The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-05-01
The Story Of a ''ScoOp.

Twenty years ago Melville r Stone
was struggling 10 make q success Of the
Chicago Ncirs. In these days a big
deposit in the bank i the first step
when a paper il to begin - fill long
felt want. Twenty wears ago news
papers were started or the expectation
Chat they would make the big bank
depOsi'. Sublime faith was the capital
stock on which the Chicago NcCs was
launched, and Stone was drawing pret-
ty strong drafts on /, when the incident
occurred which made turning point
for him. Stone was coming down
town one uI0raing az an hour which
would make him shudder ROW. lie
was on his way 20 the Office. \ GER
tain bank official climbed on the ear
and sat beside Stone. ON the strength
Of chance acquaintance the newspaper
man greeted the other and commented
Oh the flct that it was remarkably
early il the dag 90 De on the way 10 the
bank. Tie official said it was. and.
what Wa- worse, he haJ been at the
bank until the midnight before. Horse
ears - compared with rapid transit
have their conIpensatiOn-. Before
Stone and the bank oiticisl reached the
heart OF the city the former had details
Of an astounding dedication. lie went
20 the Mems Office, and guarding his
sensation jelloIsly prepared to make
the most of ii.
At that time the Chicago TJmes was
at its zenith. Wilbur f. Storey was in
his prime. Money was no object when
it came to deals for exclusive news.
About midday there was held regularly
council of war at The Times Office.
The campaign for the next mornings
paper was planned. Storey was ac
clstonel 10 call IL the heads of do
partment and lay ont the work Ike
general. o. this particular day that
stone WIS grinding 0ut his bank sen
sation the city editor of The Times said
to Mr.. Storey that he had learned there
was something up iii banking circles,
aad that The Nsa-s had il. The Mars
was struggling. - Mr., Storey knew.
The city editor suggested that the Oiltr
Of q snug SIM OF money woIld probably
jnIues S,oue to p1stP1ae publication
day and provide The Tumas with its
daily scoop.
''Go over aHd try 'em' said Storey.
.'Oher 'em $500"
The city editor called on Stone and
suggested that the bank story was
worth more % The TLaes as exclu-
sive III alter than it WAS to The Ns,Cs.
# The Ns,rs did not publish it, there
was little danger Of amy other paper
getting it. The Tmei was prepared
70 give The Mars 500 for the privilege
of the first publication.
stone listened and smiled He shook
his head.
The editor went back and reported to
Mr.. Storey.
"OGer EN- S1,O)9," said Mr.. Storey.
! The city editor returned 10 the attack.
Stone listened 10 the plausible idea
| That 81 900 would double the entire
blnk account oc The Ne.r; Just then.
But the young editor again shoo& his
/ head.
Tine city editor rep,rteI his s,t,ni
! failure.
''Mal,e it S2,0)o," said Storey shortly.
/ The old man's blood was up.
The city editor hurried on his er-
rama, for it was getting dangerously
near the hoar for the Nra,s' first edi-
tion. lie found StoHe putting his
finishing touches to his bank sensa-
tioa. lie delivered his third mes
sage.
500 bacG AMI say t. Mr.. Story that
h can't draw el-c.S big eaoGgh to
buy this item from The Ns,rs," said
Stone, shutting hi, jaws hard Is the
5000 danced b-iJ-c him.
somehow this tale of scoop got
no,sad arlIni. From that day The
" irs pr1sp,rtl a. it h.ri never done
beiOre-S, Eos,is G'o5o-D saoerat.