The Weekly Times - Saturday, June 1, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
Oscar Wilde.
HOW HE WAS ARRESTED.
A writer in the London paper "To-day," gives the following interesting account of the arrest of Oscar Wilde.
A writer in the London paper "To-day," gives the following interesting account of the arrest of Oscar Wilde.
A writer in the London paper "To-day," gives the following interesting account of the arrest of Oscar Wilde.
It was not the desire to see the eclipse of a brilliant life that led to my being present at the arrest of Oscar Wilde. It was sad — it was painful. Yesterday, figuratively speaking, we relied upon him for wit, epigram, and cynicism. It amused and charmed us. To-day the gutter looks to him to provide them with their food for mental pabulum. He laughed at the world till it took him seriously and now our seriousness has turned to sadness. Chance made me a witness of the arrest. I was passing along the Strand when I was hailed from a passing cab by a well-known London journalist.
It was not the desire to see the eclipse of a brilliant life that led to my being present at the arrest of Oscar Wilde. It was sad — it was painful. Yesterday, figuratively speaking, we relied upon him for wit, epigram, and cynicism. It amused and charmed us. To-day the gutter looks to him to provide them with their food for mental pabulum. He laughed at the world till it took him seriously and now our seriousness has turned to sadness. Chance made me a witness of the arrest. I was passing along the Strand when I was hailed from a passing cab by a well-known London journalist.
It was not the desire to see the eclipse of a brilliant life that led to my being present at the arrest of Oscar Wilde. It was sad — it was painful. Yesterday, figuratively speaking, we relied upon him for wit, epigram, and cynicism. It amused and charmed us. To-day the gutter looks to him to provide them with their food for mental pabulum. He laughed at the world till it took him seriously and now our seriousness has turned to sadness. Chance made me a witness of the arrest. I was passing along the Strand when I was hailed from a passing cab by a well-known London journalist.
"If you want to be in at the death," he said, "come along with me," and at the same time explained that Wilde was run to earth at the Cadogan. This was at 6 o'clock, and I suggested that up to the time I had heard no less than four times during the day that the man was actually in prison. "The warrant was only issued at five," he replied, and five minutes later, at every police station in London the message came up on the tape, "Wanted — Oscar Wilde." There was no earthly chance of escape now, and it was only a question as to whether he would be caught at the Cadogan.
"If you want to be in at the death," he said, come along with me," and at the same time explained that Wilde was run to earth at the Cadogan. This was at 6 o'clock, and I suggested that up to the time I had heard no less than four times during the day that the man was actually in prison. "The warrant was only issued at five," he replied, and five minutes later, at every police station in London the message came up on the tape, "Wanted — Oscar Wilde." There was no earthly chance of escape now, and it was only a question as to whether he would be caught at the Cadogan.
"If you want to be in at the death," he said, come along with me," and at the same time explained that Wilde was run to earth at the Cadogan. This was at 6 o'clock, and I suggested that up to the time I had heard no less than four times during the day that the man was actually in prison. "The warrant was only issued at five," he replied, and five minutes later, at every police station in London the message came up on the tape, "Wanted — Oscar Wilde." There was no earthly chance of escape now, and it was only a question as to whether he would be caught at the Cadogan.
We drove down, and left the cab standing some distance from the hotel. Two or three journalists were at the corner smoking, and assuming an air of innocence and surprise at finding themselves there. Later on another cab came up. Two men dismounted; one wore a silk hat and was to all appearance a well-to-do city man; his companion, a shorter, fresh-complexioned man, pulled violently at the buttons of his black kid gloves. They stood for a moment outside and then walked in. They represented Wilde's Colgotha in the form of Scotland Yard men.
We drove down, and left the cab standing some distance from the hotel. Two or three journalists were at the corner smoking, and assuming an air of innocence and surprise at finding themselves there. Later on another cab came up. Two men dismounted; one wore a silk hat and was to all appearance a well-to-do city man; his companion, a shorter, fresh-complexioned man, pulled violently at the buttons of his black kid gloves. They stood for a moment outside and then walked in. They represented Wilde's Colgotlia in the form of Scotland Yard men.
We drove down, and left the cab standing some distance from the hotel. Two or three journalists were at the corner smoking, and assuming an air of innocence and surprise at finding themselves there. Later on another cab came up. Two men dismounted; one wore a silk hat and was to all appearance a well-to-do city man; his companion, a shorter, fresh-complexioned man, pulled violently at the buttons of his black kid gloves. They stood for a moment outside and then walked in. They represented Wilde's Colgotlia in the form of Scotland Yard men.
Then came a long pause, and meanwhile every window in the hotel framed the head of a servant. The cabmen surmised that something was up, and eagerly accepted offers to follow the vehicle that should be selected by the police. The officers entered the room Wilde suspected that he would be arrested but he hoped against time. He had 100 guineas in his pocket, and the boat train went at eight. He rose and assumed his usual air of nonchalance. "I must consider myself your prisoner," he said. He was very flushed, and the presence of a spirit decanter on the table suggested a possible reason. He stood up and lurched a little in his step. Then he took up the decanter, and emptied freely. A soda water bottle was lying by, which had been already partly used, and there was only a teaspoonful left. He seemed annoyed, but taking up water bottle, he poured in a little more, and then drank, his hand trembling.
Then came a long pause, and meanwhile every window in the hotel framed the head of a servant. The cabmen surmised that something was up, and eagerly accepted offers to follow the vehicle that should be selected by the police. The officers entered the room. Wilde suspected that he would be arrested but he hoped against time. He had 10 guineas in his pocket, and the boat train went at eight. He rose and assumed his usual air of nonchalance. "I must consider myself your prisoner," he said. He was very flushed, and the presence of a spirit decanter on the table suggested a possible reason. He stood up and lurched a little in his step. Then he took up the decanter, and emptied freely. A soda water bottle was lying by, which had been already partly used, and there was only a teaspoonful left. He seemed annoyed, but taking up water bottle, he poured in a little more, and then drank, his hand trembling.
Then came a long pause, and meanwhile every window in the hotel framed the head of a servant. The cabmen surmised that something was up, and eagerly accepted offers to follow the vehicle that should be selected by the police. The officers entered the room. Wilde suspected that he would be arrested but he hoped against time. He had 10 guineas in his pocket, and the boat train went at eight. He rose and assumed his usual air of nonchalance. "I must consider myself your prisoner," he said. He was very flushed, and the presence of a spirit decanter on the table suggested a possible reason. He stood up and lurched a little in his step. Then he took up the decanter, and emptied freely. A soda water bottle was lying by, which had been already partly used, and there was only a teaspoonful left. He seemed annoyed, but taking up water bottle, he poured in a little more, and then drank, his hand trembling.
He walked to the window and assumed an air of indifference. He put his gloves on carefully, picked up two or three books, and wrapped an evening journal round them. He bowed to the officers, who had extended the courtesy that one invariably extends to a man in regard to whom you hold the whip-hand, and followed them. A growler was at the door, and Wilde looked at it contemptuously, at the same time glancing at the cabs that were waiting to follow him. Then he colored up more violently than ever, and puffed at a cigarette. They drove off, and the only sounds he heard on the journey were the newsboys shouting his case; and the thing that seemed by an irony of circumstance to be most prominent on heardings and 'buses was the publicity of his plays. The last flicker of jauntiness was supplied at Scotland Yard. He stepped out of the cab and staggered, and then turning to the officers he said, "Excuse me, gentlemen, I pay for the cab. You have been extremely kind. Consider yourselves my guests!"
He walked to the window and assumed an air of indifference. He put his gloves on carefully, picked up two or three books, and wrapped an evening journal round them. He bowed to the officers, who had extended the courtesy that one invariably extends to a man in regard to whom you hold the whip-hand, and followed them. A growler was at the door, and Wilde looked at it contemptuously, at the same time glancing at the cabs that were waiting to follow him. Then he colored up more violently than ever, and puffed at a cigarette. They drove off, and the only sounds he heard on the journey were the newsboys shouting his case; and the thing that seemed by an irony of circumstance to be most prominent on heardings and buses was the publicity of his plays. The last flicker of jauntiness was supplied at Scotland Yard. He stepped out of the cab and staggered, and then turning to the officers he said, "Excuse me, gentlemen, I pay for the cab. You have been extremely kind. Consider yourselves my guests!"
He walked to the window and assumed an air of indifference. He put his gloves on carefully, picked up two or three books, and wrapped an evening journal round them. He bowed to the officers, who had extended the courtesy that one invariably extends to a man in regard to whom you hold the whip-hand, and followed them. A growler was at the door, and Wilde looked at it contemptuously, at the same time glancing at the cabs that were waiting to follow him. Then he colored up more violently than ever, and puffed at a cigarette. They drove off, and the only sounds he heard on the journey were the newsboys shouting his case; and the thing that seemed by an irony of circumstance to be most prominent on heardings and buses was the publicity of his plays. The last flicker of jauntiness was supplied at Scotland Yard. He stepped out of the cab and staggered, and then turning to the officers he said, "Excuse me, gentlemen, I pay for the cab. You have been extremely kind. Consider yourselves my guests!"
The doings of Wilde on the day in question baffled the journalists, who were playing the detective, by their extreme simplicity. He was lost and found all day long. A railway hotel has many exits, and it was thought that the leaving of the brougham outside was a blind to cover a retreat on the platform. Accordingly he was lost to a good many when he drove off in a natural fashion. Then came a race to Tite street to pick up the clue. The cab-men knowing the game entered into the spirit of the chase. They deposited their owners at convenient hostelries and drove to the house with letters of urgency and importance, which could only be left if Wilde was at home. He was not at home, and so the search was resumed in other quarters. One man determined to go to Dover, as it was seriously stated he had gone there, and another story was that he had gone down the Thames in steam yacht.
The doings of Wilde on the day in question baffled the journalists, who were playing the detective, by their extreme simplicity. He was lost and found all day long. A railway hotel has many exits, and it was thought that the leaving of the brougham outside was a blind to cover a retreat on the platform. Accordingly he was lost to a good many when he drove off in a natural fashion. Then came a race to Tite street to pick up the clue. The cab-men knowing the game entered into the spirit of the chase. They deposited their owners at convenient hostelries and drove to the house with letters of urgency and importance, which could only be left if Wilde was at home. He was not at home, and so the search was resumed in other quarters. One man determined to go to Dover, as it was seriously stated he had gone there, and another story was that he had gone down the Thames in steam yacht.
The doings of Wilde on the day in question baffled the journalists, who were playing the detective, by their extreme simplicity. He was lost and found all day long. A railway hotel has many exits, and it was thought that the leaving of the brougham outside was a blind to cover a retreat on the platform. Accordingly he was lost to a good many when he drove off in a natural fashion. Then came a race to Tite street to pick up the clue. The cab-men knowing the game entered into the spirit of the chase. They deposited their owners at convenient hostelries and drove to the house with letters of urgency and importance, which could only be left if Wilde was at home. He was not at home, and so the search was resumed in other quarters. One man determined to go to Dover, as it was seriously stated he had gone there, and another story was that he had gone down the Thames in steam yacht.
But to everyone's surprise he bobbed up in Fleet street, of all places, riding in a hansom, the brougham having been discharged for some reason or another. Instantly every pressman chartered a vehicle, and before he was aware of it Wilde was the figurehead of a procession of cabs. Whether out of calculated design or not, I do not know, but Wilde ordered the cabman to go down Norfolk street, past the office of Mr Charles Russell, who had done more to land him in Holloway than any mortal man. It was only in the small hours of the morning that I got home, for I was afterwards induced to go down to Pimlico and form one of a large party who stole round street corners, and dodged up dark alleys, like members of the Mafia, in the hope of seeing other arrests. Modern journalism has its excitements and its disadvantages.
But to everyone's surprise he bobbed up in Fleet street, of all places, riding in a hansom, the brougham having been discharged for some reason or another. Instantly every pressman chartered a vehicle, and before he was aware of it Wilde was the figurehead of a procession of cabs. Whether out of calculated design or not, I do not know, but Wilde ordered the cabman to go down Norfolk street, past the office of Mr Charles Russell, who had done more to land him in Holloway than any mortal man. It was only in the small hours of the morning that I got home, for I was afterwards induced to go down to Pimlico and form one of a large party who stole round street corners, and dodged up dark alleys, like members of the Mafia, in the hope of seeing other arrests. Modern journalism has its excitements and its disadvantages.
But to everyone's surprise he bobbed up in Fleet street, of all places, riding in a hansom, the brougham having been discharged for some reason or another. Instantly every pressman chartered a vehicle, and before he was aware of it Wilde was the figurehead of a procession of cabs. Whether out of calculated design or not, I do not know, but Wilde ordered the cabman to go down Norfolk street, past the office of Mr Charles Russell, who had done more to land him in Holloway than any mortal man. It was only in the small hours of the morning that I got home, for I was afterwards induced to go down to Pimlico and form one of a large party who stole round street corners, and dodged up dark alleys, like members of the Mafia, in the hope of seeing other arrests. Modern journalism has its excitements and its disadvantages.
It has been said of Wilde that his flashes of wit were the result of considerable preparation. A correspondent assures me that that was not so. At a dinner a speaker was quoting from a letter of a minor poet, complaining that the critics had formed a conspiracy against him — a conspiracy of silence. "Couldn't we induce him to join in that conspiracy?" said Wilde lazily to his neighbor.
It has been said of Wilde that his flashes of wit were the result of considerable preparation. A correspondent assures me that that was not so. At a dinner a speaker was quoting from a letter of a minor poet, complaining that the critics had formed a conspiracy against him — a conspiracy of silence. "Couldn't we induce him to join in that conspiracy?" said Wilde lazily to his neighbor.
It has been said of Wilde that his flashes of wit were the result of considerable preparation. A correspondent assures me that that was not so. At a dinner a speaker was quoting from a letter of a minor poet, complaining that the critics had formed a conspiracy against him — a conspiracy of silence. "Couldn't we induce him to join in that conspiracy?" said Wilde lazily to his neighbor.