The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-01
PURE FABRICATION.

Ono of tho most daring newspaper
iakes OF recent years, and ono which
was evidently intended to do great in.
jury to tho iron mining industries Of tho
Lake Superior region, was a recent
story telographcd from Milwaukee to q
number OF newspapers, purpor,ing to
give M interview with Captain S. S.
Curry, president OF tho Metropolitan
Iron & Land Company. regarding tho
Mosaba iron range, in Minnesota
Tho story, which originally appeared
in tho Milwaukee Sentinel, was i'm posed
upon that papor by aNporion Interested
in bringing disaster to all tho Lake Su.
perior iron ranges except tho Mesaba.
and was 80 plausible and OF such grea,
interest to tho iron industry OF tho coun-
try, that 1t wa, tolegraphcd all over the
country. and number OF leading nows-
papers were vctimized to the extent
that they published it as the solemn
truth, some OF them commenting on it
editorially. Among tho latter were tho
1STELLIGEScER, the Pittsburgh Dispatch
and other papers published'in iron con-
tres. -. ....
Just how much truth there was in the
story, and how completely the nowspa.
pers were deceived By tho designing
takir, appears in the following article
from tho Cleveland Plaindealcr, which
the 1SrELLIGES cER copies for tho bcnc-
fit OF its readers who NAV have read the
story referred to. The Plaindealer says:
Tho story telcgraphed from Milwau-
kee about an alleged interview with
Capt S. S. Curry, president OF tho Met
ropolitan Iron & Land Company, Is
still travelling and it hasn't lead in its
boots eithor. 1t trippinCly skips along
aud every day or 80 since its publication
it has bobbed up to annoy the company
or its agents. Stockholders are not yet
through writing 10 the company inquir-
ing about tho truth or falsity OF tho
statements alleged in tho interview
which they oil course beloved authentic.
On tho day OF the publication it was
laughed NJ in this city by those who
knew Capt Curry. but they forgot that
everyone did not know the captain.
Then they began to receive inquiries
and tho whole matter became source
OF great annoyance. The captain acted
promptly in branding the interview a
fake. But tho denial did not spread as
far as the original story, hence toe con-
tiuuance OF the annoyance, especially
to Z. c. Pope. tho representative Of tho
company in this city.
Tho Evening Wisconsin, OF Milwau.
kee. contains tho following denial:
The sensational Interview" with
Capt. S. S. Curry. president OF the Met
ropolitau Iron and Land Company. pub
lishcd in number OF papers. Is denied
by Capt. Curry himself as puro iabri-
cation from beginning to end. He is
now in lronwood, and to 4 correspond
ont OF the Evening Wisconsin stated
that the Interview never took place.
The correspondent ,elegraphs as iol-
lows:
IS. S. Curry, president OF tho Metro.
politan Iron and Land Company,
strongly denies having made tho state
| mcnts regarding disaster to all Lake Su.
perlor iron ranges except the Mosaba.
published in Yesterdays Milwaukee and
Chicago papers. llc says he mas no.
DccIl III S4CNtlsillu ICScihiJ, anu VIAL
tho whole story ID manufactured gu. OF
the whole cloth. lie attributes the
sensational article to former Iron
wood newspaper man, now employed on
one oil the Milwaukee papers. Business
mon and all classes in tho Gogebic
range towns arc highly indignant over
tho matter since the facts have become
known. Mr.. Curry will make n public
denial to tho Associated Press this
evening"
The sensational interview in question
was remarkable for several things, tho
unusual dash" OF Capt. Curry's diCtion
and tho fluent manner in which he
spoke of great big, strong men, men en-
gagged for years in the iron ore trade DO.
iuc moved to tears. Tho interview said :
Tears trinked down our cheeks (rcler-
ing to tho alleged meeting At Clovoland)
and We sobbed at the sight OF wealth ny
great as that OF tho Rothschilds vanish.
| ing into mist" l1o was also made to
declare that "over Sl00.000 900 has van.
ished, and tho owners OF iron mines will
want TO know wherc they are at" Tho
meeting" he added, was like funeral
| dirge."
Such things, coming from Capt. Curry.
wcro looked upon with suspicion by
those who knew him best, ana his posi-
two donia of tho whole thing is not Il
surprise.
At tho Metropolitan Compnny's gen.
cral Office to-day tho whole thing was
denounced as an Outrageous iabrica-
| ton" written, rs wo have been assured,
by n former Irouwood newspaper man,
who has always been pronounced one.
my Of tho mining companies.
Throughout tho Lake Superior min.
ing towns the miscellaneous contained
in tho alleged interviews arc being dc.
nounCcd.
Thu idea that snch towns as Mar.
quottc. Ashland, Iron Mountain and
| Hurley will become deserted villages, rs
| intmatod in tho imaginary statements
| OF Captain Curry. is considered such
| fantastic bosli that wonder il Expressed
that tho statement found publication.
Tho interview rcforrcd to was orgi.
nally published in tho Milwaukee Scnti-
mol OF February 20, and in its issue OF
February 81 It Apologies as follows:
Tho Sentinel prints in another col
umn lcttor from Prcsidcu: Curry. OF
tho Metropolitan Land & Iron Com.
many, denying pnrportcd interview
with himself which appeared in this pm
pnr on Wednesday. Tho night editor
of tho Sentinel supposed the Interview
was obtained by member OF It's local
stall who WIS known to be accurate aud
trustworthy. II no had known the
source Of tho information, a person in
no wise connected with this paper. tho
"ln,crvlnw" would ccr,ninly never have
boon printed. Tho Sentinel is glad to