The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25
An Editorial Wrath.

Many years ago worked on paper in this
City as copy-reader, and eventually became
very well acquainted with the styles of every
man on the staff 1 could tell at a glance at
the paper at any time that happened to be off
the desk for day or two what men were doing
the important stories and pick out every
writer's individual work In time became so
expert at noting reporters peculiariries that
1 tired of the old styles and began to look for
something new.
1t came in the shape of young fellow who
drited into the office late one night with
a scoop. The city editor turned him over to
me, and I confess 1 read the yarn with the
greatest interest. 1t was the story of o fruit
yender who had fallen heir to several thous-
and dollsrXand who celebrated by partaking
of foot-wine in such quantities that he became
frenz.ed and killed his wife and two children.
The murder occurred in the Latin quarter at a
very late hour and was full of the most dra-
matte and tragic situations
The introduction was a gem OF English and
all through the tale was woven an individu-
atty that was worthy of a better market than
that afforded by newspapers. The gradual &C
emulation of the frutman's temper, the ap-
peals on the part of the wife and mother for
him to desst in time, the frenzy of the
drunken man when he found himself in the
position OF one who needed advice, the scene
OF his striking down the poor woman and the
destruction of the two children in most
brutal and shocking manner, stood out in the
story like chapters OF description and pictures
OF horror
/ was so struck by the marvellous power of
the writer that 1 informed the city editor of
the importance of the story and suggested that
we double-lead the whole thing and run it in
full notwith standing the latenesS of the hour.
Chow long is it? he asked.
Nearly four thousand words, 1 guess
"Well, cut it to one thousand, leave out the
rhetoric and stick to bare facts. Too late for
spread"
"But the story is a magnificent piece of
work. Nothing has ever been written like it
in daily paper in this city. 1t is"
"This is no magazine Cut it down."
l did as instructed, and. with a six head,
sent it into the composing-room.
On the following day the writer appeared
again and sat down on the edge OF my desk
81 see you cut my story"
81 did so at The suggestion OF the city
editor"
81 see. Hum. Thought that was a pretty
we'll told tale. and il was a scoop. Really, that
was written with great care and L am sorry
he overlooked the Importance of the story
and had it cut to a thousand words. However,
guess he knew what he wanted. BY the way,
what do you pay for that kind of news?''
referred him to the city editor, from whose
room he finally emerged with an order on the
business Office for SO S0-just what it meas
ured at so much per inch. lie returned to my
room and, throwing the slip of paper on my
desk, said, quietly:
81 asked him for steady employment. He re-
fused ! have worked on all the big newspa-
pe-s in the United States, but 1 drink too
much, perhaps Yes, a great deal TOO much.
/ am sober though to-day, and gave him my
word that would never touch liquor again if
he would give RE employment. He an
swered that he was not running reform school
for broken-down reporters" He drew his face
nearer to mine, and in a voice scarcely above
whisper resumed: "Have the waterfront man
keep his eyes open, and he will get good sui
eide story before midnight"
In another instant the author of the best
murder story ever read was gone.
| Immediately telephoned the harbor police
to watch the piers for an attempted suicide,
informing them Of the reporters threat TO
take his life. From all accounts they put extra
men on guard. but about IL o'clock that night
the waterfront man came into the office with
a suicide story of young man who had
shipped on board hayscow for Stockton in
the afternoon, and who must have dropped
over the side about O'clock His remains
were found floating around the spiles by
wharf pilot, and the body was unidentified.
From the description knew who it was, but
personally saw to it that he had something
better than pauper's funeral.
About six months after the young mans
death the paper on which l was employed
suddenly found itself tied up in the finest as
sortment of libel suits ever heard of. Every
thing went wrong, we lost subscribers, the
business propped off, the city editor made the
most glaring mistakes in everything he han
died, and our local. editorial and art staff
plunged the paper into ill-repute by frightful
and unprecedented blunders in the preparation
of the paper. Every man employed on the
sheet seemed bewitched and entirely incom-
petent to attend to his duties. There was SIM
ply the devil to pay all over the place. l came
into the office one afternoon-the date of the
loathsome morning contemporary having
scooped us two big stories-and found
yellow envelope addressed to me personally. /
opened it mechanically, and herewith present
what can remember:
Dear Sir: You read my first story written for
this paper and read what 1 have
done for you since. Six months ago your city
editor drove OF the face Of the earth, but
have haunted this place ever since. Recall some
OF the features 1 have introduced into Pacific
"much read and respected paper"
Twas who made the religious reporter say thu