The times., 1898-04-17
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE

fhESS AUGN . hUUND AhohI
Bruce Edwards, who is keeping Nat {.
Goodwin in the public eye just now, re-
Iates a strange story of how his COM
pany's arrival in Waco was indirectly
RESPONSIBLE for the death of Editor
Brann. Of the IcOnoclast- 1t seems that
Mr. Brann was preparing TO go on
lecture tour when the duel occurred and
had determined to leave two days be-
fore the unlucky one on which the night
between himself and the relative of one
of the young ladies he was alleged TO
have slandered, occurred. When Mr.
Edwards walked into the editors office
he was preparing for his journey and
apparently somewhat loath to be disturb
ed. The press agent urged upon him
strongly the merits of his attraction and
suggested that he remain over to see ii.
MIR. Brann. who was not fond the thea
Ter. declined. but his wife arriving
shortly after Mr.. Edwards appealed TO
her and he finally yielded. A box was
put at his disposal and he arranged to
occupy il. The day OF the performance
he was killed. Had he left town instead
OF staying over TO see IAN American
Citizen Mr.. Edwards thinks he would
have been alive today. The tale is az
interesting one and would have been re-
lated before had it not been for the fear
that the incident would deter newspaper
men from accepting the boxes he had TO
offer them.
Mark Twain's story of how he hunted
bear three days and then the bear hunted
him Is vividly recalled in Press Agent
Slocum's most recent account of Jerome
Sykes adventures in the West II seems
that the amiable comedian went on a
still hunt for brUin with a couple Of his
most intimate friends and that, for three
DAYS not a specimen was seem During
fins period the sportsmen hung around
camp in the evening retailing experiences
OF different heroisms manifested in their
previous hunts. Sykes was not behind in
these tales and fairly succeeded in max
ing his companions believe him a second
Buffalo Bill. II was on Wednesday,
however that these ideas Were dissipated.
The three men had been in the brush all
day and We're raking around still when,
all at once from behind Sykes came the
familiar grunt they had expected so long
The brave comedian started and both his
companions fired wildly into the air and
then turned Sykes dropped his gun and
began a mad race for the nearest point
that was far away. His friends, being
thinner. readily oistanced him and re-
fused 10 listen to his agonizing cries and
appeals TO their love. Soon he was faI
behind, still running as fast as his spent
wind would permit and with the grunts
OF the animal sounding every now ano
then. Finally he heard its quick breath
ing and knew that he soon must give in
Then everything began 10 whirl round
and with a muttered prayer he sank tC
the ground directly before a big, fat and
rneekIy gentle hog But the others were
"a il as badly as he and so il came tc
pass that several years rolled along be
fore the story ever came out
TEL you a story said Cora Tanner s
press agent last week -IH do the bes;
can but [ fear that won't be much.
The prettiest know. is the plot of our
play. and III give you that. if you like,
Ii tells how a dissolute, drunken fellow
named Dick Redcliffe came down to the
country town OF Suffolk, and won from
John Riddlecomb his sweetheart, Annie
The two went 10 London, where the
husband returned TO his old haunts, and
made life miserable both for his wife
and the child which came soon after
His excesses made the woman penniliess
and forced her 10 earn a scant living II
the streets while ne went from bad tC
worse demanding for his own selfish pur
poses the pittance Annie earned. FL
nally his crimes landed him in prison
and his wife was lucky in finding a gooC
Samaritan, who took her home and mad'
lie pleasant for her until Dick was re
leased, ard, by some unfortunate coinci
dence. found his wife and child
when her benefactor learned of tn
relationship she was turned out into tn
world again and returned TO Londol
poorer and more heartsick than ever
Still the parasite lived on her pennies un
til. finding that she could not supper
all. he became angry and, taking her {
the Thames, tied her 20 the sluice hous
and opened the 3oOdgares. But an enc
my OF Dicks had warned John Riddle
comb who arrived in time to rescue hi
first sweetheart. She, in turn. was ena
bled 10 go to her benefactor and war
him that her husband meditated an at
tact on his home that night Thus warn
ed all got ready and the scoundrel wa
killed in attempting to avenge himsel
upon Annie. who straightway returne'
10 the heart of her rescuer. These Incl
dents really occurred ana suggested 4
Robert Buchanan Alone in London"
melodrama with what I think the pret
tiest Of heart stories"