The Coconino weekly sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-06
A Celebrated Hoax.


Although the story of Mr. 7. B. Con-
merry, formerly managing editor of the
New York Herald, regarding the famous
wild beast hoax Of that paper which
was pcrpetrated come 20 years ago is
contrary to the impressions long main
tanned by newspaper men, it has the
merit of reason and is undoubtedly cor
rect. The idea Of imposing upon the
public in this way has usually been at
tributed to Mr.. Bennett himself, but it
appears that no was more sinned against
than SHINING, for his friends all blamed
him for tho imposition, when he knew
nothing about it until after it occurred.
Mr.. Connery says he himself was the
originator of the loosened wild animal
story, and that his object was to warn
tho public Of an impending danger. But
he woefully mistook the effect of the
story. He first thought Of tho matter
while watching the transfer Of some am
mails to Central park one day. Through
carelessness ono Of the animals came
near escaping. He continues:
My first impulse was to call public attention
10 the accident and to give the menaeerie men
a sound scoldng through tho columns OF the
American Thunderer, but thought better OF it..
What would be the use of little scolding and a
! few warnings? The mcnagcrie men would only
be n little more careful for awhile and then re-
| lapse into their old habits, IL carclcssness was
| al n ti,alr hnl,its pf which | did
know. Tho public would soon forget all about
1t, and nurses and children would continue TO
90 to the menagcre us of old on tho theory
that lightning never strikes the same place
twice. So resolved TO think over some other
plan than an ordinary beware to tho public
and the everyday scolding to officials.
That night in bed the idea came 10 mc--gct
up harmless little hoax with just enough
semblancC Of reality to give a falutary warn.
| ing. That was what occurred 10 INC, and the
Idea grew fast and furious, especially the fun
OF ii. and jotted down quickly the headings
Of my hoax to give to one of the reporters 10
develop and cmbellish. became enamorcd Of
my idca-a very dangerous thing, for when one
allows ones self TO DO thus carried away one
Is apt TO sec only that side Of tho idea that
| ticklcs his fancy. II was precisely what hap
pcncd TO me. | saw only the laugh which the
! pub, iCation Of such q tremendous hoax would
| produce. To my shame, be II confessed, ! was
utterly blind 10 the serious side of the hoax.
1t appears that after considerable con-
sultatiou the story was finally written
by Mr.. J. |. c. Clarke, now wei
known New York editor Tho article
covered six columns of Tho Herald ana
started out By describing how reckless
keeper provoked the rhinoceros by prof.
ding him; how tho animal burst from its
fastenings and killed the l:eeper; how
next the Infatuated beast killed another
daring keeper and broke down the bars
of all the cages, liberating the Numid-
ian lion, the elephant, the Bengal tigers,
tho lioncsses, pGnthers. bears, leopards,
hyenas. wolves and scTpents, while a bat
tie royal among the fierce animals ragged
on the floors Of tho menagcric.
One after another tho animals lcapcd
from tho menage1o and scattered them
selves over the city, killing or mutilat.
ing beasto. men and women all over the
town. General John A. Dix was cxtolled
for shooting tho leopard ION tho tpot;"
Lester WNllack for putting a bullet In
one of the tigers. with Mayor Hall look.
lug on cloGu behind; John Morrissey,
famous puglist, gambler and politician
In tho3e days, for fighting tho tiger,
delivering deadly blow from the right
shoulder, Aud so tho story went on,
column after column, finally winding
up With
Dg eouIfa tic entire story given above h
pure fabrication, Not ono word ~ II IN lTuC,
Not n single act or incident described hRs taken
place, II n u huge hoax, n Wild romance, or
whatever other eplthet u utter uRlruStwOrthio
Nysa our readers may choose % apply to H.
Very few read thia last paragraph,
however, and tho hoax created such u
fright In tho city that Mr., Connory DO,
gan to fee! that no had made u mistake
before no had got half way down town
tho next morning, Before he had ar
rived at Tho Herald Office he was simply
Mortified, 30 no says, At tho mischief he
had created, and no stopped tho presses
from running off extras as quickly as
possible,
Tho only doubtful point about Mr.,
Connery's explanation Is that n man Of
his undoubted ability and experience as
an editor could have been mistaken as
to the effect tho hoax would produce
upon tho public.