The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-20
ON THE STREET


A few days ago The Herald published a
letter from ]. ]. McGreal, who at the time
of writing was at Fort Smith in the North
west Territory. Mr.. McGreal made a spe-
cific denial of the assertion published IN
the San Francisco papers of last March,
and republished here, that he had commit
ted suicide. AS he wrote the letter himself.
and took the precaution of having 1t at
tested by a number of witnesses, there was
nothing to do but to resurrect McGreal
with due apologies. He was formerly a
motorman on the electric street railway
here and at the time Of his funeral notice
his friends refused to believe In his de-
cease, because he was not at all the sort of
a man to get into any such trouble as to
make him weary Of life. The situation was
something like that in which DR.. Sam
Eowles, the editor of the Springfield Re-
publican, once found himself. A reporter
brought in an account of the suicide by
hanging of a man in little town near
Springfield, which, being apparently
trustworthy, was duly published.
A few days later the man him
self walked into the office and de-
the paper take it back. 1t was rule
of the Republican never to make a retrac-
ton under any circumstances. The great
est care was taken in the editing of news
and its accuracy was as jealousy insisted
upon as the count made by bank cashiers
for these superior creatures never make
mistakes-or, at least, never acknowledge
one, even If the bank has to make good a
loss as a result.
mo, SIR" said the editor; I'VE cannot
take anything back in this Office
"Well." replied the man, II don't think
it is right for you to refuse In this case, for
you said I had hanged myself and was
dead, and here I am alive"
1T will tell you what will do" retorted
the editor. You certainly have some right
to your view of the situation, but, having
said you have hanged yourself, the Re-
publican will have to let that stand. If
however, you are disposed to be reasonable
about the matter, I will compromise the
case with you."
"All right" was the response; III you are
at all fair about the situation, which, as
you can see. is very disagreeable to me,
will be satisfied"
Very we'll, then" was the answer. "I'll
publish a statement tomorrow that VIC
have investigated the story and found that
there was a littreV lnaceuracy In the ac-
count; in fact, we will say that the rope
broke"
Norris Cook, the amateur wheelman, had
an adventure the other day, in which he
neatly got even with a conductor on the
Temple-street road. Morris was riding UP
the hill and found himself likely to be bot
tied up between the car and team which
was coming down, while in front of him
was stretch Of sand impossible to ride
through, and on which, If he fell, he would
run great danger of bein run over. He
caught hold of the bar on the rear platform
of the car, intending to be lowed past the
danger point. The conductor sang out:
cut loose there!' and Cook replied tina!
he would do SO in a minute, but that IL hi
did so then he would endanger his neck
"Cut loose there!" was the only response
he got, and he again explained that he die
| not mean to pilfer transportation by hav
ing the car pull him, but that he absolutel,
| could not let go Just then. The conductor
swung himself down on the step and kicked
he wheel from under the young man
throwing him against one of the horses Of
The team. and only by lucky wriggle did
the rider escape from being run over and
perhaps being killed. When he righted his
wheel and mounted again, he waited for