The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-07-12
WAS A FAMOUS SCOOP.
How Editor Crump, of the London Times,
Got News of the Barring Failure.

Mr.. Crump. whose clock like regular
itv a. editor of the Times was the sub
ject of numerous newspaper para
graphs on the occasion of his retire
ment from that position recently, was
asked week or so ago by a writer for
the Westminster Gazette what he con-
sdered the greatest journalistic feat he
bad ever accomplished.
Beyond doubt. he replied, "the big
gest coup which ever achieved on be-
half Of the Times was that effected
over the Barring crisis. of the first init
nation OF which the Times, as you will
doubtless rcmem Der, had the exclusive
announcement. ! suppose it is no ex-
aggeration to say that never before nor
since has 4 piece Of financial intelll-
gence of such tremendous import been
the exclusive 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, but
all the same, cannot help congratulate
inc myself on the part which | was
able 10 play in sustaining its reputa-
ton in this respect on that occasion.
1t was the Times first and the rest no.
where. and | confess am proud of it.
How did | manage it? Well,it was
not easy, and it would take too long to
tell the story at length. The first
direct intimatiOn | had of anything
amiss was received from well-knOwn
fnancier, whose name it is needless to
mention, who called on me here. He
was evidently in a state of great ex-
element but beyond the bare hint
that some terrible financial calamity
was impending he could divulge moth
inc. i cannot tell YOU he said, in
answer to my inquiries; 1T is impossi-
BILE. However what he had told me
was enough to convince me that some
thing serious was about to happen, and
to determine me TO leave no stone I'M
turned until had discovered what il
was, even if it involved my remaining
at the task all night. Accordingly,
instructed my assistants 10 keep the
office open and TO wait my return, and
| sailed forth III quest Of information.
To whom | 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, be-
| yOnd the mere zorro boration of the fact
| that some grave trouble was at hand,
he could give me no information, and
was compelled 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.
| 1T was past closing time when | GOT
| there. The clerks and officials were
taking their departure, and not until
made myself known did | succeed IL
obtaining admission through the half"
closed doors. Having done so. how
ever, made my way with all speed to
| the directors quarters, and on doing
so observed ut once from the presence
Of various people aboutthat something
unusual was afoot, My suspicious
| were confirmed when. on entering the
ante-room, found the place all light
ed up, and learned on inquiry that,
Notwithstanding the latcness of the
| hour, the directors of the bank were
within in council with the managers
of various other great London bank.
inc institutions. OF course realized
at once the profound significance o.
this and soon made up my mind what
to do.
Il sent in ut once n note TO the
governor and asked Mr.. Lidderdale t.
see me. TO my delight he came on,
almost Immediately and accompanied
me to an adjoining waiting-room
From his manner saw immediately
that the situation was serious, bu
more than this could not ascertain a
first. AT length, however, | put The
question point blank. Is it Barings?
He did not answer, but slightly in
Ginning his head indicated that my
suspicion was correct. DO / under
stand, then pursued, that Barring,
are in Il position which neccssitates +,
recourse TO outside assistance'' Again
Mr.. Lidderdale si9nilied assent in the
same manner rs before. And then. Of
course, | was in possession of all thai
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 obtained my verifcatior
and the time for action had arrived.
| returned, OF course, TO my office forth
with, and the next day all the worle
was in the secret"