Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-01-23
AN ElEGANI LIAR.

AN EltGANT LIAR.
The report that Joe Mulhattan is dy
ing in Texas brings to mind soue of
the work Of that famous individual,
who, al intervals during the past de-
cade. has contributed some Of the most
brilliant TO newspaper fiction
and at one time or another has been
the originator of stories which startled
the attention of scientists, rs well as
newspaper readers generally.
Mulhattan had an abundance Of HUI
NOR and though sometimes directed in
minor channels he frequently gave his
attention to larger fields and invented
stories which obtained wide circulation
and brought much trouble TO a few, as
well as mirth to many.
His stories were 50 well written aud
had so many of the earmarks of truth
that leading publishers of the country
have been taken in. At one time Null
haitian pretended To have discovered
another mammoth cave in Kentucky in
which flowed an underground river.
along the shores of which wa most
marvellous scenery, lie stated that
boats were being prepared for the nav
igation of the stream by tourists. The
story attracted the attention Of Frank
Lcslic's Weekly, the editor wrote for
pictures and a fuller description, both
of which Mullattan and an accomplicc
furnished. Not for weeks did the pub
Usher and public know that it was all
a yarn.
Mulhattan's Texas meteor story at
tanned the proportion Of an intcrna-
tional event. This was published in
1883 in the Fort Worth Gazette and was
the making of that paper. An a~ssocia-
ted press agent swallowed the story
whole and telegraphed it all over the
country. On the day after the story
was published the Gazette received ia
kilograms in regard to the matter.
Three Of them came from Eurupe-onc
from the London Times. one from the
Edinburgh Scotsman and one from the
Paris Gaulois. The editors of these en-
ferprising papers telegraphcd for cor
respondents 10 get full particulars and
to draw on them for the necessary
funds. The meteor was said Ia have
fallen at Williams ranch. lit covered
an acre of ground and stood 50 feet
above il: it came down red hot and
stealuing, filling the air with sulphur
Gus smoke and noxious gases aud kill
ing all the cattle. 4 family Of Mex
leans were struck and buried 900 feet in
the earth" The newspapers Of the
country contained columns of inter
giews with distinguished scientists re-
garding the meteor and thousands of
letters were sent to the postmaster at
Fort Worth asking for further particu-
lars. He was soindignant that he gave
out word that if Mulhattan ever came
to Fort Worth he would shoot him on
the spot. Afterward, however, he re-
Tented and invited the famous prevari-
Gator to dine with him. The Gazette
had to employ a special corps of writers
to reply to the letters received, besides
getting out thousands Of explanatory
circulars.
His statement OF the discovery of the
star of Bethlehem by an imaginary as
tronomer OF Kentucky called forth ar
ticles from scientists alleging that no
star of Bethlehem ever existed, and
this in turn brought on an argument in
which leading scientists and divines
took part and many columns of matter
were furnished the newspapers and
journals.
In later years he has contented him
self with what he was pleased to term
''simple lies"
1t is hardly probable that Mr.. Null
haitian was either at Mole st. Nicholas
during the Cuban war or at Shanghai
in the past few months, but the reports
from those points would indicate that
some man or men of ability were at
tempting TO rival him in romancing.
II the Fusionists in the Montana