The Helena independent., 1893-12-22
x FAMOUS NEWSPAPER .seAr..

l5sitt
How tho London Times 'sscoopcd" the
story or the lsarinG Crisis.
Looking back over your work for The
Times, what do you consider the best
thing you have ever done?"
MIR. Crump showed little hesitation In
answering this question. Beyond doubt, -
he replied, '.the biggest coup which ever
achieved on behalf Of Tho Times was that
effected over the Barring crisis, Of the first
intimation Of which The Times, as you
viii doubtless remember, had the exclu-
sivc announcements. suppose 1t Is no ex-
aggeration to say that never before nor
since has apiece Of financial intelligence
of such tremendous Import been tho eX-
elusive possession Of any one paper. OF
course it is the business Of The Times to
be first, as we all know" added Mr..
Crump, with a laugh, shut, all the same,
I cannot help congratulating myself on
the part which / was able to play in sus-
tanning its reputation in this respect on
that occasion. 1t was The Times first and
the rest nowhere, and confess am proud
OF 1t.
''lIow did l manage it9 Well, it was
not easy, and it would take too long to tell
the story at length. The first direct int
nation had of anything amiss was re-
ceivcd from a well known tinancier, whose
name it is needless to mention, who called
on me here. He was evidently in state
Of great excitement, but beyond the bare
hint that some terrible financial calamity
was impending he could divulge nothing.
u cannot tell you, he said, in answer to
my Inquiries. 1T is impossible How
ever, what he had told me was enough
to convince me that something serious was
~f1V1t 10 h0v, \.Hr 1n%n OK
leave no stone unturned until had dis
covered what it was, even if it involved
my remaining at the task all night. Ac-'
cordingly l instructed my assistants to
keep the Office open and to await my re-
turn, and sailed forth in quest Of infor-
nation. To whom I applied first need
not now state Suffice it to say that he
was and is a very important parsonage in
the financial world. As it proved, beyond
the mere confederation of the fact that
some grave trouble was at hand, he could
give me no information, and / was COM
pelled to depart no wiser than had come.
Pursuing my inquiries elsewhere,
found my way eventually to the Bank of
England, where was in hopes might
discover what was seeking. It was past
closing time when I got there The clerks
and officials were taking their departure,
and not until made myself known did I
succeed in obtaining admission through
the half closed doors. Having done so,
however, made my way with all speed to
the directors quarters, and on doing SO
observed at once from the presence of va
rious people about that something unu-
sual was afoot. My suspicious were con-
tirmed when on entering the anteroom I
found the place all lighted mp and learned
on inquiry that, notwithstanding the late
ness Of the hour, the directors of the bank
were within In council with the managers
of various other great London banking in
stitutions. OF course I realized at once
the profound significance of this and soon
made up my mind what to do.
II sent in at once note to the governor
and asked Mr.. ddderdale to see me. To
my delight, he came out almost immedi-
ately and accompanied me into an adjoin-
ing waiting room. From his manner I saw
Immediately that the situation was seri-
ous, but more than this could not ascer-
tain at first. At length, however, put
the question point blank, Is it Barings?'
He did not answer, but slightly inclining
his head indicated that my suspicion was
correct. DO understand, then,' pur-
sued, that Barings are in a positionwhich
necessitates recourse to outside assistance?'
Again Mr.. Lidderdale signified assent in
the same manner as before. And then Of
course was in possession of all that was
necessary for my purpose. Before there
had been suspicious, but they were only
suspicious, and until they were verified
could not be acted upon. Now had OBJ
tanned my verification, and the time for
action had arrived returned of course
to my Office forthwith, and the next day
all the world was in the secret. '-West-
minister Gazette.