The times., 1899-07-27
INGERSOLL AND REPORTERS.
Experiences of Newspaper writers
,,., With the Great Agno.tic


,,.. With the Great Agnostic.
The death of Col. Robert c. Ingerso!l has
affected all men. in nearly every vocation,
hut II is probable that the great agnostic
will be more sincerely mournea by the men
who gather and dispense news than by the
members of any other profession. There
are few newspaper men of experience who
have not at Some time interviewed Co,oDei
IngerSoll. and no man. wto has ever inter
viewed him will ever forget his kindly
presence.
Co!oael Ingersoil was known to the news
paper fraternity as one who never View
man down on 4 story" He was ever
willing to oblige a reporter. and he appre-
ciated as few men can the Importance OF
what might seem to others a fools errand.
he knew the value of a newspaper scoop.
but he also knew that scoop Tor
Johnson oftimes meant discharge for Por-
ter, and as the latter was never forgotten
by the great lecturer, there remains fees-
ing akin to the loss of a brother in the
hearts of many thousand reporters.
From Boston to San Francisco, and from
Montreal to New Orleans. there are re-
porters and correspondents who have Fad
to do with Colonel Ingersoll, and not one
praise of him. II was hard, it is well
known, to have dealings with a half dozen
persistent newsgatherers seven nights In
each week, but Colonel Ingersoll never
failed. He was ever pleasant, ever loaded
with news and good stories. and ever will
ing to give out good interview.
Hundreds of newspaper men who are now
prosperous and in the upper strata OF the
fourth estate can attribute their first start
up the ladder to the man who has just
passed away. Hundreds OF these can claim
in good faith that they received their first
star story from the lips which are now
silent. Hundreds of these can hold in all
gratitude that the hands which now rest
were instrumental in making name and
fame for the then unknown cadets"
1t was pleasure TO interview Colonel
Ingersoll. He knew what was required
and made the task light. He was concise
and terse in the portions to be published.
and witty and careless in the little side
lights which placed the listener at ease
and caused him to feel that after all, this
famous man was but human being. He
was as pleasantly dignified as William j..
Bryan, as careless as Joaquin Miller, as
joyial as Samuel C. Clements, as sincere
as Ballington Booth. and as original as
Thomas B. Reed. He wSs never at a
lack for something novel and he knew how
10 SeDn q reporter away Illleu anu odllSLeu
and friend for life.
There is hardly one of the veteran news
paper men who are now doing duty as cor
respondents and reporters in Washington
who has not interviewed the famous lee
turer at least a half dozen times and not
one of these can recall one turn down
or unpleasant treatment in the long course
of duty. One well known local newspaper
writer stated yesterday that it was actually
relief to get the assignment to interview
Colonel Ingersoll. and labor was made
pleasure and instruction during the talk
with the man whose name was house
hold word.
He was very careful what he allowed
a reporter to print" said this gentleman,
in speaking of Colonel Ingersoll. and
yet the feeling of being suspected was
never apparent. He would talk and make
one forget the lapse of time and, in the
end he would trust to your honor to Use
only such portions of the interview as he
wished published. I have never yet had
reporter to break his word he would
say, and l know you are not going to
establish the precedent At times he
would get you to write out the interview,
when the subjects handled were particu-
larly delicate and would give you carte
blanche 10 use anything you had ON paper. :"
Another local newspaper man describes
the following experience as his hrSt meet
ing with the great agnostic:
1T was quite a while ago, when | was
green in the business, that 1 first inter-
viewed Bob Ingersoll. l was with Bos-
ton daily and was sent out TO get a talk on
some bitter charges which had been made
against the renowned agnostic by well
known clergyman of the Hub. l was sent
out at 12:30 a. m. and when / reached
Youngs Hotel. where Colonel Ingersoll
was staying. l found that he had retired
at II o'clock and did not want to be dis
turbed. | knew the hotel well and finding
the number of the room l went upstairs
and knocked on the door until the occupant
of the room desired me to go away or he
would do certain things not scheduled to
occur to reporters in the transaction OF
business. / went back to the Office and
was informed that l must get talk out OF
Colonel Ingersoll for that mornings issue
and was instructed not to return until 1
had obtained the interview.
II returned. and going up to the room
occupied by the weary colonel. who had
Travelled all day and lectured at night,
began a hammering and knocking which
might have broken in a weaker door. 1t
was then about 1:90 a. m. and after much
exercise 1 was asked what l wanted.
informed the unseen speaker, who again
warned me to go away. | told him I
could not do so until he answered my ques-
tions. Then followed long silence | was
really afraid to continue the knocking, as
l thought the genial colonel might become
angry and do me personal violence.
then considered for time, and seeing that
l must either lose my position or take
chances. accepted the latter method.
81 persisted in my loud knock and re-
ceived no answer. l must have raped for
fully ten minutes before l heard the lock
snap. and the door shot open. revealing a
great figure in white So sudden was ii
all that l started back and ran for the
stairs. about twelve feet distant As luck
would have 1t, slipped on the thick carpet
and shot down the steps like an acrobat
get up. but one of my ankles had been
sprained and l could not stand.
Looking up l saw the rotund figure of
Colonel Ingersoll, clad only in his robe
de mutt.
What do you mean, sir he asked me.
by waking me up at O'Clock in the
morning and in refusing to allow me any
sleep?'
Il stated that I had orders to get an in
teryiew or never return to the newspaper
office, and added that I valued my posi-
ton. He told me TO get up and finding
that my ankle was sprained he carried
me up 10 his room and cared for me like
a father, He not only gave me splendid
interview, but sent me to the office in a
hack, and his parting words were, Come
and see me whenever you please, you
young rascal.
Hundreds of these instances might be re-
cited and no reporter can say aught but
praise of the dead friend and companion.
Crippled Systems.
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