The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1904-08-11
A BEAT THAT FAILED
HOW THE PLANS OF AN ENTERPRISE
ING EDITOR WERE UPSET.

Il never read of a close finish in a
big running race nowadays that I'm
not reminded of a famous Dunctured
scoop in which | figured when | was
working in New York newspaper Of
fee said an old time telegrapher who
is now employed in Washington.
1T was back in the days when the
great Domino was the star colt of the
keene stable and, with one exception,
was acknowledged as the greatest two
yearold of the season.
The exception was Richard Crcl1er
fier Dobbins. These two Youngsters
finally met in the Futurity, and. al
though the keene colt won. with Dob
bins third the latter's owaer was not
satisfied with the result, and a match
was speedily arranged at the Futurity
distance for $4,000 a side
Now, the paper / worked on was an
evening sheet, and it was the ambition
Of the managing editors life to beat
the opposition evening paper and get
the news of big event like this on the
street first.
THE other fellows had beaten lis on
the Euturity story few days before,
and the managing editor made no Sc
cret of the fact that he was going to
get even.
Accordingly he laid all of his plans
day ahead. and. although we did not
know at the time what they were we
felt sure by the way he strutted around
on the morning of the race that he had
TIA winning combination up his sleeve
"A long about noontime of that day
the ediror, the most nervous man |
ever met, called me into his Office and
told me that, as the match race was
the fifth event on the card. he wanted
me to have one of the other operators
take the result Of the fourth race. ami
he also wanted me to get Il wire in
good working order and prepare to get
the result of the fifth race.
'The scheme was to have two presses
set and all ready to start One Of
them was to have the big front page
headline read 'Dobbins Wins the Big
Match,' and the other just the same.
except that Domino's name appeared
extra was on press No. and the DOM
mo extra on press No. . Whichever
horse won, the managing editor was to
call out No. l or No. 2. and, the press
would be started in quicker time than
1t takes to tell of the arrangement
Il couldn't help but ilwardly smile |
rs | watched the managing editor strid-
ing nervously about. waiting for the
start, just like a man who had thou
sands Of dollars wagered on the chance
of one of the racers.
Suddenly the key of my instrument
began to click. and he quickly stopped
and looked anxiously at me. but it
proved to be only the operator at the
other end testing. Learning this, he re-
sumed his walk up and down the room.
presently the key began to click
again. This time the horses were on
their way to the post. The next got
from the other end was that the horses
were at the post and would be off in Il
minute. This information, instead Of
steadying the managing editor, only in
creased his jumpiness, for he ordered
the men who were standing around to |
cease their talking and also called |
downstairs half dozen times to know
II everything was ready below in the |
press room.
I'm the midst Of this the key again |
began to work. and | called out that |
they We're off.