The herald., 1894-01-01
ALL ABOUT A SCOOP .

ing OF it in"the other, what DO you
think? You at once exclaim; "Well,
that's funny l reckon those fellows
must have been asleep or else
drunk !" and that's all you say.
The thought Of how the exclusive
piece OF news was obtained or who got it
never enters your mind. That is because
you know nothing of the methods OF
gathering news. The best praise which
you can find is to ridicule the beaten
paper. There is no thought to place the
credit where it belongs. The victor is
passed with only slight remark, while
the beaten paper Is laughe d at.
This piece OF exclusive ne ws is known
amongst newspaper men as SCOOP"
These scoops" about local happen
ings are generally obtained by the re-
porters. Sometimes they get the tip
by chance, sometimes by hard digging.
In nearly ali cases the story to be worked
up req u Tres hard, earnest work, and
frequently takes the repor ter through
very unpleasant ex periences.
Twill relate little expert ence in get
ting SCOOP" which was accomplished
partially by accident and partially by
persona efforts.
One afternoon in last July the city
editor greeted me with these cheerful
words: "You are our banquet editor, |
believe. There is going to be farewell
banquet to General McCook at the
Hotel Redondo tonight. Find out If
there will be train back. If there is
I'll send you down."
The thought of truff1ed duck, pate de
fois gras and pistache ice cream, washed
down with Mumm's extra dry, was most
delicious, so lost no time in hurrying
to the military headquarters to ascer-
tain whether or not there YVES return
train.
To my CONSERVATION there was none.
Sorrowfully 1 returned to the chief
with the news, but suddenly was
struck with what seemed then most
happy thought. | had previously rid
den q bicycle to Santa Monica. Why
not repeat the ride to Redondo Beach,
which was only about 20 miles from the
HERALD office.
Say chief" l remarked, what is
dondo tonight and returning on a BIZ
cycle. | think we'll be able to scoop
the other papers,"
"Oh, pshawI You never can do 1t
better let it CO."
But no; l wanted to try, and after beg
eing hard the city editor finally con-
sented to let me 90.
"Now mind" he cautioned, II didn't
send you, and if you get killed don't
blame me-"
This worried me not in the least, and
| | made haste to secure wheel. / de.
cided not to take the train down but to
ride the bicycle in order to know the
road.
About ak O'Clock the start was made.
All went we'll for while. The streets
leading out to the road to Redondo were
smooth and had an inspiring effect upon
me. felt ss though l could ride 100
miles.
Finally the road WAS reached and with
/ it vast quantities of nice dust piled up
several inches. On and on pedalled,
every wheel length apparently bringing
me into more dust. Abunt this time l
began to get an idea of the size OF the
task before me. However. / was not al
lowed to ruminate for long upon my
plight as half dozen sizes OF dogs, who
had esped the wheel, came rushing
across the field straight towards me.
AT the end OF mile, which was COW
cred, | am ready to swear, in two min
utes fiat, the last dog was left behind,
and after some more hard riding How
ards summit was reached.
The people here said that Redondo
was about ii miles further on, and that
l would probably strike sand at the end
of several miles and have to walk into
town, distance OF perhaps half mile.
This latter WAS pleasant, too, but | at
once continued to push on for my des-
tination. The road was rough and
| falls we're numerous, but finally my
heart was gladdened by seeing hill
! two miles straight ahead. The wind
WAS blowing gale and | knew that the
ocean was near. Surely, Il reasoned,
Redondo could be eeen from the top of
that hill. The hill was ct last mounted,
but no Redondo appeared.
Riding about 800 yards farther on
my heart was still further glad
dened by encountering quantity OF
sand, which threw me off of the wheel.
Try as hard as l could, | was unable to
ride the bicycle through the sand and
was forced to push it along in front OF
me.
After traversing several miles OF sand,
| went to another ranch house and in
quired the way to Redondo. as four roads
went by the house. These people also
assured me that Redondo was ''only a
little further on-about two and half
miles"
1t was a case of push on, however,
and in company with the bicycle l
trudged ahead. Finally Redondo was
reached about 8 O'Clock. Alter brushing
up and removing come of the dust from
my throat, went into the banquet and
proceeded to make report of the enter
tainmeut. This made about two and
half columns, and it was IL O'Clock
W wben | had finished.
Not desiring to repeat my experience
with the bicycle l had ordered horse
| for the return trip and at 1920 O'Clock
| bade farewell to the hotel and started.
i was unable to remember by what
road had come into the town 30
| hardly knew how to get out. However,
l took one following the RAILROAD track.
All was well for time but suddenly the
track disappeared and could not be
found again. The reflection of the cleo
trio lights OF Les Angeles Was plainly
visible and | soon saw that tho road w ss
going from them. Finally turned from
the road which afterwards proved to be
the one to San Pedro and struck across
the hills towards tho light. The ground