebody has to suffer
for it. No, shall not give you one''---
"Now, Mr.. Gilbert tells me that if it had
not been for you some eight lives would
have been lost right there. That call an
almost unprecedented record and"-
"Iou see, the way of that was, when the
boat heeled over on her lee rail had to
fairly fight those fellows to keep them in
their right senses. There wasn't really
much danger just then, although there had
been two people drowned right there only
three weeks before. You remember where
that was. 1t was just about midway be-
tween Crage's and the West Boston bridge
Just above where the old ironclad used to
lie. We had just gone out for a little sail
that morning, and there wasn't boat on
the river when that squall struck us. |
don't know what we would have done if
boatkeeper hadn't come down to his float
ard seen us. That must have been about
$50 O'Clock. Still, as was saying awhile
ago, Pm not seeking notoriety, and you
can't get anything about the accident out
OF me. No, sir; not one thing"
mo, no, of course not, if you do not want
to give anything out. But was just think
ing how grateful those eight persons must
be. since they must know that they owe
their lives TO you. And those eight names
you just named over are the identical ones,
are they? Why | am well acquainted with
Two of them. They don't live great ways
from me-"
''Ies, they are the identical ones, and
wouldn't be surprised if they did feel a lit
lie grateful like to me, for | tell you things
ooked like a close call there for bit Just
before the cat rig came up. We had been
'ver well on to IA minutes. Suppose the
'apers will be apt to get some inkling of
he accident after awhile, but you can't
,et anything about it out of me now, for
m not seeking notoriety. Perhaps they
now something about it down at the sta
know, though"
Yes; would have been glad to have some
otes regarding the affair directly from
ou, since you were the principal, but if |
on will not give out any information then
hat settles it. Good morning, Mr. Cage"
And the reporter, closing the door softly,
tarted off down the stone steps and around |
he neighboring corner.
And the mild hammered reporter with the !
oW voice chuckled to himself, Guess |
hey re worth column and half BIOS
on Herald