DARING RUSES OF NEWSPAPER REPORTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 35, 6 March 1909, Page 4

DARING RUSES OF NEWSPAPER REPORTERS.

The curious wager of £IOO made by Lady Auckland to any American journalist wjio can interview her on her forthcoming visit to the States has raised the question. "Are American reporters r eally smart?" Lady Auckland declares that the journalist on the other side of the A'tlantie is lacking in tact, and not nearly so clever as his English confrere. Jlut if we may judge by the cute dodges used to secure sensational -copy''" lor their journals, there are many brainy men in their ranks.

A 'I'KESIs.UAX IN" A HAMPER. When electrocution was tirst introduced into the States all Press representatives were excluded. One resourceful newsman, however, was determine.! to provide the readers of this paper w'itli a description of the horrible scene, lie concealed himself in a large hamper, aul was conveyed as "provisions" into tlie building where the execution was to be carried out. There he managed to release himself by the aid of a pen-knife, slipped unobserved into the death chamber with a little crowd of.eager .scientists, took mental notes of the gruesome proceedings, and afterwards pioudly boasted that he was the only pressman to secure au accurate record of the all'air.

AX UNSCRUPULOUS REPORTER. Ail even more daring scheme was adopted by a reporter in one of the Southern States, who was determined to discover the result of a secret council on an important political crisis. Attired as a iireman, lie rushed into the j building where the Senate were meet-1 ing. and, as he scaled the to the council chamber, ignited u huge lir-j----work, which emitted, much smoke but JiLLle Hume. Then he forced his way into the chamber., surrounded by the smoke he had raised, and shouted "l'ire! Fire!'' During the natural excitement that ensued lie contrived to lay hands on a number of very important documents ami papers relating to the crisis. The>e he utilised for his paper, and received .CoUO from I'lic proprietor for his extraordinary enterprise. Another newspaper editor desired some particulars about au important divorce case. The ingenious scribe who vva> entrusted with Ihe case resorted to the wile] subterfuge of falling in love | with the inaid, wln»<e mistress possessed .certain compromiM-ig letters connected 1 with the ease. When the artful reportei .had won the girl's affections he induced her to for and eonliscate the fateful epistles and hand iheni over to her lover, who speedily transferred them into attractive and desirable copy, for which In; was handsomely remunerated/ by hi> editor. I

TIIK MODERN KNUiIIT-ERRANT. l>c-ides embarking on daring escapade*, the 'American reporter can be a hero when occasion arises. The late 11. M. Stanley was, as all the world knows, an ordinary salaried reporter on the .stall' of the New York Herald when he was sent by his chief into the interior of Africa "to iind Livingstone." Equally thrilling, and more recent, was the exploit of Mr. Karl Decker, who. just prior , to the outbreak of the Spanish-Ameri-can War. was despatched to Cuba bv , Mr. \V. R. Hearst.the millionaire owner and editor of the New York Journal, ] with instructions to release from the \ Havana State Priso.i, either by force or stratagem, a certain Mi>s Evangeline ! Cisneros. t

This young lady had been arrowed on a charge of high treason, and there were fears ior her life. The Americans were very angry over the matter, and when the news came that Decker had succeeded in his mission bv breaking through (he roof of (he aaol, and was- brinirini ihe hidv wit'h him In Xew York, their delight knew no bounds.—Tit Bits.