The Morning News

THE SUN FOR FIVE MILLIONS.
Mr. Dana Names Its Price—A Report About John R. McLean.
From the New York Tribune.
A dispatch was received at this office yesterday from Chicago stating a rumor was in circulation in that city to the effect that John R. McLean, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, was trying to purchase the New York Sun. It is not generally safe to print news concerning New York emanating from Chicago unless it is confirmed here, and so a Tribune reporter was told to see Mr. Dana and ascertain whether the Sun, which shines so genially for all, was to be bought by Mr. McLean. Mr. Dana is promptly accessible, and before the reporter had time to prepare a neat little question with which to give the interview a good start he found himself in the "sanctum sanctorum" of the Sun, confronting Mr. Dana, who wore a plain, cool, business-like 99-cent office coat, and was looking over a file of exchanges. The famous cat was not visible. Probably, as it was too early to devour copy, he was somewhere about the building enjoying a well earned nap. "I must apologize for intruding," began the reporter, trying hard to think of something graceful to say, "but—oh, put your question, put your question," said Mr. Dana abruptly, but yet kindly. A dispatch from Chicago states that Mr. McLean, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, is trying to purchase the Sun. Is that true? "I have not heard that Mr. McLean has any such object in view." "Is the Sun for sale?" "Yes, as I have stated before, the Sun can be bought for $5,000,000." "Is Mr. McLean likely to give that sum for it?" "I have not had a word from Mr. McLean indicating that he had any intention of opening negotiations for the purchase of the Sun." This ended the interview, and the reporter retired, making a mental note of the fact that $5,000,000 at 5 per cent. represents an annual income of $250,000.